>[From an interview on Australian Broadcasting with former UN Chief Weapons
>Inspector Australian Richard Butler by ABC's Terry Lane]
>
>RICHARD BUTLER - I believe that there is a very real prospect now that the
>United States of America will attack Iraq without the approval of the UN
>Security Council. That is contrary to international law, it should not
>happen, and I believe the consequences of such an action could be possibly
>catastrophic. I also finally believe that war is almost certain not to be
>the solution to any of the problems that are posed by Saddam Hussein, and
>they are real problems. The smaller reason, not so small for we Australians,
>is, I don't know how to put this as simply as possible. . . Let me just say
>that I'm sick to death of the lies that we're being told about this by the
>Prime Minister of Australia. I heard him again this morning on a national
>television interview, and it was shocking, it was astonishing to hear him
>duck and weave, including by the way, say that in answer to a question about
>the possible deaths of Iraqi women and children, that something broadly
>like, 'Well, you know, that was unfortunate but it was their fault that
>Saddam Hussein was their president, and that's how it goes.' Astonishing,
>and I'm really deeply distressed by his position.