Iraq Calling Bluff On Inspections

Iraq’s latest “no” to U.N. weapons inspectors puts the United States back on familiar and uncomfortable ground: Washington faces an uphill battle if it tries to get the U.N. to take robust action against Iraq.

At least for now, it may have to settle for nonmilitary responses.

Chief weapons inspector Richard Butler left Iraq on Tuesday, having failed to persuade Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to open his many palaces to monitors who are searching for banned biological, chemical and nuclear weapons.

Butler reports to the Security Council on Thursday. It is up to the 15-member council to decide how to respond to the latest Iraqi defiance.

Speaking in Washington, President Clinton reiterated that he will insist on compliance from Hussein before agreeing to lift U.N. sanctions against Iraq.