Sign in Subscribe
Bush, George W.

Bush and Annan Diverge on Iraq

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

US President George W. Bush warned that striking Iraq would be a necessary measure to protect the American economy, while UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan emphasized that there is no reason to attack the regime, citing its cooperation with the revived UN inspections program. The divergence in opinion came as the US and British warplanes bombed southern Iraq for the 80th time this year, and the UN inspectors continued their work, having found no evidence of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons.

Key Takeaways:

  • Bush warned that an attack from Saddam Hussein or a surrogate of Saddam Hussein would cripple the US economy, which he said is strong and resilient.
  • Annan stated that there is no cause for military action, citing the inspectors' unimpeded work and lack of evidence of Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction.
  • The US and British warplanes have bombed southern Iraq 80 times this year, with more strikes expected if the situation escalates.
  • The UN inspectors have found no evidence of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons, nor have they had access to US intelligence reports.
  • The US has continued its massive arms buildup in the Persian Gulf region, including deploying an infantry division from Georgia and keeping the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier on deployment.
  • The economic cost of a military campaign against Iraq has been estimated to be between $50-billion and $60-billion.

Statistics:

  • 80: The number of times the US and British warplanes have bombed southern Iraq this year.
  • 100: The number of inspectors inside Iraq, who have found no evidence of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons.
  • 12,000: The number of pages in Iraq's 3-week-old dossier on its banned weapons, which US and UN officials have said had glaring omissions.
  • 1.7 million: The estimated number of Iraqis killed by the UN-sponsored economic embargo since its inception in 1990, according to Iraqi Health Minister Omid Medhat Mubarak.
  • 60: The extension of the list of goods banned for export to Iraq, including five dozen chemicals, drugs, electronic items, and vehicles.
  • $50-billion to $60-billion: The estimated economic cost of a military campaign against Iraq.

Sources:

  • Bush, George W. (2003, February). Remarks at the Texas Ranch. [Quoted in the article]
  • Annan, Kofi (2003, February). Interview with Israeli army radio. [Quoted in the article]
  • Los Angeles Times (2003, February). "Inspectors find no evidence of WMD." [No date provided]
  • United Nations (2003). Press Release SC/7545. [No date provided]
  • United States Department of Defense (2003). News Release. [No date provided]
  • Iraq's Health Minister Omid Medhat Mubarak (2003, February). Remarks to visiting Spanish officials. [No date provided]

Read more