Jei
Spy scandal has reduced America's control...
Thu Sep 19 13:13:37 2002
208.152.73.203

Spy scandal has reduced America's control of mission
>From James Bone in New York
September 18, 2002

The United States will find it hard to control the United Nations weapons
inspectors in Iraq as it once did because of changes made after a US spying
scandal.

The last weapons inspectorate, known as Unscom, was closed down in 1999
after it emerged that Washington had used American members of its inspection
teams to spy on Iraq. The new inspection agency, known as Unmovic, was
deliberately designed to reduce the Americans’ overwhelming influence – thus
making it more difficult for Washington to provoke a crisis if it so desires.

In the new body, Americans play a reduced role in planning inspection
missions and, unlike its predecessor, it will not use US Government staff.

Perhaps the most telling change was the abolition of the powerful post of
deputy chairman, which was always held by an American. The highest-ranking
American in the agency now has a relatively lowly job, in charge of the
training division. The key post of “activity evaluation” is held by a
Chinese official. That of liaising with foreign governments and companies
is held by a Russian.

Another key reform is that the inspectors no longer use US spy satellites,
but employ commercial satellite companies instead.

But there have been many more subtle innovations, such as giving all new
inspectors “cultural sensitivity” training.

The changes were all part of a grand diplomatic bargain struck after the
withdrawal of Unscom inspectors in 1998, when it emerged that American
members had planted bugs and even installed a safe in the UN office in
Baghdad containing communications equipment to beam information up to
satellites.

The original UN ceasefire terms at the end of the 1991 Gulf War were clear:
Iraq could get sanctions lifted only in return for full co-operation in
eliminating its weapons of mass destruction.

The 1999 resolution that established Unmovic, however, sketched the new deal
in less rigid terms: The suspension – but not lifting – of sanctions in
return for “progress” on “key remaining disarmament tasks”.

Unmovic now has a roster of 220 trained inspectors from 44 countries –
including Steven Hatfill, the former US government researcher whose home has
been searched repeatedly by the FBI in connection with the investigation
into last year’s anthrax attacks.

Mr Blix met Iraqi officials last night and was due to brief the UN Security
Council on his talks with them today.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3463-419566,00.html
==========================================

uited at his base in Pakistan to fight the Soviet invaders in Afghanistan. "I created my first [military] camps, where these
volunteers underwent training led by Pakistani and American officers," the Saudi exile said. "The arms were supplied by the
Americans and the money by the Saudis.... Our objective was the Islamic Revolution, no matter who our allies were....
American objectives were not to play a major role."

• New players within the New World Order — Misty, Thu Sep 19 13:42