UN experts in Iraq checked on Wednesday the al-Hareth military facility which repairs missiles for the Iraqi air defense system and the Al-Majd repair plant engaged in maintenance of heavy-duty equipment. The UN routinely made no comments on the visits. Meanwhile, one of the more than 100 international experts working in the country said on condition of anonymity that they now have to act like thieves. Despite the secrecy which seemingly veils their work, he said, Iraqis always know beforehand what facility will be visited, and so advise its personnel about the upcoming inspection, according to the pan-Arab daily Ash-Sharq Al Awsat. The expert complained that Iraqis are equipped with faster cars and better means of communications than the teams from the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the
International Atomic Energy Agency. The newspaper cited the expert as saying that the executives and personnel of the Iraqi companies due to be visited, appear to be always ready for inspections. In his view, the conspiracy to which the UN teams have to resort is unavailing. For example, UN experts avoid talking to each other in the presence of the Iraqi monitoring commission, preferring to communicate by exchanging notes instead.
I read another report where the director of the air defense repair facility (SAMs) complained that the U.N. woke him up at 6AM on New Years Day telling him they were inspecting him that day. Seems like some people on the U.N. team are trying to do their job and others are tipping off the Iraqis. What a surprise, NOT! |