3.1 |
Development of UK strategy and options, 9/11 to early January
2002
195.
Mr McKane
identified two options:
•
a further,
simple rollover of the OFF resolution which “would do nothing
to
address the
humanitarian position in Iraq or to stop erosion of the
sanctions
regime and
would indicate that the approach to Iraq set out in SCR 1284 had
hit
the
buffers”; and
•
a
compromise of a further rollover for six months with a commitment
to revisit
the items
controlled under the Goods Review List (GRL).
196.
The FCO
preferred the second option, but with a two month, rather than six
month
rollover.
197.
On 29
November, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution
1382
extending
the existing regime for 180 days and proposing a Goods Review
List.
The procedures
for operating the List would be adopted “subject to any refinements
…
agreed by
the Council”, for implementation on 30 May 2002.105
198.
The resolution
also reaffirmed the Security Council’s “commitment to
a
comprehensive
settlement on the basis of the relevant resolutions … including
any
clarification
necessary for the implementation of resolution 1284
(1999)”.
199.
On 26
November, President Bush called publicly for the readmission
of
weapons
inspectors by Iraq.
200.
In a press
conference on 26 November, President Bush was asked what
message
he would
like to send to Iraq. He responded that his message
was:
“… if you
harbour a terrorist, you’re a terrorist … If you develop weapons of
mass
destruction
that you want to terrorize the world, you’ll be held accountable …
And I
also have
said … we’re going to make sure that we accomplish each mission
that
we tackle.
First things first.”106
201.
Asked whether
agreement to allow weapons inspectors back into Iraq was
an
“unconditional
demand”, President Bush stated that
Saddam Hussein needed to let
weapons
inspectors return to prove to the world that he was not developing
weapons
of mass
destruction.
202.
Asked what
would be the consequences if Saddam did not, Mr Bush
said:
“That’s up
for – he’ll find out.”
203.
Asked to
confirm previous remarks that Afghanistan was “just the
beginning”,
President
Bush replied that he could not make it clearer that, if nations
developed
105
UN Security
Council, ‘4431st Meeting 29 November 2001’,
(S/RES/1382(2001)).
106
The White
House, 26 November 2001, The
President Welcomes Aid Workers Rescued from
Afghanistan.
347