Bleak Outlook for U.S. in Iraq, Says Blix

[emad]

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Reuters) - "There's a hatred against the United States and you have 130,000 American troops sitting there as a big target," said Hans Blix as he leaned forward to make his point about the future of Iraq and its military occupation. "The borders, although guarded, are not watertight. Weapons of mass destruction may not be there but conventional weapons are and the U.S. does not have the capacity to guard it all," Blix added. "The outlook is bad."

His time over as chief U.N. weapons inspector, he has a bone to pick with those who took the United States and Britain to war with Iraq on claims that Baghdad could wage quick and terrible destruction. "This was the basis upon which the war was sold and justified and today I think no one would say Iraq constituted a danger in the spring of 2003," said the 75-year-old Swede. Sitting in the Stockholm apartment where he has lived for more than 30 years between assignments, Blix now watches Iraq and the Middle East from the sidelines. But he gives notice that far from disappearing into history as a footnote, his voice will continue to be heard.

First there is a book he is writing, to be called "Weapons of Mass Destruction," which he says will exhume issues and facts that some might prefer to remain buried. Then there is a new commission against weapons of mass destruction -- paid for by Sweden and supported by international think-tanks -- he is putting together and heading. He says both projects will bear fruit quickly, but his 70,000 word book should appear first and set the record straight about Iraq, at least from his perspective. A deal has been signed with publisher Bloomsbury and the manuscript should be finished by the end of the year. "I was one of those who saw so much of what was happening and I have an obligation to write about that," Blix said. "I have a lot of clarifications. There will be lots of interesting things, yes."

More:http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=WWT310BJPGP5QCRBAEKSFEY?type=ourWorldNews&storyID=3881241

[Sweetpea]

1. I hope this is released during the summer of 2004

[ewagner]

3. probably

be banned in the United States.....

may have to purchase Blix's book on the "black market".

[Jacobin]

2. "bleak" is a little too optimistic IMHO

Disasterous is more appropriate.

[1songbird]

4. This book will probably have valuable

information. I hope it's available soon.

[emad]

5. Dr David Kay interview:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/3226504.stm