UNITED NATIONS: The U.S. missile strikes against Iraq have already rendered UNSCOM inspections obsolete as a means of controlling Saddam Hussein. Now, after a late-night meeting at the U.N., the strikes appear to have similarly damaged the Security Council. "The Russians and the Chinese are up in arms that they werent consulted before the UNSCOM inspectors were recalled to make way for the attacks," says TIME U.N. correspondent William Dowell. "They may be ready to leave the punishment of Iraq up to the U.S. and the British, and go their own way."
That means Russia, China and France may well lift economic sanctions against Iraq. "Sanctions were backed up by the potential threat of military action," says Dowell. "Now that threat is gone because its already happening -- theres no reason left for Iraq to cooperate anyway." If Saddam gains three new trading partners, he will have beaten the U.S. yet again.
