UN Inspectors Confront Iraq's Obstacles in Nuclear Disarmament Efforts

In a month-long pursuit of evidence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, UN inspectors encountered a series of hindrances, including deliberate delays and evasive tactics. Richard Butler, the head of the United Nations weapons inspection commission, attributed these incidents to Iraq's determination to conceal biological and chemical weapons. The inspectors' difficulties in accessing sensitive sites and obtaining accurate declarations from the Iraqi government have strained their collaboration with the UN.

Key Takeaways:

• Iraq deliberately delayed UN inspectors for 20 minutes, replacing old hard drives with new ones, which contained computer games instead of records of the weapons program.
• UN inspectors have evidence that Iraq has loaded biological weapons onto missile warheads, which can be launched from mobile launchers.
• The Iraqi government has never cooperated fully in the disarmament process, with declarations always being incomplete.
• Iraq has enough biological material to cause significant damage, including anthrax or botulin toxin, enough to "blow away Tel Aviv."
• The inspectors do not know the exact number of missile systems Iraq possesses.
• The United States and Britain are pressing for military action, while Mr. Butler expects enough notice to withdraw the 150 inspectors and other workers stationed in Iraq in the event of military action.
• The UN inspectors are monitoring over 100 sites, using surveillance cameras and collecting samples for analysis.
• Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz rejected Mr. Butler's proposal to provide foreign diplomats as a face-saving escort for inspectors entering presidential palaces, saying "Get lost."

Statistics:

• 150 inspectors and other workers are stationed in Iraq.
• Hundreds of millions of dollars are generated each month from the contraband oil trade through the Iraqi port of Basra.
• 100 sites are being monitored by UN inspectors.
• 8 presidential complexes were identified by Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz with President Hussein's palaces and other buildings.

Sources:

• Richard Butler, meeting with New York Times editors and reporters
• New York Times, report of the meeting with Richard Butler
• United Nations Security Council, upcoming meeting to decide next steps
• Butler, Richard (2002). "United Nations Speakers' Bureau". United Nations.