Weapons of Distraction

Two things to date have been missing in Iraq – Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction. The United States promised to wipe out both. Whether its aim has been achieved remains unknown. Ridding the world of Mr. Hussein’s arsenal of chemical and biological weapons was a major reason for attacking Iraq. The fact that these weapons have yet to be found is troubling.

That’s why the United States should allow United Nations weapons inspectors to return to Iraq. This is the right way to proceed for three reasons. The first is to bring in real experts to find the touted weapons caches. So far, the U.S. military forces looking for WMD have found pesticides and other nonweapons material.

“It has been run somewhat incompetently. They have to bring the professionals in,” David Albright, a former U.N. weapons inspector who is now the president of the Institute for Science and International Security, told The Boston Globe. “They said the U.N. inspectors were bumbling idiots and can’t find anything. Now these guys are looking like bumbling idiots that can’t find anything,” Mr. Albright observed.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, bringing in U.N. inspectors would show that the White House is willing to work with international organizations, a gesture that is sorely needed for the health of U.S. foreign policy. Allowing U.N. inspectors to finish the job they began in November may soften the growing ill will toward America. Bringing in U.N. inspectors will also forestall the inevitable charges that U.S. forces planted any weapons that are found.

One of the best reasons for letting the U.N. inspectors take over this task is that the U.S. military could then focus more on restoring order and ensuring aid reaches the Iraqi people. Several thousand soldiers are now dedicated to the weapons hunt. Their time could be better spent preventing looting and working with aid organizations to distribute food, water and medical treatment.

As a bonus, if President Bush goes ahead with his push to find weapons in Syria, the U.N. inspectors are just next door.

Finding weapons of mass destruction is very important to justifying to the world the war just ended. Without that justification, dangerous anti-American sentiments will grow. That’s why the United States should welcome any help it is offered.