U.S. whittles down list for phase two

To prepare for phase two of the disarmament campaign in Iraq, U.S. intelligence is "whittling down" a list of discrepancies and holes in Baghdad's arms declaration to identify the top half-dozen or so as the basis for an intense and tightly timed series of inspections, probably in the new year, according to U.S. officials.

The Bush administration wants to identify a few "clear winners" that will lead to hidden weapons of mass destruction, produce proof that they still exist elsewhere or precipitate a confrontation because Iraqi President Saddam Hussein balks at full compliance, the sources said.

"This is the trickiest stage. We won't have many chances to screw up; otherwise, we'll lose the initiative. If the first couple inspections turn up nothing and it looks like we're crying wolf, then it'll discredit or make harder subsequent efforts that may have more merit," said one well-placed U.S. official who requested anonymity.

"We have to pick clear winners and play it right or the United Nations will run out of patience and we'll hand the advantage back to Saddam. So there's a lot of gamesmanship involved here," this official said.

Speed will be critical to success during phase two, U.S. officials added. Washington will press the UN teams to move more decisively than in the current piecemeal fashion, they said.

"When everything is in place, then they'll move quickly and in a concerted fashion. It's like trying to find cockroaches in your kitchen at midnight. Once you turn on the light, you have less than three minutes to get them. It's the same principle with Iraq," said a Bush administration official.

To block or chase attempts to move materiel, the United States wants the inspections to deploy rapid-response "B teams" alongside the "A teams" assigned to do the initial investigations - a follow-up capability earlier UN inspectors didn't have, the sources said.