UN admits 'early warning' gaffe
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The UN inspection mission to Iraq admitted last night that it had told Iraqi authorities in advance of a supposedly "no warning" search.
The UN said it had informed a military industrial complex near Baghdad of the visit hours before it took place. The disclosure will anger the Bush administration, whose senior members have been disparaging about the ability of the chief inspector, Hans Blix, and his team to unearth chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
"No warning'' inspections were authorised by the new UN resolution on Iraq and have been held up by the inspection team as one of the most important means of detecting any Iraqi subterfuge.
News of the early warning came after the director of the Mother of All Battles company, in Yusoufiyyah, south of Baghdad, told journalists that he had known about the inspection at least an hour before it happened.
The UN spokesman in Baghdad said the inspectors did not know how this could have happened, but a statement revealed the Iraqis had been told that monitors were coming. The UN said that the warning wouldn't be repeated.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments