EDITORIAL : DELAY COULD BE DEADLY; U.S. SHOULD REMAIN AGGRESSIVE IN INSPECTING WEAPONS SITES IN IRAQ.

WHEN alarm buttons go off concerning Iraq, the United States should stop hitting the ``sleep'' button and finally wake up.

Last week, Scott Ritter, a top U.S. inspector on the United Nations team responsible for halting Iraq's deadly weapons program, resigned in protest after charging that the inspections to uncover hidden weapons are a joke.

Ritter contends the United States acted to discourage surprise inspections at suspected weapons sites to avoid an open confrontation with Iraq or angering other nations.

He blamed the U.N. Security Council for undermining inspection efforts, and he warned that ``the illusion of arms control is more dangerous than no arms control at all.''

Every delay allows Saddam Hussein time to hide weapons or continue building his arsenal - weapons of mass destruction that include biological, chemical or nuclear weapons.

President Clinton's willingness to bomb chemical weapons plants in Sudan shows America is capable of quick, forceful strikes against terrorism. That same firm resolve should be directed toward Iraq.

Unfortunately, the Clinton administration is again waffling on Iraq. The administration argues that it is forced to explore diplomatic options and seek support on the Security Council because there is little support from either Congress or our allies for military intervention.

Clinton has repeatedly invoked the threat of force to compel Saddam to cooperate. Now it's time to show that same resolve in dealing with the Security Council and our allies.

The stakes are too high and Saddam is too dangerous to grant him an edge in rebuilding and/or stockpiling his deadly arsenal. Even a few weeks is too much time in abandoning an aggressive inspections program.

Delay is dangerous. Saddam is the last man on Earth who should be given a window of opportunity.