CLINTON BARRED IRAQI INSPECTIONS

Speaking of Saddam Hussein and nuclear weapons: The United States nearly went to war -- again -- with Iraq over the issue of weapons inspections by a U.N. team appointed after the 1991 Gulf War. When it looked like all negotiations would fail, the Iraqi president backed down and allowed the UNSCOM inspectors to go wherever they wanted.

Now it turns out the UNSCOM has repeatedly been prevented from making some sensitive inspections, but not by Saddam Hussein. This time the president nixing the inspections was none other than Bill Clinton.

Clinton received a boost in his ratings after what appeared to be a successful showdown with Iraq over the inspection issue. Now Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has disclosed that the U.S. has actually opposed some planned inspections on the basis that the Clinton administration didn't want to upset the U.N. Security Council.

As incredible as it sounds, it appears the same President Clinton who has enjoyed his status as a no-nonsense commander-in-chief on the Iraqi front has been playing a shell game with the American public and the world. But Albright has an explanation: Iraq's lack of cooperation in arms inspections will help ensure that the Security Council maintains it sanctions against Iraq.

Try to figure that one out.