Counterbalance: U-S Force Trumps U-N Talk
Commentary by Darryl Wood, ^©2002 Wood Communications, LLC 

Whether it is the tough talk, the real threat of American military force, or both, Iraq is changing its tune…again.

In his recent address to the United Nations President George Bush essentially served notice that whether the U-N goes along or not, he is prepared to use U-S military might to stop Sadaam Hussein's quest for nuclear arms. Recently a letter delivered to U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan, from Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, stated that its government "…has decided to allow the return of United Nations weapons inspectors to Iraq."

Why now? Hussein has previously thumbed his nose at the diplomatic process. Furthermore, years of U-N peace talks have failed to produce this change of heart in Baghdad-the legitimacy of which is questionable. Nonetheless, late word from Europe indicates that the U-N has a deal with Baghdad to get weapons inspectors inside Iraq within weeks; but the Iraqis reportedly will not give in to demands from America and Britain to include Saddam Hussein's palaces and other presidential sites in surprise inspections. Regardless, U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan heralds this latest Iraqi gambit and sees it as exoneration of the U-N peace process.

Annan and crew would do well to remember that the last time inspectors were banned President Clinton had to threaten military action to get them back into Baghdad. After the president turned the process over to the U-N and the threat of U-S military action passed, Sadaam reverted to his mendacious ways, expelling weapons inspectors and refusing to give in until now. They should remember that this is the man from whom inspectors previously seized and destroyed weapons grade uranium, chemicals for biological weapons, and over 40 missiles. They should remember that this is the tyrant the International Atomic Energy Agency says was only 6-months away from developing nuclear arms in 1991.

The U-N insists its negotiations have produced a resolution with which Iraq will comply. Mr. Hussein, however, knows that the U-S is gearing up to do more than talk-especially given the events of September 11, 2001.

President Bush isn't buying Iraq's latest attempt at appeasement and is advising the U-N to strengthen its resolution with hard-hitting military sanctions. If inspectors return to Iraq to conduct searches, unrestricted or otherwise, it will likely be the result of the real threat of U-S force-the one form of diplomacy to which Mr. Hussein most often responds. No U-N resolution will be worth the paper on which it is written unless inscribed within the diplomatic double-talk is the promise that military response will be swift should Sadaam renege.

When it comes to thwarting Iraq's efforts to develop nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, the penalty we might pay for inaction far outweighs any risks we face-even if we must act alone.