February 25, 2003

Is Saddam Using Dan Rather?

Is Saddam Using Dan Rather?

Great scoop for CBS and Dan. But I think I have an idea what Saddam is up to. By pretending to be defiant regarding the al-Samoud missiles during the interview with Rather, he continues to make public hay about an ancillary issue not directly related to his tucked away stockpiles of WMD. He thus positions himself to dramatically offer another "concession" (ultimately agreeing to destroy said missiles) just when the likes of Angola, Chile, Pakistan, Guinea, Cameroon and Mexico are deciding whether to go with the Washington-London-Madrid second resolution or the "go slow" Franco-German approach. Imagine the enthusiastic Gallic shrieks that will emanate from Dominique de Villepin's Quai D'Orsay regarding how well the inspections are working should Saddam move to destroy the missiles!

Bush must continue to use the presidential bully pulpit to ensure that the international community remains focused on the missing mustard gas, anthrax and botulinum toxin rather than the missiles. Of course, Saddam may be smarter than all this and simply have concluded that war is inevitable and thus he better hold on to the missiles. But I suspect he is still holding out that division among the UNSC might still provide him an out thus leading to his continued machinations and brinkmanship a la Dan Rather interview.