UNSCOM's return to Iraq after attacks uncertain

Today, US Secretary of Defense William Cohen said the US is going to hit military and military-related sites "those forces that deal with weapons of mass destruction," adding, "We will continue to contain" Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Those remarks were echoed by US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who said that this is the medium-term objective toward Iraq with the long-term objective being the institution of a new government.

Iraq did not specify whether after this attack is through if UNSCOM will be allowed back in the country. The US had previously stated that UNSCOM has been extremely effective in disarming Iraq, where the US president at the end of the previous crisis cited the importance of having UNSCOM operational inside Iraq.

Albright said today regarding this subject, "If we can get a functioning UNSCOM, [back in Iraq] that would be a plus."

Updated 4:50pm:

Due to Iraqi accusations against him and the strong condemnation he received from Russia and others at the UN Security Council yesterday for his reports and method of operation, UNSCOM chief Richard Butler defended himself today saying his reports are not biased and are based on the fact. Butler did not say that he will resign as a result of the loss of confidence in him by some of the Security Council members, only to say that it is up to the Council to do what it wants. Butler has been very controversial during the many crisis between the UN and Iraq, and Iraqi officials have indicated that there are no effective communications between them and him.

Even if the Security Council were to think that Butler can no longer effectively do his job, he still maintains the support of the US which has a veto power over his firing. But even with the firing of Butler, events may have escalated and the US has reportedly intensified its attack. This intensification of the attacks could well be due to the US discounting the return of UNSCOM, and doing all it can, while it can, to achieve its stated goal to weaken Iraq's ability to reconstitute its weapons of mass destruction.