Warmongering

As former head of the UN’s biological weapons inspectorate in Iraq, Richard
Butler knows more than anyone else about Saddam Hussein’s bioweapons programme.
In The Greatest Threat, he blames the UN’s failure as much on Western
politicians as on Iraqi intransigence. It’s a good story, though his claim that
Saddam has again built up a credible arsenal and is preparing to use it never
really stands up. Published by Public Affairs, New York, $26, ISBN
1891620533.