The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
•
The enemies
of the US would be “eager to use biological or chemical, or
a
nuclear
weapon”, and it “must not ignore the threat”: “Facing clear
evidence of
peril, we
cannot wait for the final proof – the smoking gun – that could come
in
the form of
a mushroom cloud.”
41.
In his
statement on 17 October, during an open debate on Iraq,
Sir Jeremy
Greenstock,
UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New
York,
emphasised
the reliability of the intelligence on which the UK analysis of
Iraq’s
capabilities
was based.
42.
The
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) asked on 10 October for an “emergency
open
debate on
the situation in Iraq”.12
43.
An open debate
of the Council, attended by more than 50 Member States
or
Permanent
Observers, in addition to the members of the Security Council, took
place
44.
In his
statement on 17 October, Sir Jeremy Greenstock set out the UK
position.
In relation
to Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction he stated:
“We remain
deeply perturbed by evidence that Iraq believes it can hide its
weapons
of mass
destruction rather than declare them, that it can again fool the
inspectors
and play
games with them. The United Kingdom analysis, backed by
reliable
intelligence,
indicates that Iraq still possesses chemical and biological
materials, has
continued
to produce them, has sought to weaponise them, and has active
military
plans for
the deployment of such weapons. The United Kingdom analysis,
backed
up by
reliable intelligence, shows that Iraq has in recent years tried to
buy multiple
components
relevant to the production of a nuclear bomb. The United
Kingdom
analysis,
backed by reliable intelligence, points to the retention of
extended-range
missiles
and to the employment of hundreds of people in projects to
develop
weapons
with a range of over 1,000 kilometres that could carry both weapons
of
mass
destruction and conventional warheads.
“It would
be an abdication of responsibility to ignore this challenge to
the
international
community …”
12
UN Security
Council, ‘Letter dated 10 October 2002 from the Permanent
Representative of South Africa
to the
United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council’
(S/2002/1132).
13
UN Security
Council, ‘4625th Meeting Wednesday 16 October 2002’ (S/PV.4625,
S/PV.4625
Resumption
1); UN Security Council, ‘4625th Meeting Thursday 17 October 2002’
(S/PV.4625, S/PV.4625
Resumption
2, S/PV.4625 Resumption 3).
298