The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
“In 1999 he
sought equipment for a chemical weapons lab in Afghanistan,
and
claimed
already to have … experts working there.”60
114.
In 2001,
Iran, North Korea and Libya were “probably of greater concern
than
Iraq” in
terms of nuclear and missile proliferation.
115.
By early 2000,
intelligence had revealed that AQ Khan, who directed
Pakistan’s
nuclear
programme, was discussing the sale of nuclear technology to
countries of
concern,
and that he was at the centre of an international proliferation
network.61
116.
Sir William
Ehrman, FCO Director International Security from 2000 to
October
2002, told
the Inquiry that, at the beginning of the century, the nuclear
programmes of
concern in
Libya, Iran and North Korea were “maturing”.62
117.
Sir William
confirmed that, in terms of nuclear and missile proliferation,
Iran,
North Korea
and Libya were “probably of greater concern than
Iraq”.63
118.
Mr Dowse
told the Inquiry that:
“… by 2001
… various international regimes had clearly delayed and
obstructed
proliferation,
but we were extremely concerned that in some specific
cases
determined
proliferators were making progress. We were concerned about Iran
…
Libya …
Iraq … North Korea … and we had also begun to get information about
the
activities
of AQ Khan in Pakistan who was offering nuclear assistance for
weapons
programmes
covertly to a number of countries, notably Libya.
“So we had
a sense that … the international non-proliferation regimes
were
important
but not sufficient …”64
119.
Mr Dowse
added that there was particular concern about nuclear weapons
and
concerns
about the impact of biological weapons. But it was “often quite
difficult to see”
how the
latter “would be easily usable in an inter-state
conflict”.
120.
Lord Wilson of
Dinton, the Cabinet Secretary from January 1998 to
September
2002,
described AQ Khan’s activities as:
“One of the
most chilling developments in my time … truly chilling and
hugely
60
Review of
Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction [“The
Butler Report”], 14 July 2004, HC 898,
paragraph
124.
61
Review of
Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction [“The
Butler Report”], 14 July 2004, HC 898,
paragraphs
64-65.
62
Public
hearing, 25 November 2009, page 9.
63
Public
hearing, 25 November 2009, page 10.
64
Public
hearing, 25 November 2009, pages 6-7.
65
Public
hearing, 25 January 2011, pages 51-52.
36