Hans Blix: All Eyes on The Inspector

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Yes. It was not a hole in the ground; they poured it in the ground. They did the same with the VX.

DO YOU BELIEVE THEM?

I'd like to see evidence of it. I don't work by gut feelings. I have to be the lawyer. Some people say, Jump at this. I'd like to see evidence. I'd like to interview the people. If they have contemporary documents, we can establish whether the documents are authentic.

HOW COULD THERE BE NO DOCUMENTS? HASN'T THE IRAQI REGIME IN THE PAST HAD A PRUSSIAN-LIKE EFFICIENCY IN TERMS OF KEEPING RECORDS?

Well, they've been one of the best-organized regimes in the Arab world. But then, if they destroyed their documents with that efficiency, there might be relatively little left. But when they've had need of something to show, then they have been able to do so.

SO THIS IS ALL A BIT ODD.

Yes, it's a bit odd.

WHAT WILL YOU DO IF IN THE END YOU DON'T GET DOCUMENTS AS EVIDENCE?

I would not say they are guilty. I do not say they have them. I say that I will not recommend to the Security Council to have any confidence.

THERE ARE ALSO QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE QUANTITIES OF WEAPONS THAT IRAQ ORIGINALLY DECLARED REPRESENT THE FULL AMOUNT ANYWAY. You're hinting at their lack of credibility. Of course they have no credibility. If they had any, they certainly lost it in 1991. I don't see that they have acquired any credibility. There has to be solid evidence of everything, and if there is not evidence, or you can't find it, I simply say, Sorry, I don't find any evidence, and I cannot guarantee or recommend any confidence.

THEN IT WOULD BE UP TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL TO TAKE YOUR FINDINGS AND...

That's right. In the last resort, this is a political decision.

DO YOU GIVE PRIVATE BRIEFINGS TO MEMBERS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION?

Well, I meet Condoleezza Rice sometimes. I see Colin Powell sometimes.

DO YOU FEEL ANY PRESSURE FROM THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION TO GIVE IT A HEADS-UP OR TO TAILOR YOUR REPORTS?

It's a very civilized discussion. Some of the things that are said afterward in the media bear very little resemblance to what has been said.

WHAT ABOUT TIMING? THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S URGENT TIMETABLE IS DRIVEN BY CONCERNS THAT IMPENDING WARM WEATHER COULD DERAIL ITS MILITARY PLANS.

I've asked. I've been told that it's less easy, but it can be done. It's not a decisive factor.

TO WHOM HAVE YOU ASKED THE QUESTION?

That would be indiscreet.

WAS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT THE FEB. 14 SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING THAT SURPRISED YOU?

Not really. I registered very carefully what the French Foreign Minister was saying, and he said that he didn't exclude the use of force. And he said that essentially it was a question of time.

ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT THE GULF BETWEEN THE U.S. AND FRANCE IS NOT REALLY SO WIDE?

Maybe not. I read the declaration of the European Union the other day, which also says that inspections should continue but essentially cannot go on forever. So at some point I think the French are ready to say that if we don't succeed by inspection, it's time to go to the use of force.

DO YOU THINK AN ADDITIONAL THREE MONTHS OF INSPECTIONS IS REASONABLE? WOULD SIX MONTHS BE TOO LONG?