How Kofi Annan Can Stop the War
'According to recent reports, the United States may be about to warn the U.N. inspectors and reporters to leave Iraq within three days. The purpose of this warning will be to protect the inspectors and reporters from harm when U.S. forces attack Iraq, perhaps late next week.

'The situation provides an interesting opportunity for U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. If the U.S. issues the expected warning, he can and should announce that the U.S. has no authority to evict the inspectors, who are United Nations employees. Furthermore, Annan can say that he will not withdraw the inspectors from Iraq unless he is ordered to do so by the U.N. Security Council or the inspectors report that they are not being allowed to do their job.'

This proposal suffers from the same weakness as does Helen Caldicott's proposal that the Pope travel to Baghdad as a human shield, and that is that you cannot ask other people to put themselves in harm's way in favour of your cause. On the contrary, Kofi Annan and Hans Blix will feel a sense of responsibility to their staff. Upon receipt of certain information, they will be obliged to act so as to ensure the Inspections staff is removed to a place of safety.

How Kofi Annan Can Stop the War
'According to recent reports, the United States may be about to warn the U.N. inspectors and reporters to leave Iraq within three days. The purpose of this warning will be to protect the inspectors and reporters from harm when U.S. forces attack Iraq, perhaps late next week.

'The situation provides an interesting opportunity for U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. If the U.S. issues the expected warning, he can and should announce that the U.S. has no authority to evict the inspectors, who are United Nations employees. Furthermore, Annan can say that he will not withdraw the inspectors from Iraq unless he is ordered to do so by the U.N. Security Council or the inspectors report that they are not being allowed to do their job.'

This proposal suffers from the same weakness as does Helen Caldicott's proposal that the Pope travel to Baghdad as a human shield, and that is that you cannot ask other people to put themselves in harm's way in favour of your cause. On the contrary, Kofi Annan and Hans Blix will feel a sense of responsibility to their staff. Upon receipt of certain information, they will be obliged to act so as to ensure the Inspections staff is removed to a place of safety.