Sirens wail over Baghdad

UN inspectors begin work in Iraq

Yesterday at half past eight in the morning, 9 snow-white jeeps left the Canal Hotel in Baghdad at high speed. Behind them, causing chaos on the roads, a cavalcade of foreign journalists rushed. Air defense sirens wailed over the Iraqi capital. Thus, in Baghdad, an event long awaited by the world community took place - UN inspectors began work. For three hours they inspected the Tahadi factory, 25 kilometers northeast of Baghdad, which once housed a prison. Almost at the same time, a second group of inspectors (six more white jeeps), accompanied by journalists, headed to the graphite factory. The inspectors busily disappeared behind the gate. Journalists were not allowed into the complex.

First of all, places that have already been inspected in 1991-1998 will be inspected. International observers need to verify the functionality of the control equipment installed there. Then, suddenly and without warning, all 900 objects planned, but still kept secret, on Iraqi territory will be checked. Among them, by the way, are mosques and nine presidential palaces. Inspectors are determined to search for mobile laboratories, underground factories, installations and warehouses of weapons of mass destruction secretly located in densely populated urban areas.

IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming promises to “find out the truth” and “freeze” them when visiting Iraqi sites, that is, block all entrances and exits so that local personnel cannot remove classified samples and materials. In addition, the namesake of the author of the James Bond novels intends to “achieve full cooperation of the Iraqis.” And this is understandable - the assistance of a couple of local “Penkovskys” can significantly speed up the discovery of nuclear or chemical arsenals. Otherwise, inspectors will need at least a year to find out for sure whether Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.

America can't wait that long. There is very little time left before the start of the “war season” (this is the beginning of the year) and the arrival of the killer heat. The term “significant violations” by Iraq of its obligations, which is not explained in detail in the text of UN Security Council Resolution No. 1441, is considered by Washington as a trigger for the outbreak of hostilities. “Significant violations” can be understood as the presence of dangerous weapons and obstacles in the work of inspectors.

Iraq's representative to the UN, Mohammad Al-Douri, said: “Iraq is not afraid of inspections, we have nothing to hide. But Iraq fears that some inspectors will abuse their powers and cause a conflict that the United States will use to strike.” As Hussein's adviser told the press in Baghdad, the government has given instructions "that the gates of all facilities be open for inspections 24 hours a day." But, he added, “we want journalists to be present, television cameras to be present, we want the inspectors’ work to be documented, especially if problems start.” Iraq's Ministry of Information issued more than a hundred passes to foreign journalists and asked them to accompany inspectors everywhere. But the latter opposed such control: “We must do our work in a calm environment, away from television cameras.”

Demonstrating the latest monitoring equipment to the press in Baghdad, inspector Dimitro Perricos pointedly explained how it works: “You go into an empty room, take samples and find out that it was not previously as empty as it appears. And you can determine the activities carried out in it before.” If inspectors find nothing in the “empty room,” sanctions will be lifted from Iraq. But war could start on its doorstep.

As US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said, Russia, among 50 countries, received a request from Washington regarding its attitude to military action against Iraq and “what contribution they may wish to make.” According to him, there are countries that are ready to join “the efforts in Iraq after the regime change.” Answering a question from the Vremya Novostey newspaper, the Russian Foreign Ministry could neither confirm nor deny the fact that such a request had been received, much less the reaction to it.

Andrey ZLOBIN