It has been some weeks since United Nations weapons inspectors entered Iraq in search of any evidence to prove that Iraq had been developing weapons of mass destruction. Besides finding a few empty warheads that may have contained chemical weapons, the U.N. team has not yet uncovered a "smoking gun." Many in the international community, such as the United Kingdom's foreign minister Jack Straw, believe that Saddam Hussein is hiding essential evidence from the U.N. team.
However, Hussein is apparently not the only one that has not been forward with presenting evidence. The United States has announced that they will be declassifying intelligence material concerning Iraq's weapons programs next week ("Blix Welcomes U.S. offer of Iraq Evidence," CNN.com, Jan. 28). This information has not been available to the U.N. inspection team since they've been in Iraq. The United States must stop dragging its feet and make as much information as possible available to the U.N. inspection team as soon as possible.
For several months, speculation over possible war with Iraq has increased. The White House's constant pro-war rhetoric implies that there is indeed a war coming. As recently as this Tuesday, Secretary of State Colin Powell stated that the decision on Iraq would come "very soon"("Powell: Iraq's Time to Disarm 'Fast Coming to an End,'" CNN.com, Jan. 27). Although the United States could unilaterally engage Iraq in war to oust Saddam Hussein from power, President George W. Bush has made it clear that he favors a joint coalition action against Iraq, or in the least, U.N. approval to declare war.
It cannot yet be proved that Hussein has lied or kept evidence away from the U.N. inspectors, but it is Hussein that has complete control over determining when and what the inspectors see. The U.N. team itself has complained that they have been barred from certain sites they wish to examine. Even with the inspectors in Iraq, practically anything could be going on within the country.
Because of their inability to obtain the full scoop from Iraq, the United Nations team requires other sources of information. This move on the part of the United States comes too late. The United Nations will not make its decision as to what it will support against Iraq until the inspectors are finished. The longer the United States waits to give the United Nations team the information it requires, the more time it will take the United Nations to make up its mind. Although the United States may not want to let on exactly how much it knows about Iraq's weapons programs, the United States is shooting itself in the foot by delaying the U.N. team.
In addition, the United States is hurting its already weakened international position by not providing the information. Many leaders around the world are appalled by the U.S. overtures of war. If the United States is not doing everything it can to help the inspection teams complete their assignment, then U.S. foreign prestige will sink to even lower levels. This will make it more difficult for the United States to justify war if that becomes necessary, and may dissuade other countries, especially those in the Middle East, from aiding the United States should the situation escalate.
If there is to be war against Iraq, the sooner the better. Each day that the United States makes verbal threats, the Iraqi Republican Guard has the opportunity to further entrench itself and make preparations for its defense. Although the Iraqi army doesn't stand a chance against the United States, they still have what it takes to inflict severe casualties. Just one preventable American or Iraqi citizen death is one too many.
It is possible that the classified information has not been released because it could threaten the lives of Americans either here in the United States or abroad. Even still, the U.N. weapons inspection team should be trusted. They have been hired to be as impartial as possible, giving Saddam Hussein the opportunity to clear his name from the United States allegations, or at the same time, incriminate him regardless of how he may try to influence or misdirect them while they are in his country.
Though it may be risky, the United States must give the U.N team as much information as possible without compromising homeland security. With every day a possible war is delayed, the potential cost in human lives gets higher.
(Alex Rosemblat's column normally appears Wednesdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at arosemblat@ cavalierdaily.com.)
Read More
Letters to the Editor: The resignation of University President Jim Ryan
7 hours agoFollowing this resignation, The Cavalier Daily has received letters from the University community which provide various perspectives on what this moment means to them and to the University’s future.
U.Va. Medical Students: Defend academic freedom
By U.Va. Medical Students | 3 days agoTo yield in the face of federal pressure does more than betray the University’s core values — it encourages future attacks on academia.
MICHAELSON: U.Va. must not surrender to authoritarian pressure
By Wesley Michaelson | 3 days agoThis University belongs to the people of Virginia — not to Washington, not to unelected federal appointees and certainly not to political donors with an agenda. This is our University. And we will fight for it.
