Jewish World Review March 11, 2003 / 7 Adar II, 5763

Dan Abrams

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What a new deadline for Iraq should really mean


http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | Britain is proposing a new resolution, which would give Saddam until March 17 to demonstrate "full, unconditional, immediate cooperation in accordance with its disarmament obligations."

LOOK, the chances Saddam will even come close to complying are remote at best and that may not even pass. But, this should be considered a legitimate final opportunity for Saddam to avoid war, an opportunity this administration should hope Saddam accepts, not a false standard designed to ensure he fails.

There should be no technical failures, no legal interpretations, no "close but no cigar," no "sorry you're out of time." This should not be about process. It's too important.

If Saddam comes forward in the next few days, admits he has many of the weapons the U.N. has long known he has, of which he's denied owning, and then agrees to destroy them, that in and of itself should be sufficient to show what Secretary Powell has called Saddam's willingness to do what he has to do, a demonstration of a new mentality, a last effort at survival.

If he shows a new, serious willingness to disarm, that should, at the least, postpone any military effort.

Look, if it turns out to be only a fraction of his illegal weapons, he'll be back on the hot seat again, war again on his doorstep. I still hope there's some way to avoid war without allowing Saddam to keep his dangerous arsenal of weapons. I'm not hopeful, just hoping.

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JWR contributor Dan Abrams anchors “The Abrams Report,” Monday through Friday from 6-7 p.m. ET on MSNBC TV. He also covers legal stories for “NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw,” “Today” and “Dateline NBC.” To visit his website, click here. Comment by clicking here.

Up

03/10/03: The dishonest arguments against war with Iraq
03/07/03: On Iraq, the administration seems undeterred. It seems, there is no other way out
03/05/03: The so-called human shields in Iraq, now coming back from Fantasyland
03/04/03: Michigan backing off of mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug crimes
03/03/03: Why military tribunals could be the best optione of defining them as military
02/28/03: Is prez signaling a return to the American Bar Association ratings for prospective judicial candidates?
02/26/03: And now the "don't-blame-me" attitude is extending to mass deaths
02/10/03: Avoid politicizing the shuttle disaster
01/29/03: A litany of violations? That Saddam has not disarmed is already a given
01/23/03: Why the feds should not give up on the prosecution of alleged 20th hijacker in a federal court
01/22/03: What was Powell thinking?
01/21/03: Human rights groups still don't get it when it comes to the new war on terror
01/16/03: Yet another reason why we shouldn't trust the Saudis
01/13/03: Why the administration should share intelligence with U.N. inspectors
01/10/03: From a special punishment to a garden variety one
01/08/03: Should victims of a terror attack sue the city?
01/06/03: The "Jackpot Jury" syndrome continues
12/30/02: It's the holidays, let me order my wine!
12/20/02: The judge who dropped the ball in the battle over who owns Barry Bonds' 73rd home run ball, valued at nearly $2 million
12/19/02: Requiring Pakistani and Saudi male visitors to register with the INS
12/18/02: Why many seem to misunderstand Iraq's international obligations
12/17/02: Shouldn't there be a standard for what would trigger a war with Iraq?
12/13/02: Judge Rose by what he did on the field
12/12/02: Manhattan prosecutors making a mistake in the Central Park jogger case
12/11/02: Why our government refuses to fully cooperate in the prosecution of a possible 9/11 conspirator
12/10/02: Hezbollah, not a terrorist organization, says Canada
12/09/02: The world's cynical view of America
12/04/02: Why we need to stop electing judges
11/27/02: Why men should be able to sue women who lie about who's the daddy
11/26/02: Training lawyers to be touchy-feely
11/25/02: The story of a real American hero
11/22/02: In Illinois, academics lawyers, judges hurting their pro-life cause
11/15/02: A close reading of Iraq's letter of acceptance makes it clear that Saddam will almost certainly refuse to live up to its terms
11/14/02: Al Jazeera: A state-sponsored mouth-piece
11/13/02: Should Moussaoui be sent to a military tribunal?
11/12/02: Should human rights activists complain about the detainees' treatment?

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