UN inspectors out of Iraq

In light of the expulsion of American weapons inspectors who were driven from Iraq to Amman, Jordan, the UN pulled its weapons inspectors out of Iraq, flying the team to Bahrain. The request to allow the American inspectors to leave with the others was denied.

The UN decided to pull its inspectors out after Iraq ordered the American members of the team out of the country immediately. Late yesterday, the UN passed a resolution condemning Iraq's expulsion of the Americans, which threatened "serious consequences" if Iraq does not rescind the expulsion order immediately. As in past warnings, the consequences were left unspecified, but Security Council members clearly indicated that it does not include military strikes.

Meanwhile, U-2 flights are expected to resume over the weekend. Iraq has stated that the US-owned and piloted U-2 spy planes will no longer be recognized as UN planes and will be shot down if they fly over Iraq. Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said, "Those who are sending the planes are triggering the crisis." Aziz continued by indicating that, "If they want to stop the confrontation, they can stop the flights."

Aziz expressed interest in getting past this crisis, "I'm ready to meet with American officials and ask for the formation of a security group that would also include US citizens, so that they can make determinations on the inspections" and in order to have a time limit on the inspections.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the UN Bill Richardson said that the US was pursuing diplomatic means to address the crisis, by trying to build international support for its position.

Richardson denied Iraqi accusations that the US controls the UN Security Council but he said, "The UN advances US interests." He responded to Aziz's statement earlier this week that the oil-for-food deal is a "farce" since Iraq is not receiving any money and low benefits from the deal by saying, "The UN is flexible on this issue, and if there is something we can do we will look into it."

Richardson also indicated Iraq is strategic threat to the region and to US interests, "They are a threat to our great friend Israel." But Israel's Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai said that Israel has nothing to fear from Iraq, and his deputy, Silvan Shalom, said that Israel would retaliate for any Iraqi attack on her, while analysts said that at this time, Iraq was too weak to launch an offensive against Israel.