Inspectors as Verifiers

Here is a link to Paul Wolfowitz's speech yesterday on Iraqi disarmament. Wolfowitz argues that the inspectors are not responsible for disarming Iraq; they are not on a "search-and-destroy" mission. It is up to the Iraqis to disarm themselves and to the inspectors to verify the disarmament.

The administration could have pounded this harder and sooner, as the media has made it seem as if the inspectors must find a "smoking gun" to justify war. On the other hand, a week or two of pressing this point prior to the first bombs dropping may be just as effective.