Iraq must permit UN searches

Iraq has won what must be a short-term victory by barring United Nations inspectors from searching for illegal weapons in Baghdad.

The next step by the UN and its members must now take away this brief triumph.

The UN security Council has properly condemned Baghdad for locking out the weapons inspection team. The next step must be action against Iraq for its latest breach of its own legal agreement.

It is important to let Iraq know that breaking its promise to the world is a serious matter. The reason UN weapons inspectors are still in Iraq five years after the Gulf War is simple enough: Iraq's leaders have lied, cheated and killed.

In a world attempting nuclear disarmament, Iraq has secretly tried to build nuclear weapons. While voting with the world to ban poison gas, Baghdad built poison gas factories and weapons.

While the United Nations and its members struggled for peace in the Middle East and elsewhere, Iraq invaded and occupied its neighbor, Kuwait.

In short, the Baghdad government under Saddam Hussein has been an aggressive, cheating and murderous regime.

Tested many times for truthfulness and civilized behavior, Iraq's leadership has been found wanting.

It was less than two weeks ago that the UN weapons team demolished the latest plant at al-Hakm. The factory was used by Iraq to make poison gas for warfare.

Renewed military action against Iraq can be justified, but in fact such punishment has had no effect on President Hussein's actions. UN members must carefully consider their options.

One principle must be maintained, however: UN weapons inspectors must get into the five Baghdad bases and, into any other necessary, as a last resort, officials must use force if necessary.

Under no conditions may Iraq be let off this hook.

It was Baghdad's own agreement to allow such inspections which saved the regime in 1991. It may not be allowed to go back on its word.

-- The Bangkok Post