Scott Ritter alleges US interfered to hamper Iraqi inspection efforts
Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/3/1998

Scott Ritter, the former US Marine and now former chief inspector of the concealment unit with the UN Special Commission On Iraq (UNSCOM) testified before the US Senate today on the surprising claims that the Untied States has obstructed the inspection process of his team in Iraq.

Ritter has been a controversial figure in the UNSCOM inspection team as a result of Iraqi accusations that he was working for the CIA while doing his inspection work in Iraq. Ritter fought in the Gulf War against Iraq, and reportedly served in an intelligence unit of the US military.

Ritter resigned his UNSCOM post recently as a "protest" for what he claimed is US intervention in the UNSCOM inspection process, in that the US has prevented the effective practice of his mission of disarming Iraq according to UN resolutions on this matter.

Ritter claims that Iraq will be able to reconstruct its chemical and biological program along with its ballistic missile program in a period of six months after effective inspection efforts are stopped. He further alleged that Iraq has the "all" the parts except for the fissile material for constructing three nuclear bombs. These remarks do not agree with the International Atomic Energy Agency report. In April, the UN Security Council dealt with reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency, which said Iraq had produced its final declaration on its nuclear program and no new evidence was found of other activities. The French Foreign Ministry's spokesperson said at the time (our 4/28 report) that in light of the IAEA's findings, "What we wish is for the Security Council to adopt a decision dedicated to the passage of continuous control of the nuclear aspect, and act upon progress and the fact that the IAEA's report is satisfactory. We also hope that the Security Council will engage in a consideration concerning the conditions that will permit, when the time comes, a similar measure concerning the ballistic sector." Iraq has complied and successfully passed the nuclear disarmament and inspection program, yet the nuclear file has not been closed.

Previous Stories:
  Baghdad seeks to lift UN trade embargo rather than extending oil-for-food   (9/3/1998)
  Iraq expects division in its favor inside UN   (8/14/1998)
  Diplomats in Russia - France - China on Iraq   (2/14/1998)

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