Killing weapons inspections would clear way for war

I contend recent activity towards Iraq suggests we're trying to provoke Hussein into striking preemptively. Scott Ritter, former chief inspector for UNSCOM, contends we're trying to kill off the possibility for renewed weapons inspection, thus destroying "the last chance to avoid bloody conflict." He writes:

The leaked CIA covert operations plan effectively kills any chance of inspectors returning to Iraq, and it closes the door on the last opportunity for shedding light on the true state of affairs regarding any threat in the form of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

Absent any return of weapons inspectors, no one seems willing to challenge the Bush administration's assertions of an Iraqi threat. If Bush has a factual case against Iraq concerning weapons of mass destruction, he hasn't made it yet.

I fear that we both may be right.