The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
•
“We know
too that Usama Bin Laden’s Al Qaida has for several years tried to
get
nuclear,
chemical and biological agents. They had some success, and may
even
have
obtained some chemical, biological and radiological materials,
before being
seriously
disrupted by coalition action in Afghanistan. They will keep on
trying.”
•
“These
facts are alarming. This paper sets out what the Government
knows
about them,
consistent with the protection of sensitive sources of
information.”
256.
In relation to
nuclear proliferation, the draft paper drew attention to
the
“increasingly
worrying evidence that several countries that have signed the NPT”
were:
“…
nonetheless seeking to breach the Treaty and acquire nuclear
weapons. Such
actions are
illegal and destabilising. The governments concerned are
themselves
volatile
and unpredictable. If these countries succeed in bypassing their
international
obligations
and acquire nuclear weapons, the world will become
immeasurably
more dangerous.”
257.
The Summary of
Iraq’s capabilities stated:
“•
Iraq has a
chemical and biological weapons capability.
•
Iraq is
seeking a nuclear weapons capability.
•
Iraq is
developing longer range ballistic missiles capable of delivering
these
weapons of
mass destruction throughout the Middle East and Gulf
Region.”
258.
In the section
on Iraq, the draft paper stated:
“Successful
enforcement of the sanctions regimes and the UN arms embargo
have
hindered
Iraq’s reconstitution efforts, although WMD programmes continue.
Since
the
withdrawal of inspectors in 1998, monitoring of Iraqi attempts to
restore a WMD
capability
has become more difficult.”
259.
The draft
paper stated that Iraq had “Retained more than a dozen
prohibited
Al Hussein
(650km) missiles” and was “Working on designs for longer range
missiles”.
It
highlighted Iraq’s achievements pre-1991, the use of ballistic
missiles during the
Iran‑Iraq
War and the 1991 Gulf Conflict, and, drawing on intelligence,
Iraq’s more
recent
activities.
260.
In relation to
Iraq’s nuclear ambitions, the draft paper stated: “Iraq has a
nuclear
weapons
programme, but it is unable to produce fissile material while
sanction[s]
remain in
place.” The UK assessed that, in 1991, Iraq was “only three years
away from
possessing
a nuclear weapon”, and:
“Iraq still
wants a nuclear weapons capability and is working to achieve it.
Much of
their
former expertise has been retained and there is intelligence that
specialists
have been
recalled to work on a nuclear weapons programme. But Iraq
needs
certain key
components and materials for the production of fissile material,
which
would be
necessary before a nuclear bomb could be developed. Iraq is
covertly
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