UNITED NATIONS weapons inspectors began their work in Iraq this week. While the Iraqi government maintains it has no weapons of mass destruction, the inspectors claim they are equipped with the latest technology which will enable them to find any weapons that might be concealed.
The United Nations Security Council has given them a strong mandate which will make it difficult for the Iraqis to play the sort of cat-and-mouse games that they did with weapons inspectors in the past.
Equally significant, the weapons inspection team has so far maintained a greater distance between itself and US intelligence than its predecessors did. Thus, the Iraqis should have less reason to fear that the inspections process may be used as a front for US intelligence-gathering.
All in all, there are grounds for cautious optimism. US President George W. Bush started the year by declaring Iraq part of the "Axis of Evil" and called for "regime change." But, under pressure both from American domestic opinion and the US's international allies, he has now softened his tone. As eager as he seems to be to invade Iraq, he has accepted that if the inspectors declare Iraq in compliance with UN demands, he will back off.
For their part, the inspectors have signalled their independence and indicated that their job is not just a formality prior to a US-led invasion.
Should the optimism be vindicated, it will be a victory of diplomacy over aggressive intentions, and of the world community over unilateralism.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
