A WARNING TO MAINTAIN A VIGILANT EYE ON IRAQ

Rolf Ekeus, former head of the U.N. Special Commission supervising Iraq's arms dismantlement, estimates that Iraq could reconstitute its ability to use biological weapons within a month or two after their destruction.

The key to controlling Iraq is to "keep inspectors there," Ekeus said. They keep track of capabilities, personnel and the fermenters that produce organisms useable for a number of things, including biological warfare, he pointed out.

Ekeus, now Swedish ambassador to the United States, said during a luncheon with Washington Post editors and reporters that his primary concern is inspectors being thrown out of Iraq. They were thwarted in recent months from inspecting such things as weapons components that ideally should be destroyed, he said. Inspectors would also like to see records, he said, since claims that many documents were burned during 1991 Persian Gulf War bombing raids have proved false.

The Iraqis "protected their documents very carefully," he added. The important documents to look for are "the how-to documents, how to get the exact temperature, pressure, etc."

The U.N. Special Committee was led to a huge number of documents after President Saddam Hussein's son-in-law, Lt. Gen. Hussein Kamel Hassan Majeed, defected to Jordan in 1995. Relying on his reports, inspectors found a mix of "how-to manuals, or cookbooks" and past records. The debriefing of Hussein Kamel, in which Ekeus was involved, revealed that Iraq had hidden part of its capability by keeping material in safe houses.

Distrustful of the general army, Saddam Hussein relies on the Special Republican Guard, composed of three or four brigades, Ekeus said. The other body he relies on is the Special Security Organization, led by his younger son, Qusay. Despite the arrest of some 400 people after a thwarted assassination attempt against Saddam Hussein's oldest son, Uday, the culprit was never found, indicating that the Iraqi leader's security system is not as foolproof as believed. Uday had taken part in the operation that lured Hussein Kamel back to Baghdad and in his assassination three days later, Ekeus said.

Careful Spending on Embassy Row

"After the rain, the land will be firmer" is a proverb being repeated by diplomats and members of the Asian community here to buck up their spirits in the face of sagging exchange rates and the financial crisis back home.

"We are being very careful," said Malaysia's deputy chief of mission, Rajmah Hussein. "We will probably spend less, and we are spending from accounts at home. Those with children here have to bring more money to pay tuition fees; those are the hardest hit."

Malaysian Ambassador Dato Dali Mahmud Hashim said that cuts of 35 percent in the ringgit's exchange rate, 18 percent in budget allocations and 3 percent to 10 percent in the pay of senior officials means "we have to tighten our belts." Malaysian diplomats receive their living allowance in dollars; their salaries in ringgit.

"That is all," he added. "We have to manage somehow."

Robyug Park, director of general affairs at South Korean Embassy, said the fluctuation of the won has meant a 20 percent pay cut: South Koreans at the embassy get part of their salary in dollars but most of it in won. "We are doing our best to take austerity measures, reduce the subscriptions to newspapers and the use of paper," he added. Many are bringing lunch from home or calling for fast food instead of going out.

"After hardship comes the sweet fruit," said Park, quoting a Korean proverb. He said he would rather give up a skiing vacation than compromise his children's education. "Going home does not solve the difficulties; we have to do our job."

A Christmas Bride From Down Under

At home, Australian Ambassador Andrew S. Peacock would have celebrated Christmas 16 hours earlier, going to church and exchanging presents with family and friends before a huge midday meal, then taking off for the beach for a sunny, lazy afternoon in temperatures of 100 degrees or more.

Here, "the Christmas cheer and spirit are the same," he said reassuringly, minus the reindeer and the snow, of course, which in Australia are featured only in greeting cards.

To conjure up symbols of the season Down Under, the Australian Embassy staff installed six white kangaroos, known as "boomers," on the embassy roof at 1601 Massachusetts Ave. NW. If you visit the embassy, you may collect a copy of the Australian carol "Six White Boomers," which tells the story of Joey, a kangaroo rescued by the boomers and Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

But Peacock's Christmas was even more enchanting than usual. Daughter Caroline, the producer of an Australian news show, married Jeremy Cordeaux at St. John's Church on Lafayette Square. Peacock worried about flowers, the menu and hairdressers. Was the couple carried off in a boomer-pulled carriage?

Cutline: "Keep inspectors there," Swedish Ambassador Rolf Ekeus urges in dealings with Iraq.

Articles appear as they were originally printed in The Washington Post and may not include subsequent corrections.