Mark,

One must read more carefully so as to avoid a friendly fire incident on this bulletin board.

But the article is very clear...to date, we've not found any chemical or biological weapons in the hands of the Iraqis. If they have them - something which has not been confirmed - then the U.N. inspections had the positive effect of forcing Saddam to hide so well that they could not be deployed as the conflict commenced.

That's a very significant factor in the progress of this war. Perhaps we should be thanking the UN and Hand Blix instead of villifying them. Hundreds of American and civilian lives may have been saved as a result of the preceding presence of inspectors in the country.

It is also noteworthy that we've not found any of the two dozen SCUDs Saddam was suspected of holding. Perhaps this means he does not have them. Or, perhaps, these too, were so well hidden that they could not be deployed. (I should note that reports that missiles used early in the war turned out not to be banned SCUDs).

Regards,
Donald