Iraq: October 4, 2002

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The CIA says that Iraq has been observed (via spy satellites) resuming producing of chemical weapons, and moving research and production facilities in anticipation of a resumption of UN weapons inspections. When Iraq said it would grant "unlimited access" for resumed weapons inspections, the UN soon discovered that the fine print said otherwise. Iraq was willing to allow unlimited inspections according to the terms it had worked out with the UN in the 1990s. These terms gave the "presidential compounds" (eight large industrial parks) special status that required advance warning before any of these are inspected. There are numerous other restrictions that, for all practical purposes, made the inspections useless. Moreover, even if Saddam's weapons facilities were destroyed, he could easily rebuild him after the embargo was lifted. For nothing will be done to remove his weapons scientists and engineers, or stop such programs in the future. 

 

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