Nachrichtenagentur AP, Yahoo News, Settle Post-Intelligencer, The Boston
Globe, 01.11.2002

Ex-Inspector Appeals to Germany
Fri Nov 1,11:34 AM ET
By DAVID RISING, Associated Press Writer

BERLIN (AP) - A former U.N. weapons inspector and Gulf War (news - web
sites) veteran on Friday appealed to German leaders to keep up their
opposition to U.S. military action against Iraq, arguing that there are
still alternatives to war.

Scott Ritter, who served as a weapons inspector in Iraq from 1991-98, said
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's opposition to military action in Iraq during
his campaign for Sept. 22 elections conveyed an important message to the
American public.

"The German election resounded across America, Germany sent a clear signal
to the American people that Germany would not participate in a war against
Iraq," said Ritter, in Berlin to speak at a weekend forum.

Hans von Sponeck, former head of the U.N. oil-for-food program who quit his
job in 2000 to protest the effect of international sanctions on ordinary
civilians, criticized Germany's foreign minister for weakening his anti-war
stance on a recent visit to Washington.

Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Thursday Berlin would not send troops
to Iraq, but left open the possibility of playing a supporting role in a
possible strike.

"This is a step back," said von Sponeck, a German.

Heads of the various peace groups that organized the forum said German and
U.S. government officials declined invitations to take part in the two-day
conference that starts Saturday.

Ritter and von Sponeck, who have been on the public speaking circuit
opposing war against Iraq, backed the return of U.N. weapons inspectors with
unfettered access, saying previous teams had eliminated 95 percent of Iraq's
deadly weapons and its ability to produce them.

There have been no inspection teams in Iraq since Baghdad kicked them out in
1998.

At a separate news conference, Raid Fahim of the Iraqi Communist Party said
non-military means of pressing Saddam to give up weapons of mass destruction
and also halt human rights abuses had not yet been exhausted.

"War also brings destruction, and we know this regime will do anything to
stay in power," Fahim said.