Dr. Frank's What's-it: All carrot, no stick As

December 10, 2002

All carrot, no stick As

As U.S. experts began to copy and comb through Iraq's 12,000-page declaration of its weapons of mass destruction program, the Bush administration moved yesterday to assure skittish allies that it does not intend to use the document as a trigger to begin military operations against Iraq, U.S. and foreign officials said.

"We're now on common ground with the administration" in a position of "measured skepticism" but no "crazed or precipitative reactions" about Iraq's contentions that it has no chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons programs, said a senior diplomat from one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

Bush has blinked, gone wobbly, lost the use of his spine. He's flopping around on the jetty of foreign policy, praying that the kid who reeled him in will eventually get around to removing the hook. And pausing every now and then to tell the kid to "make no mistake," which used to be quite unexpected and shocking, but which, after the umpteenth time, the kid feels he can safely ignore. Everyone knows who's making the mistakes around here.

Why on earth would Saddam consider giving up his weapons when it's so absolutely crystal clear that the consequences of failing to do so will be practically nil? He just has to hide them for awhile; then the sanctions will be lifted. Then on to greater "glory." That's the deal, right?

(via Daily Pundit.)

Posted by Dr. Frank at December 10, 2002 07:49 AM | TrackBack