Last-Minute Offer Averts US Attack on Iraq as Saddam Accepts UN Inspectors' Return

Strategic Insights -

Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein averted a US-led attack on Baghdad and other targets in the country by making a last-minute offer to allow United Nations weapons inspectors to return to Iraq without conditions. The offer was met with skepticism by the US, with President Bill Clinton's National Security Adviser, Sandy Berger, calling it "unacceptable" and "full of holes."

Key Takeaways:

  • The US had planned to unleash hundreds of cruise missiles on Baghdad and other targets in Iraq, but President Clinton intervened after receiving Saddam's offer.
  • The Iraqi dictator's offer was made in a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, which included conditions for the lifting of UN sanctions on the country.
  • The US was not satisfied with the conditions attached to the offer and considered it "unacceptable."
  • President Clinton had signed an order for a squadron of B-52 bombers to attack targets in Iraq one hour after nightfall, but aborted the raid after receiving Saddam's offer.
  • A squadron of Stealth bombers was heading towards the Gulf last night from its base in New Mexico.
  • The US and its allies continue to insist that Iraq must comply with UN Security Council resolutions in order for sanctions to be lifted.
  • Iraqi ambassador to the UN, Nizar Hamdoon, insisted that the offer to reinstate the UN inspectors was unconditional, but this was disputed by US officials.

Statistics:

  • Hundreds of cruise missiles were poised to be unleashed on Baghdad and other targets in Iraq (source: White House)
  • B-52 bombers were over the Persian Gulf with payloads of up to 300 missiles when President Clinton intervened (source: White House)
  • 4-page document outlining Iraq's conditions for the lifting of sanctions (source: UN Security Council)
  • One week: Iraq's proposed timeline for a review towards lifting UN curbs (source: UN Security Council)
  • January 1998: The treaty brokered by Annan to defuse a similar crisis earlier this year (source: UN Security Council)

Sources:

  • [1] "US bombers were poised to strike", _The Guardian_
  • [2] "Saddam's letter to Annan", _The Observer_
  • [3] "UN says Iraqi offer 'a step in the right direction'", _Associated Press_
  • [4] "Clinton begins 'phone war' with Blair", _Agence France-Presse_
  • [5] "Iraqi ambassador insists on unconditional offer", _United Nations News Centre_
  • [6] "US officials dispute Iraqi conditions for inspectors", _Reuters_