<<a href=http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?"tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020805/ap_to_po/us_iraq_23>Possibly in anticipation of a decision, Saddam has invited the chief U.N. weapons inspector, Hans Blix, to Baghdad for talks, with the hint it might result in renewing a hunt for illicit weapons that was suspended in December 1998.

"But the Bush administration rejected the offer as well as one to members of Congress to tour suspected biological, chemical and nuclear weapons sites."

Only a madman wants war if it can be avoided. IF WMD were the issue, one would inspect until and if the inspections proved unsatisfactory. Makes sense, right? If those are a concern, then let's not guess, let's look.

IF Daddy's pride and oil were the real issues, then, of course, inspections wouldn't matter. In fact, they would be counterproductive, as they could show the issues aren't real, so you wouldn't want to seen them happen.

And, I repeat, only a madman wants war. It's sure looking as if Saddam doesn't want it.

Arf