This interview pisses me off. Russia, China, Germany, and France seem to think inspections are making progress, but they aren't. It's an illusion.
According to a Businessweek editorial
Former President Bill Clinton says all the U.N. inpsections in the eight years of his two terms turned up little. Only when Saddam's son-in-law defected did the U.S. learn of massive bioweapons research and productions going on in Iraq. It was a shock. Clinton, like Bush, has no faith that inspections can produce disarmament. Neither should we.
Saddam is playing a game. He is giving us just enough cooperation to think we are making progress, but not enough to allow us to acheive our goals. It is the same game I used to play before I was married, and a girlfriend wanted more commitment. I spent more time with her for a week or two, did some more couple-like stuff, acted like I am more serious, but then a week later I was trying to hook up with another girl. I didn't want to spend forever with whoever I was dating, but I didn't want to be single again, so I hedged my bet. That is what Saddam is doing.
Children play this game with parents when the parent says "eat your dinner or you don't get any cookies." The kids don't gobble up their food – they eat a little more, then ask for cookies, then eat a little more, then ask again. Finally, they just ask how many more bites. They want to do the bare minimum required to get the cookies. You'd think these other countries would have figured this out by now.
I support war because a lifetime of inspections won't uncover all of Saddam's weapons. I support war because it will make the Middle East more stable. I support war because it will make America and Europe safer from terrorism. And I support war because the Iraqi people deserve to be free.
