Inspecting Iraq

“If you know the enemy and you know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.” – Sun Tzu, “The Art of War” (circa 500 to 300 B.C.).

Hopefully, by the time this goes to print, bin Laden will be at his final resting place. This will surely be a cause for great celebration.

Iraq, meanwhile, is going about its business as usual, minus the United Nations inspection teams. In 1995, Ribah Taha (the head of Hussein’s bio-terrorism organization) actually admitted that she had, in effect, set up a secret bio-chemical factory in Baghdad.

This plant, at that time, was producing thousands of gallons of anthrax and botulism. Conservative estimates are that this could kill millions.

It is also significant that in late October, President Clinton’s office received a package containing botulism. Clearly, those inspectors need to be returned to Iraq immediately. And if that country refuses to meet that compliance, then they should suffer the full consequences.

Jeff Hagelin

Dover-Foxcroft