Monitor: The Sunday newspapers reflect on the continuing crisis in the Gulf

All the News of the World

WHEN THE Gulf War ended seven years ago, firm measures were taken by the United Nations to prevent Saddam Hussein making weapons of mass destruction.

Ever since he has consistently tried to stop or hinder inspection teams appointed to insure he is complying with those measures. At present, nobody is doing that vital job. Saddam appears to be backing down again.

But we have had enough of Saddam's games. He must be stopped, once and for all. If that still means military action, so be it.

News of the World

WAS THERE ever such mighty powerlessness? The Middle East is choked with the weird sculpture of mass destruction: the eerie Stealth fighters, the ungainly buzzards of B-52s, the hundreds of greased million-dollar Tomahawks.

In the end this awesome force was enough to persuade the local war-lord, a practised cock-snooker and bluff-caller, to back down. Hooray for democracy? Hardly. Saddam is still there, his people still the hostages of his vicious little tyranny. (Andrew Marr)

The Observer

ROBIN COOK was right when he said that the entire world would rejoice at the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. For too long the Iraqi dictator has thumbed his nose at the West.

But the West also needs a long-term strategy for removing Saddam from power. This means uniting opposition among the Kurds, Shi'ites and Sunnis; arming and training this opposition in a systematic way, and securing the support of Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

The Sunday Times

WE ARE now being geared up for another virtual war, and a frighteningly gung-ho attitude is prevalent. There is no question that Saddam is a bad thing but, just a few days after some exceptionally brave men talked openly about the horror and futility of war, the spectacle of those who proclaim Who Dares Wins from the safety of their barstools or armchairs rather sticks in my throat. (Suzanne Moore)

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