In a new book, former UN inspector Rolf Ekéus recounts how the Bush administration blew off a plan to avoid the 2003 invasion of Iraq. […]
In his recently published book, “Iraq Disarmed: The Story Behind the Story of the Fall of Saddam,” Ekéus reiterates his conviction that by the time he left his position as UNSCOM director, “there was considerable evidence that the situation was largely under control.” […]
Meanwhile, Madeleine Albright played a major role in Washington’s interactions with the Commission, first as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and later as secretary of state. Ekéus argues that the Clinton administration tasked Albright with making sure sanctions on Iraq would be maintained by the Security Council. The Swedish diplomat’s suspicions would be confirmed when, soon after becoming secretary of state, Albright gave a speech at Georgetown University stating that “we do not agree with the nations who argue that if Iraq complies with its obligations concerning weapons of mass destruction, sanctions should be lifted.” Ekéus describes the Georgetown speech as a “blow,” as Albright’s words were in direct contravention of the famous paragraph 22. As Ekéus explains, his “strongest argument for persuading Iraq to cooperate with us was precisely the link between disarmament and sanctions relief.” […]
Twenty years after the beginning of the Iraq War, there is still much to be learned from UNSCOM’s success at dismantling Iraq’s proscribed weapons program, as well as from the failure of international diplomacy to prevent Bush’s determination to initiate an illegal conflict whose consequences still reverberate in the Middle East and beyond. Läs artikel