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S P E C I A L: The Standoff with Iraq U.S. inspector dismisses spy allegations
December 21, 1997
Ritter
Web posted at: 8:20 p.m. EST (0120 GMT)BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Scott Ritter, a former U.S. Marine Corps major and intelligence officer, has been in the headlines here recently, accused by Iraq of being a U.S. spy.
Since the arms inspection standoff began in November, Ritter -- now working as a U.N. weapons inspector -- has repeatedly been denounced by Saddam Hussein's government.
"It's unfortunate," said Ritter, who denies the espionage allegations. "We do respect the dignity and sovereignty and legitimate national security interests of Iraq and it doesn't serve any of those ... issues by smearing me across the headlines."
One of thousands of weapons inspectors who have been assigned to Iraq during the past 6 1/2 years, Ritter is being singled out.
He has worked in Iraq for six years and has made surprise inspections at what Iraq says are sensitive sites.
Those inspections have angered authorities, and Iraq has banned the U.N. weapons inspectors from checking presidential sites. Baghdad insists no weapons are hidden at those locations.
"We do not telegraph our inspections. We're not obligated to inform the Iraqis where we're going until we arrive at the site. That's part of the issue of access ... immediate, unrestricted, uninhibited," Ritter said.
In stressing that he is not a spy, Ritter said he is open about his background and his work.
"I am not an employee of the CIA. I have never been an employee of the CIA. I have never been affiliated with the CIA. And they know this, the Iraqis," Ritter said.
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Iraq accuses Ritter of being too uninhibited and being reckless with procedure, a charge Ritter denies.
Ritter says that despite his vilification by officials, he and Iraq share the same objective.
"We both want this process to come to a close."
But Ritter, who has just been notified that his U.N. contract has been extended for another six months, said closure will not happen until there's full compliance.
"Who was responsible for this crisis?..."
— Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz
"It boils down to..."
— Scott Ritter
"It boils down to one thing and one thing only. Not Scott Ritter, but the issue of access."
Correspondent Peter Arnett contributed to this report.
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