DAR AL HARB - U.S.A. - NEW HAMPSHIRE: SCOTT RITTER RANTS, AGAIN

Ex-weapons inspector sees war with Iran
By CLYNTON NAMUO

DURHAM – Unless President Bush is stopped, the nation is on its way to war with Iran in a situation startlingly similar to the lead-up to the war in Iraq, a former United Nations chief weapons inspector told a University of New Hampshire audience Thursday night.

Scott Ritter, who served as an inspector in Iraq during the 1990s, put the blame for the war in Iraq on every U.S. citizen in a rousing speech to about 150 people. He said it is the duty of all Americans to demand answers from their leaders before decisions are made that put U.S. troops at risk.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we're going to war with Iran; that's the sad truth," he said. "There's hope that we can stop this but it's going to require that we as people of the United States do something."

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"We claim to support the troops, but we can't begin to support them if we can't come to grips with why they're fighting," Ritter said in a bellowing voice that made his microphone practically irrelevant.

Ritter had plenty of blame to spread around last night for the War in Iraq, from the media to Congress, but he saved the heartiest dose for President Bush, whom he criticized for proclaiming that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction before the invasion.

"He's a liar, there's no other way to put it," Ritter said.

Now Bush officials are speaking about Iran developing weapons of mass destruction, in a manner reminiscent of discussions on Iraq prior to the U.S. invasion there, Ritter said. He was particularly critical of CIA estimates that say Iran is within seven to 10 years of developing a nuclear weapon, something Ritter said is true of every country on Earth.

"Starting from scratch today in Durham, you are seven to 10 years away from producing a nuclear weapon," he said.

Ritter said Iran simply does not have the technology or resources to build a nuclear bomb and won't for quite some time.

The key to avoiding more mistakes like the war in Iraq is a citizenry willing to demand accountability from its leaders and to ensure tough questions are asked, Ritter said. He said a recent poll showed 70 percent of Americans believe Iran has a nuclear program, but few could answer why they had that belief other than that President Bush has said so.

While there was evidence showing Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction before the invasion, Ritter said no one asked the necessary questions.

"We the people of the United States of America have failed egregiously across the board to do our duty as citizens," he said.


Pertinent Links:

1) Ex-weapons inspector sees war with Iran