Blix reports to the UN
Iraq
Published: 27-Jan-2003
By: Channel 4 News
So, in an atmosphere of fevered expectation, 60 days after the weapons inspectors began their work they've finally delivered their findings to the UN Security Council.
Click here to read Hans Blix's report now. (Select '27 January update' on left)
The conclusion was tougher than many had expected and was immediately dismissed by the authorities in Iraq.
The chief inspector Dr Hans Blix, and his colleague Dr Mohammed El Baradei listed a number of problems they say Iraqis haven't addressed - and warned their 'window of opportunity' to provide the answers wouldn't be open forever.
Indeed, another deadline has now come into play - on February 14th, in less than three weeks time, the inspectors will have to report again.
Their main findings today:
Iraq seems not to have genuinely accepted the disarmament demands.
It's Arms Declaration last month does not resolve major outstanding arms issues.
Iraq has also refused to guarantee the safety of U2 survellance planes without conditions.
And it has failed to account for 6,500 chemical warfare bombs.
Iraq has also failed to prove it's destroyed all its anthrax.
But there is no evidence that it has revived its nuclear weapons programme.
Mr Blix said the Iraqis had illegally tested "missiles with longer range than the 150 kms" allowed under UN sanctions.
Both Mr Blix and his assistant Mr Baradei stressed that they need "more time to investigate further."
The foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, certainly hasn't pulled his punches after hearing the inspectors verdict - he said Baghdad's cooperation was "a charade."
Material Breach?
But do the gaps in disclosure and co-operation identified by Mr Blix ammount to a "material breach" by Iraq of the key UN resolution, 1441?
They may be, as he puts it, the "tip of a submerged iceberg," but how much farther do they take us on the road to war? Our diplomatic correspondent, Lindsey Hilsum reports.
Britain and America say the inspectors' report proves what they've said all along: Iraq is cooperating superficially but still hiding the truth.
Security Council Resolution 1441
Security Council Resolution 1441 says: "false statements or omissions in the declarations submitted by Iraq" and "failure by Iraq ...to comply with... and cooperate fully in the implementation of this resolution shall constitute a further material breach.."
But like beauty, a material breach is in the eye of the beholder. The inspectors' evidence will bolster both those who feel Iraq is a problem which must be solved immediately by war - and those who say diplomacy and continuing weapons inspections will contain Iraq.
International reaction to report:
The reaction is clouded by the language of diplomacy - Germany, Russia, France and China say today's report shows the inspectors need more time.
They probably mean they're hoping that if they postpone the war, the problem will go away. British and American reaction that the time for inspections is running out mean the time for war is nigh.
Anti-war protestors often say America really wants Iraq's oil reserves - weapons of mass destruction are just an excuse. It's true that it's in America's strategic interest to get a friendly regime in Iraq - not so much for the oil, but to get a better foothold in the turbulent Middle East, a source of terrorism.
Iraq's army was all but destroyed in the Gulf War. Today's report gives the Americans and the British much ammunition for their argument that a new war is needed, but it won't convince countries whose real objection is that they fear America's rise not just as the dominant superpower, but as an aggressive force in the world.
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