Weapons inspectors bolstered the United States’ case Monday that Iraq has failed to cooperate with them wholeheartedly, but also called for at least a “few months” to give the process time to avert a war.
The U.S. rejected Iraq’s response to UN disarmament demands as inadequate, with Secretary of State Colin Powell warning that Saddam Hussein has “not much more time” to “turn on the light” about his weapons programs. China, Russia and France countered that the reports support the need for further inspections.
In a toughly worded critique, chief inspector Hans Blix charged that Iraq has never genuinely accepted UN resolutions demanding its disarmament and warned that “cooperation on substance” is necessary for a peaceful solution.
With UN inspectors crediting Iraq with only limited cooperation in the search for weapons, the Bush administration moved steadily Monday toward a military showdown and suggested a decision could come as early as next week.
The Pentagon pushed ahead with war preparations as the White House prepared to release new evidence to support its charges that Saddam remains defiant and heads a regime with ties to Al Qaeda.
Iraqi Ambassador Mohammed al-Douri defended his country’s actions.
“We open all doors to Mr. Blix and his team. We have no hidden reports at all.”
