AP Exclusive: Britain, France secretly plan to seek permanent U.N. weapons

[Judi Lynn]

AP Exclusive: Britain, France secretly plan to seek permanent U.N. weapons inspectors force

DAFNA LINZER, Associated Press Writer Tuesday, November 25, 2003

(11-25) 10:55 PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) --

Britain and France want to turn the U.N. inspection force that worked in Iraq before the war into a permanent agency authorized to investigate biological weapons and missile programs worldwide, The Associated Press has learned.

The United States opposes the idea, diplomats and U.N. officials said, putting Washington at odds with its wartime ally Britain and in the same camp as Pakistan and Syria -- Security Council members whose suspect weapons programs have caused international concern.

For the Bush administration, support for the secret initiative could prove embarrassing after it criticized U.N. inspectors for failing to find the same illicit Iraqi weapons the U.S. search hasn't come up with yet.

But a formal rejection could also be awkward since the initiative is based on a recognition that one of Washington's biggest fears -- that weapons of mass destruction could get into the wrong hands -- is a prime concern for the United Nations as well. (snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/11/25/international1355EST0589.DTL

[Barrett808]

1. "Saddam Hussein banned inspectors from continuing their working"

That chestnut just won't die.

[jayfish]

2. Damn Straight We...

oppose it. How we gonna attack all these, evil doing, Irak wannabes with people running around finding out the truth </sarcasm>

Jay

[maddezmom]

3. good plan

Tony turning the screws on Bush* with the French. delicious!

[BonjourUSA]

4. I ask myself if the Bush-Blair meeting has been warmhearted.

Which are our British friends feeling about that?

[Mokito]

5. I've noticed that too

I know that work goes on, but the visit from Chirac immediately after * seemed like a slap to *. Especially when you compare the so called 'security measures' of both visits.

[Voltaire99]

6. Excellent idea. First stop for the agency...

...Israel.