UNSCOM was a failure
cns.miis.edu
12/16/98
Richard Butler, Chief of the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM), ordered weapons inspectors to leave Baghdad on 16 December 1998. Butler reported that Iraqi officials had interfered with UNSCOM's investigations. He said that inspectors trying to enter the Baath Party headquarters were denied entrance. This interference defeated the purpose of inspections.
10/17/98 - Kofi Annan speaking frankly
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan told reporters on 16 October 1998 that he believes Iraq will never be fully disarmed and that weapons inspectors may have to avoid confrontational inspections in order to regain Iraq's cooperation. Annan cited the United States disinterest in military force to push Iraq to comply to inspections and the sympathy of Russia, France, and China as reasons why Iraq will not comply with inspections. Annan stated he fears Iraq will bar the U.N. Special Commission (UNSCOM) from entering Iraq completely.
UN officials reported on 12 August 1998 that Iraq had blocked all UN weapons inspections. Iraq also announced that UN inspectors would not be allowed to act on any violation that they discover.
In statements to the UN Security Council, Richard Butler, executive chairman of the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM), and Mohammed el-Baradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that "Iraq's refusal to cooperate with active inspections was already weakening what they called ongoing monitoring and verification."
5/8/98 Why Saddam decided to get especially tough in '98
UN weapons inspectors believe that the US administration is frustrated by the lack of support from other countries to continue weapons inspections and sanctions against Iraq. A senior UNSCOM official said that the US administration in quietly giving up on ridding Iraq of its prohibited weapons and dropping support for UNSCOM's efforts. Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Shahaf said there is a "fundamental shift in the dynamic in the [Middle East], and the [US officials] know it." Al-Shahaf said that there is little support in the Security Council for continuing sanctions.
2/17/98 Clinton talks tough but unfortunately "does not want to be portrayed as "bloodthirsty" for war" which is what it takes to handle Saddam
In a speech to the Pentagon on 17 February 1998, US President Clinton described Iraq's history regarding weapons inspections after the 1990-91 Gulf War as "delay and deception." While a military strike may be necessary the United States said it prefers a diplomatic solution. Clinton said that the terms for a US agreement for UN weapons inspections are inflexible. "We have no business agreeing to any resolution of this that does not include free, unfettered access to the remaining sites by people who have integrity and proven competence in the inspection business."
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will visit Baghdad on 21 February 1998. An official in the Clinton administration said the US does not believe Annan's mission will be successful. If not, US officials said "an extended air bombardment campaign will become a virtual certainty."
Clinton's speech was aimed at building public support for a US confrontation with Iraq. Clinton does not want to be portrayed as "bloodthirsty" for war, especially since France, Russia, and other US partners on the Security Council oppose a military strike. They have proposed that the inspection of the presidential palace be put directly under Annan's command instead of under UNSCOM. However, the United States does not agree to such a plan. Saddam believes that blocking these inspections is "merely asserting legitimate national pride and sovereignty by restricting access to personal residences."
Clinton criticized the Iraqi President by saying "Now, instead of playing by the very rules he agreed to at the end of the Gulf War, Saddam has spent the better part of the past decade trying to cheat on this solemn commitment. Iraq has filed false reports about what programs it has." |
