(Host) Former UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter returns to Vermont this week as part of the Peace and Justice Center’s events marking the 5-year anniversary of the War in Iraq. Ritter was an early critic of the invasion of Iraq, believing the Bush administration ignored findings from weapons inspectors that Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction.
When VPR last spoke with Ritter in November of 2006, he had this to say about the possibility that the Bush administration would also seek to go to war with Iran:
(Ritter) "Iran is in the crosshairs of the Bush administration-it’s gunning for it."
(Host) Now, two years later, and with less than a year to go in the Bush White House term…does Ritter feel the likelihood of hostilities with Iran is more diminished?
(Ritter) "No, I’m extremely concerned about that possibility. I keep reminding people that we’re dealing with the intent of the Bush administration. They want to solve the Iranian problem prior to leaving office. I also point out that the Bush administration is already engaged in a war with Iran. I mean, if people just think about it for a second-if we found a nation funding covert forces to infiltrate the territory of the US, blowing up bridges and creating instability, I think we’d say that’s an act of war…if nations were over-flying our territory taking pictures of sites for the purposes of targeting these sites for potential military action, we’d call that an act of war…we’re doing all of this to Iran as we speak."
Asked about the recent surge of U.S. troops in Iraq and media reports of its success, Ritter says it’s a troubling illusion:
(Ritter) "We surged forces in to do what? We didn’t solve the problems of Iraq, we basically put a bandage over the wound and said that because we could no longer see the blood flowing from the body, the body must be cured…but the wound has not been cured and the body is still bleeding out."
(Host) Ritter says the American public must become better informed on these issues, and confront them even if it means publicly disagreeing with government leaders and policy. He says Vermont is a good example of that watchdog mentality-to an extent:
(Ritter) "I’m going back to Vermont because I am impressed. I have a good working relationship with a number of individuals and organizations…I think we have to recognize that Vermont is a little more progressive, a little more receptive to talking about this issue than other forums, other states around the country. I need to point out however, as great as Vermont is, we’re going to go to communities and let’s say attract 1,000. That’s not very good. I mean, I can get Hannah Montana to come to a similar community and I can pack venues of 40 to 50,000 people for a week straight."
(Host) Scott Ritter will speak tonight at Middlebury College and tomorrow night at St. Michael’s College. Both discussions begin at 7:30.
AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilizi