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U.S. policy lets Iraq become dangerous Last week Saddam Hussein scored his final triumph over the Clinton administration by refusing to allow United Nations weapons inspectors to enter Iraq. This followed the administration's Munich-like declaration that the United States henceforth would not use force to require Saddam to comply with weapons inspections. The net result: Saddam Hussein's effort to acquire and/or build weapons of mass destruction will be allowed to proceed apace, and thus Saddam will be in a position to hold the Middle East and its oil hostage. This situation is not a chance event. It is the result of the Clinton-Gore administration's conscious decisions slowly to abandon tough policies toward Iraq. The costs of this failure are enormous. As Saddam's power in the Middle East grows, so, too, does the threat to U.S. national security. Without Arabian oil, our economy will suffer. Worse still, Saddam is certifiably crazy enough to use chemical, biological or atomic weapons. One question that Al Gore should be asked at the debates is this: "Mr. Vice President, you say we have been a full partner in the Clinton administration. Please explain why the administration chose to lose Iraq and put our country's interests at risk?" And the question for Bush, who has not spoken specifically about Iraq, should be: "Governor Bush, how do you intend to contain and ultimately defeat Saddam Hussein?" The answers could be enlightening. |
