3.6 |
Development of UK strategy and options, November 2002 to January
2003
“The
International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed in the 1990s that
Saddam
Hussein had
an advanced nuclear weapons development program … The
British
Government
has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant
quantities
of uranium
from Africa. Our intelligence sources tell us that he has attempted
to
purchase
high‑strength aluminium tubes suitable for nuclear weapons
production.
Saddam
Hussein has not credibly explained these activities. He clearly
has
much to hide.
“The
dictator of Iraq is not disarming. To the contrary; he is
deceiving. From
intelligence
sources we know, for instance, that thousands of Iraqi security
personnel
are at work
hiding documents and materials from the UN inspectors,
sanitising
inspection
sites and monitoring the inspectors themselves. Iraqi officials
accompany
inspectors
in order to intimidate witnesses.
“Iraq is
blocking U2 surveillance flights … Iraqi intelligence officers are
posing as the
scientists
inspectors are supposed to interview. Real scientists have been
coached
by Iraqi
officials on what to say. Intelligence sources indicate that Saddam
Hussein
has ordered
scientists who co‑operate with UN inspectors … will be killed,
along with
their
families.
“Year after
year, Saddam has gone to elaborate lengths, spent enormous
sums,
taken great
risks to build and keep weapons of mass destruction … The only
possible
explanation,
the only possible use … is to dominate, intimidate or
attack.
“With
nuclear arms or a full arsenal of chemical and biological weapons,
Saddam
Hussein
could resume his ambitions of conquest in the Middle East and
create deadly
havoc in
that region. And this Congress and the America[n] people must
recognise
another
threat. Evidence from intelligence sources, secret communications,
and
statements
by people now in custody reveal that Saddam Hussein aids and
protects
terrorists,
including members of Al Qaida. Secretly, and without fingerprints,
he could
provide one
of his hidden weapons to terrorists, or help them develop their
own.
“Before
September the 11th, many in the world believed that Saddam Hussein
could
be
contained. But chemical agents, lethal viruses and shadowy
terrorist networks are
not easily
contained. Imagine those 19 hijackers … armed by Saddam Hussein
…
“Some have
said we must not act until the threat is imminent … If this threat
is
permitted
to fully and suddenly emerge, all actions or words, or
recriminations
would come
too late. Trusting in the sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein
is
not a strategy,
and it is not an option.
“The
dictator who is assembling the world’s most dangerous weapons has
already
used them …
International human rights groups have catalogued other methods
used
in the
torture chambers of Iraq …
“… tonight
I have a message for the brave and oppressed people of Iraq: your
enemy
is not
surrounding your country – your enemy is ruling your country. And
the day he
and his
regime are removed from power will be the day of your
liberation.
“The world
has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. America will not accept a
serious
and
mounting threat to our country …
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