Why does Iraq pose a threat to international security ?

1. Why does Iraq pose a threat to international security?

2. Iraq is ruled by a totalitarian regime which has shown on several occasions that it sees its existence and dominance in the region as linked with the possession of weapons of mass destruction. For twelve years, Iraq has sought to deceive the international community by concealing weapons.

3. Iraq's actions Reaction of the international community 1990 1. UN Security Council Resolution 678, adopted on November 29, 1990, authorises the use of all necessary means to achieve the liberation of Kuwait. 1. Iraq invades Kuwait and refuses to comply with an ultimatum by the UN Security Council ordering it to withdraw its forces. 1991 1. Iraq refuses to withdraw from Kuwait voluntarily. 1. Allied forces liberate Kuwait in four days. 2. Iraq submits a weapons declaration, in which only obsolete weapons types are included. 2.UN Security Council Resolution687, adopted on April 3, 1991, states that Iraq must destroy all of its chemical and biological weapons and ballistic missiles with an operational range greater than 150km, and cease its nuclear weapons programme. 3. Inspectors reveal that Iraq is moving around and concealing prohibited weapons.

4. 4. Iraq ignores these demands and blocks the work of weapons inspectors. Iraq returns confiscated documents to the inspectors only after the Security Council threatens the use of force. 3. The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 707 on August 15, 1991, which condemns Iraq’s lack of cooperation with weapons inspectors and demands that inspectors be given uninhibited access to all items to which they have been denied access. 5. Until 1993, Iraq refuses to approve plans for ongoing monitoring and verification by theUN. 4. The UN Secretary Council adopts Resolution 715, which reiterates demands for full cooperation from Iraq and confirms IAEA and UNSCOM plans for ongoing monitoring and verification.

5. 1. Iraq admits that it did possess more chemical weapons and ballistic missiles than it had previously declared.However it maintains that these weapons have already been destroyed. 1. Inspections continue, despite lack of full cooperation by Iraq. The UN Security Council points out on three occasions that Iraq is not complying with its obligations. 1992 2. It is revealed that Iraq’s declaration on biological weapons is incomplete.

6. 1993 1. Iraq denies permissions for an UNSCOM plane to fly into the country, and conducts military manoeuvres on its border with Kuwait. 1. The UN Security Council threatens serious consequences. The US conducts air raids on Iraq, forcing it to cease the manoeuvres. 2. Only at the end of the year does Iraq allow observation cameras to be installed on missile launch facilities. 1994 1. Iraq issues an ultimatum to the UN demanding the sanctions be revoked or it will cease cooperation. 1. In February the IAEA transports the last batch of enriched uranium, able to be used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons, to Russia.

7. 2. Iraq once again starts to move its forces towards the Kuwaiti border. 2. UN Security Councils Resolution 949 rejects Iraq’s ultimatum and demands that Iraqi forces return to their previous positions. 1995 1. The UN Security Council confirms its so-called Oil-for-Food Programme, which allows Iraq to sell $1 billion of oil in a 90-day period in order to bay food. 1. Iraq only approves this programme in 1996. 2. On July 1 Iraq discloses for the first time that it did run offensive biological weapons programmes.

8. 3. Saddam Hussein’s son-in-law defects from Iraq in August and reveals the existence of warehouses for storing illegal weapons. Iraq is forced to open them up to inspectors, but declares that Hussein’s son-in-law created them of his own accord.

9. 1996 1. Iraq repeatedly prohibits access by inspectors to a number of sites. 1. UN Security Council Resolution 1115 of June 12 demands unimpeded access to sites by inspectors, and threatens the use of force to achieve this. 2. Iraq prohibits inspectors from removing destroyed missile parts from the country. 1997 1. After three months of resistance, Iraq permits the removal of missile parts from the country. 1. The US objects to the lifting of sanctions before Iraq has not complied fully with UN demands.

10. 2. In June Iraq seizes control of UNSCOM helicopters and once more refuses inspectors access to sites. 2. The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1115 on June 21, condemning Iraq’s actions. The Resolution postpones the regular review of sanctions. 3. Iraq once again prohibits access by inspectors to locations which it describes as “presidential sites”. 3. The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1134, which once again seeks Iraq’s unconditional cooperation. 4. The UNSCOM and IAEA call off inspections. The UN Security Council calls on Iraq to stop setting conditions on the work of inspectors. 4. Iraq announces that it is expelling UN inspectors that are US citizens. Inspections are blocked.

11. 5. The US commences a military build-up in the region. 1998 1. Iraq continues to block inspections. 1. The UN Secretary General flies to Iraq on February 23 and secures an agreement on resumption of inspections and conditions for the inspection of “presidential sites”. 2. Inspections resume. UNSCOM points out, however, that no progress has been observed on chemical and biological weapons. 2. The UN Security Council adopts a decision to increase Iraq’s oil exports to $5.2 billion per half-year. 3. On August 5 Iraq suspends cooperation with UNSCOM and IAEA inspections.

12. 3. The IAEA points out in July that it is unable to conclude inspections of nuclear weapons in Iraq. As a result, the UN Security Council rejects Russia’s proposal to end nuclear weapons inspections. 4. On October 31 Iraq announces that it is prohibiting inspectors from carrying out even basic inspections in Iraq. 5. Faced with the threat of imminent attack, Iraq resumes cooperation with inspectors on November 14 4. The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1194 condemning Iraq’s actions, but promises to review the sanctions regime if Iraq resumes cooperation with the inspectors. 6. Iraq announces that inspections have been terminated. 5. On October 30, the Security Council approves the sanctions review plan.

13. 6. On December 16, the US and Great Britain commence three days of air raids on Iraq. 1999 1. Iraq rejects Security Council Resolution 1284. 1.The UN Security Council adopts a decision to review its policy on Iraq, pointing out that although many weapons programmeshave been terminated, lack of clarity remains on certain key issues. 2. There is a lack of consensus within the Security Council on further action to be taken over Iraq. The Council adopts Resolution 1284 on December 17, replacing UNSCOM with UNOMIVIC. The Resolution states that sanctions could be lifted 120 days following the return of inspectors to Iraq.

14. 2000 1. There is lack of unity in the UN Security Council on further action to be taken with respect to Iraq. Inspections are halted. 2001 1. The UN Security Council approves Resolution 1382 on November 29, which establishes a list of goods which can only be brought into Iraq with UN approval. In this way, the UN seeks to reduce the effort of sanctions on the Iraqi people, while at the same time allowing more effective control over the flow of double-use goods.

15. 2002 1. In his speech on September 12, US President George W. Bush calls on the UN to act in order to force Iraq to comply with previously adapted UN resolutions. The President promises that if the UN does not wish to take appropriate measures to resolve the problem, the US will itself act to disarm Iraq. 1. Faced with mounting pressure, senior Iraqi officials meet with the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in March, in order to discuss a possible resumption of inspections. 2. On 16 September Iraq announced that it will allow inspectors to return to the country without precondition. 2. The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1441 on November 8, giving Iraq a final opportunity to disarm voluntary or otherwise face serious consequences.