ANOTHER CHINK IN U.S. POLICY ON IRAQ

U.S. policy regarding Iraq has been a puzzlement, to say the least. The oil-rich country under the control of Saddam Hussein continues to thumb its nose at the United States. The result: The United States is no closer than ever to a resolution of the unstable situation in Iraq, and most Iraqis are suffering the consequences of U.N. sanctions while Saddam and his cronies live the high life.

U.N. inspections of Iraq's ability to manufacture and deploy weapons of mass destruction are in a shambles. One former American inspector put his career on the line when he told the world that America's hard-line policy was being undermined by secret concessions that have had the effect of keeping Saddam in power.

In going public, the American inspector may have thought there would be a break in the State Department handling of Iraq. But that didn't happen. The inspector was left out in the cold.

Until now. Now the U.S. military commander in the Persian Gulf has told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Clinton administration's strategy for toppling Saddam is both ill-conceived and destabilizing.

That's pretty strong talk, particularly coming from a military commander so close to the situation. What is remarkable is that Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni is still in command in the Persian Gulf. Tough talk in these situations usually results in early retirement, particularly when the tough talk takes exception to the commander-in-chief or embarrasses the State Department.

At least the former U.N. inspector can take some satisfaction that his strongly worded views now have some high-level confirmation.