This cynical line sets the stage for the Bush administration to reject the declaration of weapons programs and “dual-use” technology that Iraq will submit on Saturday, in accordance with the recent U.N. resolution. Washington will declare any Iraqi statement that does not admit to banned weapons programs, whatever its content, a cover-up, and on that basis insist that Baghdad is in “material breach” of U.N. resolutions. The basis for this determination will be the bald assertion that the declaration is at odds with Washington’s supposed intelligence on Iraqi weapons programs.
What if Iraq surprises the White House and admits to having weapons programs proscribed by the U.N.? In that case the U.S. will likewise declare the country in “material breach.” It is a classic and infinitely cynical “Catch 22.” No matter what Iraq does, the U.S. will claim the right to invade, occupy and seize the country’s oil riches.
This is how White House spokesman Fleischer explained this “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” scenario earlier this week: “If Saddam Hussein indicates that he has weapons of mass destruction and that he is violating United Nations resolutions, then we will know that Saddam Hussein again deceived the world. If he said he doesn’t have any, then I think that we will find out whether or not Saddam Hussein is saying something that we believe will be verifiably false.”
What if Iraq surprises the White House and admits to having weapons programs proscribed by the U.N.? In that case the U.S. will likewise declare the country in “material breach.” It is a classic and infinitely cynical “Catch 22.” No matter what Iraq does, the U.S. will claim the right to invade, occupy and seize the country’s oil riches.
This is how White House spokesman Fleischer explained this “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” scenario earlier this week: “If Saddam Hussein indicates that he has weapons of mass destruction and that he is violating United Nations resolutions, then we will know that Saddam Hussein again deceived the world. If he said he doesn’t have any, then I think that we will find out whether or not Saddam Hussein is saying something that we believe will be verifiably false.”