Inspectors Fault Iraqi Follow-Up (washingtonpost.com)


And they're cooperating less, of course. Have you noticed the coverage has even stopped suggesting the idea of scientists and their families coming out of Iraq for interviews (as 1441 calls for)? Now they're just trying to get private interviews without tape recorders. This will be worth nothing, of course. Dr. Hamza has said he is quite sure that, if given the chance, at least 20% of Iraq's scietists would defect right away.


Via Andrew Sullivan

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 19 -- President Saddam Hussein's government, apparently emboldened by antiwar sentiment at the U.N. Security Council and in worldwide street protests, has not followed through on its promises of increased cooperation with U.N. arms inspectors, according to inspectors in Iraq.


No Iraqi scientist involved in biological, chemical or missile technology has consented to a private interview with the inspectors since Feb. 7, the day before the two chief U.N. inspectors arrived here for talks with Iraqi officials. The United Nations also has not received additional documents about past weapons programs, despite the government's pledge to set up a commission to scour the country for evidence sought by the inspectors, U.N. officials said.


One U.N. official here said that since Friday's Security Council meeting, "we have not seen any positive moves on the part of Iraq." Another charged, "They are not fulfilling their promises."[...]


"They are feeling: The world opinion is with us. We can resist further pressure. We have time. We can play with the U.S. and U.K.," a U.N. official said. "This is very dangerous."[...]