Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=1/6/03

TYPE=INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

TITLE=JAMES PHILLIPS, MIDDLE EAST ANALYST

NUMBER=3-475

BYLINE=REBECCA WARD

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=

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HOST: Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is accusing United Nations weapons inspectors of conducting "pure intelligence work," rather than searching for weapons of mass destruction. In a televised speech Monday, the Iraqi leader said inspectors are compiling lists of Iraqi scientists and asking questions about legitimate military operations -- at a time when the United States is considering action against Iraq. The Iraqi leader leveled the same kind of charges against weapons inspectors last time they were in Iraq in the late 1990s. News Now's Rebecca Ward asked Middle East Analyst James Phillips if this was just more of the same rhetoric.

MR. PHILLIPS: I think it is rhetoric, but I think it is important because it shows that the Iraqi regime is inching towards war. Saddam said the same thing about the UNSCOM inspectors before he made their work impossible in 1998. And I think it sets the stage for future Iraqi breaking off cooperation with the U.N. inspectors.

MS. WARD: Do you think that it is possible that weapons inspectors have gotten close to something that is of concern to Saddam Hussein?

MR. PHILLIPS: That is possible. It is clear that the Iraqis were not forthcoming with the list of documents and materials that they were required to report on to the U.N. And Saddam may be fearful that the inspectors may actually find something. So, I think this is evidence that he is ratcheting up his campaign not only against the U.N. inspectors but also stepping up resistance to U.N. Security Council resolutions.

MS. WARD: So, you believe Saddam Hussein is gearing up for war. And the United States, are we headed in that direction as well?

MR. PHILLIPS: I think the United States went through the U.N. Security Council to give Saddam one last chance to avoid war. And it looks like, for his own reasons, Saddam did not grasp that opportunity. So, I think we are headed for war.

MS. WARD: Do you think that it will be difficult to get the U.N. Security Council to agree that Iraq has not cooperated? Because just a couple of weeks ago, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said everything was going smoothly.

MR. PHILLIPS: I think, unfortunately, there are some members of the Secretary Council who would set the bar for cooperation much lower than the United States. The United States intends to hold Iraq to its obligations, to the letter of its obligations. And if the Security Council drags its feet on enforcing its own resolutions, then I think the United States will be forced to do so, accompanied by a coalition of other willing countries.

MS. WARD: How long will it take, though, before cooperation becomes an issue and the United States feels comfortable making that kind of move?

MR. PHILLIPS: I think the Bush administration is committed to going to the U.N. Security Council probably at the end of January. So, I doubt that the U.S. will move unilaterally until after it tries to persuade other members of the Security Council. So, I think it will probably stretch out until at least February.

MS. WARD: And when is the first report due from the weapons inspectors?

MR. PHILLIPS: I think the preliminary report is due January 27th, and there may be discussions at that time in the Security Council. But I would expect that report to be ambiguous. I doubt that they will find the smoking gun that will indict Saddam. But at the same time, I think they will have numerous reasons to question whether the Iraqis are truly cooperating.

HOST: James Phillips is a Middle East expert and Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D. C. He spoke to News Now's Rebecca Ward.

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