Meaning: The quote you provided is from Douglas Feith, a former United States government official who served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from 2001 to 2005. In this quote, Feith is discussing the role of the United Nations (UN) inspectors in Iraq and their ability to demonstrate to the world whether the Iraqi government is cooperatively disarming, should they choose to do so.

During the early 2000s, the issue of Iraq's disarmament was a highly contentious and pressing matter for the international community. The UN inspectors were tasked with verifying whether Iraq had complied with the disarmament requirements imposed on it following the Gulf War in 1991. This quote reflects the importance of the UN inspectors in providing crucial evidence to the world regarding Iraq's willingness to cooperate and disarm.

Feith's statement underscores the significance of the UN inspectors' role in shaping global perceptions of Iraq's actions. He suggests that the inspectors have the potential to demonstrate to the world, and specifically to help the Iraqi government demonstrate, whether Iraq is actively engaging in cooperative disarmament efforts. This highlights the idea that the inspectors' findings could have a significant impact on how Iraq is perceived by the international community.

Furthermore, the quote implies that the Iraqi government's decision to cooperate with the UN inspectors and engage in disarmament efforts is a crucial factor in shaping global opinions about Iraq's intentions. Feith's emphasis on the Iraqi government's choice to disarm, if it decides to do so, suggests that the inspectors' role is not only to verify compliance but also to help communicate Iraq's actions to the world.

Feith's background as a public servant involved in defense policy during a critical period in U.S. history adds weight to his assessment of the UN inspectors' role. His insights reflect the perspective of a government official with direct involvement in decision-making processes related to international security and disarmament efforts.

In analyzing this quote, it is important to consider the broader context of the Iraq disarmament issue at the time. The early 2000s saw intense international debate and scrutiny over Iraq's alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and its compliance with UN resolutions mandating disarmament. The UN inspectors' findings and reports played a pivotal role in shaping the diplomatic and political discourse surrounding Iraq.

In conclusion, Douglas Feith's quote encapsulates the significance of the UN inspectors' role in demonstrating and verifying Iraq's cooperative disarmament efforts to the world. It highlights the potential impact of the inspectors' findings on global perceptions of Iraq's compliance with disarmament requirements. Moreover, the quote underscores the importance of the Iraqi government's decision to cooperate with the inspectors and engage in disarmament efforts. Feith's perspective as a former public servant involved in defense policy lends credibility to his assessment of the UN inspectors' role in the context of international security and diplomacy.