February 2, 1999

Name That Dictator 3

… but we can’t get near the plants where he’s making it.

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The Libyans took more than 150 reporters, photographers and camera operators to the plant site Saturday, but the trip amounted to a view from a half-mile away followed by a quick drive around the outside in darkness.

The Libyans would not even point out which of the dozen or so concrete buildings was the source of all the controversy. Asked if a large industrial-looking structure was the facility in question, a functionary shrugged and said, “As you wish.” (1/10/89, Chicago Tribune)

Iraq has again denied U.S. weapons inspectors access to a site despite Baghdad’s promise of full cooperation, a U.N. spokesman said yesterday. A Baghdad-based chemical monitoring team seeking entry to a warehouse on Friday that had been inspected many times was denied access because it was the Muslim Sabbath, said [a U.N.] spokesman… (12/15/98, Associated Press [via Boston Globe])

When in doubt, trying rallying the ‘Arab nation’ …

The Dictator defiantly urged his forces to fight back as one hospital reported five people had been killed and about 30 injured in U.S.-led air strikes against Country X’s capital yesterday.

“Our great people and our brave armed forces … resist and fight them,” the Dictator said in a statement carried by the official Country X news agency. …

“Fight the enemies of God, the Arab nation and humanity. God willing, you will be the victors.” (Toronto Star)

Country X radio issued a call to arms Tuesday to its citizens and the entire Arab world to strike out everywhere at Americans in retaliation for the U.S. attack on Country X, warning that those who do not heed will be “cursed forever.”

“To arms, O sons of our Arab nation, to dive on all targets which belong to terrorist America,” Country X’s radio said in a broadcast monitored in London. (Chicago Tribune)

Which is Libya and which is Iraq?

Get the answer — and the next scenario.

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