1.1 | UK
Iraq strategy 1990 to 2000
•
destroyed
or damaged most of Iraq’s chemical weapons
infrastructure;34
•
damaged but
did not destroy Iraq’s biological weapons
infrastructure;35
•
successfully
bombed most of the key facilities involved in the processing
of
nuclear
material or weapons research which had been identified;
and
•
effectively
targeted much of Iraq’s delivery systems
infrastructure.36
107.
In its report,
ISG stated that:
•
Iraq
produced hundreds of tons of a range of chemical agents
annually,
including
mustard, sarin and tabun in the 1980s, and had committed
significant
resources
to a long-term programme.37
•
More than
100,000 “chemical munitions” were used against Iranian forces
and
the Kurdish
population during the Iran-Iraq War.38
•
Production
of chemical agent ceased in 1988 but re-started in
1990.39
•
A
biological weapons programme had started in the
1970s.40
•
Between
1979 and 1982 Iraq bought large quantities of uranium in
several
forms from
several countries and, in 1982, began formally to pursue
uranium
•
In 1988
work began on a nuclear weapon research, development and
production
complex at
Al Athir.
•
In April
1990 orders were given to weaponise agents.42
•
By early
1991, Iraq had produced large quantities of agent, including
anthrax,
botulinum
toxin, Clostridium
perfringens, aflatoxin
and small
quantities of ricin
and it had
successfully weaponised some of them into ballistic missiles,
aerial
bombs,
artillery shells and aircraft spray tanks.43
34
US
Government Publishing Office, 25 April 2005, The
Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to
the DCI on
Iraq’s WMD with Addendums. Volume III,
‘Biological’, page 5.
35
US
Government Publishing Office, 25 April 2005, The
Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to
the DCI on
Iraq’s WMD with Addendums. Volume III,
‘Chemical’, page 7.
36
US
Government Publishing Office, 25 April 2005, The
Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to
the DCI on
Iraq’s WMD with Addendums. Volume II,
‘Delivery Systems’, page 1.
37
US
Government Publishing Office, 25 April 2005, The
Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to
the DCI on
Iraq’s WMD with Addendums. Volume III,
‘Chemical’, page 8.
38
US
Government Publishing Office, 25 April 2005, The
Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to
the DCI on
Iraq’s WMD with Addendums. Volume III,
‘Chemical’, page 9.
39
US
Government Publishing Office, 25 April 2005, The
Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to
the DCI on
Iraq’s WMD with Addendums. Volume III,
‘Chemical’, page 9.
40
US
Government Publishing Office, 25 April 2005, The
Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to
the DCI on
Iraq’s WMD with Addendums. Volume III,
‘Biological’, page 1.
41
US
Government Publishing Office, 25 April 2005, The
Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to
the DCI on
Iraq’s WMD with Addendums. Volume II,
‘Nuclear’, page 3.
42
US
Government Publishing Office, 25 April 2005, The
Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to
the DCI on
Iraq’s WMD with Addendums. Volume III,
‘Biological’, page 9.
43
US
Government Publishing Office, 25 April 2005, The
Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to
the DCI on
Iraq’s WMD with Addendums. Volume III,
‘Biological’, page 10.
43