The Problem is Saddam HusseiN

Saddam Hussein used lethal chemical weapons — mustard gas and nerve agents — against his neighbour Iran in the 1980s. Saddam Hussein invaded and attempted to annex Iraq’s small neighbour Kuwait. His occupying troops hunted down and murdered Kuwaiti leaders who opposed them.

In 1991, an international coalition forced Saddam Hussein to end his armed occupation of Kuwait. In the face of defeat and possible ouster, he agreed to disarm and to allow UN inspectors to verify Iraq’s full compliance with this commitment. Has Saddam Hussein disarmed? Not at all. Instead, he has increased his arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, and used delaying tactics with United Nations inspectors. Over many years, UN inspectors were repeatedly allowed in and then ejected. All the while Saddam Hussein was enhancing his weapons arsenals. What is in these arsenals?
* Anthrax: Iraq declared 8,500 litres, the UN estimates 26,000.
* Botulinum Toxin: Iraq declared 19,000 litres; the UN estimates 38,000.
* VX Nerve Gas: 1.5 tons unaccounted. One drop is lethal.
* Biological/Chemical Delivery Systems: Over 30,000 munitions, shells, bombs unaccounted.
* Nuclear Development: Iraq has repeatedly sought to illegally acquire controlled items used for uranium enrichment.
* Ballistic Missiles: Multiple tests of the Samoud 2 and al-Fat’h Ballistic Missiles exceeded the 150 kilometre limit set by the UN, but Iraq falsely declared that these systems comply with UN requirements.

Is there any doubt that Saddam Hussein has been making a mockery of the United Nations and defied its order to disarm? Before last November, there were 16 UN resolutions regarding Iraq — all have been violated by Saddam Hussein. Resolution 1441 of last November gave Saddam Hussein his last chance to disarm, or be disarmed by force. He was ordered to fully disclose all of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and actively, immediately and unconditionally co-operate with UN inspectors in Iraq’s disarmament. He has not complied. Every time the UN is on the verge of compelling compliance, Saddam Hussein makes an eleventh hour move to give the appearance of co-operation in order to undermine UN resolve. Offering to allow inspectors to witness the destruction of a few Samoud 2 missiles is not convincing. Resolution 1441 demanded full, immediate and unconditional compliance. What is required to disarmament, not cynical steps in a game of cat and mouse.

Even if Saddam Hussein complied 99 percent, that would leave Iraq 15 kilogrammes of VX nerve gas. One drop is still enough to kill a person. Fifteen kilogrammes is less than the weight limit for a suitcase on an international airline flight. How many lives can be taken with 15 kilos? Do you doubt that Saddam Hussein will use these weapons? He used them before, as mentioned above against his neighbours and his own people. Is there any reason to believe he would not give them to terrorists, if it suits his objectives? The danger posed by Saddam Hussein and his weapons cannot be ignored or wished away. Saddam Hussein has been ordered by the United Nations to disarm. We hope the Iraqi regime will meet the demands of the UN and disarm, fully and peacefully. If it does not, we are prepared to disarm Saddam Hussein by force.

So far, Saddam Hussein has not only failed to comply, but has hidden his weapons, lied to the UN and dragged his feet every step of the way. He is good at buying time. He has bought 12 years. Can the world afford to give him more? We welcome Trinidad and Tobago’s support for the fight against terrorism, and hope for its clear and repeated condemnation of Saddam Hussein’s blatant refusal to disarm. Americans, like the people of Trinidad and Tobago, desire peace; but the supporters of terrorism must be confronted and overcome before we can hope to live in a world of peace. We must stand firm in our resolve to ensure that Iraq destroys its weapons of mass destruction and ceases to be a threat to peace.