Liz Saville Roberts: “I would like to offer several observations. The first is that the United Nations, as an institution, has completely and…”

“I would like to offer several observations. The first is that the United Nations, as an institution, has completely and unequivocally failed to disarm Iraq consistent with its own resolutions--the resolutions agreed to also by Saddam Hussein-- following the Persian Gulf war of 1991. The key word here is to ``disarm.'' During debate on this very crucial issue, I think we have concentrated too much on the concept of ``inspections'' and the possibility of trying to really somehow initiate a new inspections regime. As a matter of fact, if you read all of the newspaper accounts on this issue, and if you pay attention to the television, the radio, and the debate, it seems to me ``inspections'' becomes the key word. I don't think that is the case. The key issue is not inspections. The key issue is disarmament. Again, both Iraq, under the heavy hand of Saddam Hussein, and the United Nations, have failed in the agreed-upon mandate to follow or take action consistent with resolutions following the Persian Gulf war over a decade ago. And we are talking about actual, transparent, real-- real--disarmament.”