Iraq disarmament crisis

The issue of Iraq's disarmament reached a crisis in 2002-2003, when George W. Bush demanded a complete end to alleged Iraqi production and use of weapons of mass destruction and that Iraq comply with UN Resolutions requiring UN inspectors unfettered access to areas those inspectors thought might have weapons production facilities. Under United Nations actions regarding Iraq, in place since the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq was banned from developing or possessing such weapons and was also required to permit inspections to confirm Iraqi compliance. Bush repeatedly backed demands for unfettered inspection and disarmament with threats of invasion. The Bush administration began a military buildup in the region, and pushed for the passage of UN Security Council Resolution 1441, which brought weapons inspectors led by Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei to Iraq. Saddam Hussein subsequently allowed UN inspectors to access Iraqi sites, while the U.S. government continued to say that Iraq was being obstructionist.

Related Topics:
George W. Bush - Iraqi production and use of weapons of mass destruction - United Nations actions regarding Iraq - 1991 - Gulf War - Iraq - UN Security Council Resolution 1441 - Hans Blix - Mohamed ElBaradei

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bush and Tony Blair met in the Portuguese Azores for an "emergency summit" over the weekend of March 15-16 2003, after which Bush declared that "diplomacy had failed" to compel Iraq to comply with UN Resolution inspection requirements, and stated his intentions to use military force to force Iraq to disarm in what was, according to the Bush administration, compliance with UN 1441. On March 19, 2003 a coalition of primarily US and British forces invaded Iraq, see 2003 Invasion of Iraq. After the war, a number of failed Iraqi peace initiatives were revealed, including a U.S. offer conditioned on the abdication of Saddam Hussein.

Related Topics:
Tony Blair - Azores - March 19 - 2003 - 2003 Invasion of Iraq - Failed Iraqi peace initiatives

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Because no WMD were found by the Iraq Survey Group after the invasion of Iraq, this article could also refer to the Iraq Disarmament Pseudo-crisis.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~