On September 16, 2002, the Iraqi Foreign Affairs Minister, Naji Sabri, sent a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, stating: "I am pleased to inform you of the decision of the Government of the Republic of Iraq to allow the return of the United Nations weapons inspectors to Iraq without conditions." Less than three months later, on November 27, 2002, U.N. inspectors began an investigation for illegal biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons in Iraq by searching the al-Tahadi factory and the Al-Rafah military-run complex. Throughout the world, the inspectors' return to Iraq after a four-year stalemate was seen as a great triumph of the international community to prevent war between the United States and Iraq. When inspectors arrived at the doorstep of the Al-Sajoud presidential palace for a "surprise" visit on December 3, 2002, the event was seen as a successful test of the U.N.'s new authority to go anywhere in Iraq without conditions. Although the president of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, has agreed to the stipulations for U.N. inspections "to keep our people (Iraqis) out of harm's way," he also has criticized the process as being "unjust, arrogant, debased American tyranny." Even so, the inspections continue on and, as always, Iraq claims to have destroyed all of its weapons of mass destruction. Does this mean Americans can believe the Iraq conflict will not end up being resolved militarily? In my opinion, the answer simply is "no."