The Times story said the inspection showdown could lead to airstrikes on government buildings in Baghdad and quoted unnamed U.S. officials as saying the timing “appeared calculated to give President Bush a boost” during the convention. It said “one official complained ‘we are going to stage an incident’. . . that will serve as a pretext for military action and’ to help get the president re-elected’.” The story also said the tactic “could damage the credibility” of the United Nations.
Administration sources told NEWSWEEK, however, that the United States was cooperating closely with the U.N. inspectors and that three weeks ago, Bush urged the United Nations not to let Iraq limit the inspectors’ activities. They said Rolf Ekeus, leader of the U.N. team, proposed a surprise inspection to Deputy Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger last week and that Bush gave his approval in a conversation with national-security adviser Brent Scowcroft.
They said the Times story would give the Iraqis time to conceal evidence and raise the chances that Saddam would resist. “We know anything we do will be cast in a political context,” one source said. “But the implication that George Bush and Brent Scowcroft are hatching up some kind of confrontation to help Bush’s re-election is just not fair.”
