The Holy See’s observer to the UN, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, addressed the Security Council yesterday regarding Iraq. In part he said:
“The Holy See is convinced that even though the process of inspections appears somewhat slow, it still remains an effective path that could lead to the building of a consensus which, if widely shared by Nations, would make it almost impossible for any Government to act otherwise, without risking international isolation. The Holy See is therefore of the view that it is also the proper path that would lead to an agreed and honorable resolution to the problem, which, in turn, could provide the basis for a real and lasting peace.”
In what way do the inspections remain effective? They have been going on now for 12 years and have yet to uncover any evidence of Saddam’s claim that he destroyed the stocks of chemical and biological weapons everyone knows he had. They have yet to uncover evidence that Saddam has ended his nuclear weapons research program. Saddam has failed to abide by a single UN resolution over the past 12 years. What could possibly lead anyone to think that the inspection process is still viable?
I would like to ask such people, at what point and under what conditions would you say that the inspections are no longer viable? In your thinking, could there ever come a point when you would say that inspections are just not working?
As for the “consensus, widely share by Nations, that would make it impossible for any Government to act otherwise, without risking international isolation,” what would you call the last dozen years? We’ve had a consensus for 12 years in the form of resolutions and harsh sanctions, isolating Iraq in the community of nations. It hasn’t budged Saddam one inch. “Peer pressure” has proven itself not to work here.
