Iraq Disarmament Crisis - Criticism of U.S. Policy

Criticism of U.S. Policy

Although it received only mild press attention, a March 6, 2003 report by the UN nuclear inspectors cast serious doubt of the existence and extent of a then current Iraqi nuclear program. It later transpired that incriminating documents had been forged to deceive the US public, particularly concerning Iraqi acquisition of uranium (see Yellowcake Forgery).

Many opponents of the invasion also contended that some or all of the weapons inspectors' reports were vastly misrepresented by the Bush administration, especially in the connection between Iraq and terrorist groups. Fundamentalist Muslim groups, at the time generally did not support Iraq, as it was a secular nation that did not enforce Sharia law. In a tape reputedly released by Osama bin Laden in February 2003, Saddam Hussein is referred to as an 'ignorant infidel' and placed only second on the list of evils, after an invasion by the United States.

Although Bush originally stated that existing resolutions were sufficient to justify the US launching a war, Blair had insisted that the UN must be involved, and it was widely believed that Colin Powell agreed strongly with this view, that a new resolution was required.

The United States led the tumultuous effort within the United Nations to pass UN Security Council Resolution 1441, which called for sweeping new powers for weapons inspectors within Iraq and threatened "serious consequences" if Iraq failed to comply with the resolution. This measure had been successful, according to the peace faction, as Iraq had allowed inspections to continue (after a four-year hiatus) soon after the measure passed, and had responded in a timely fashion to concerns raised about it, despite their concerns about continued US espionage.

In February 2003 the effort to draft an 18th resolution in the UN Security Council was underway. It was influenced at least in part by a near-revolt inside the British Labour Party, which has the power to remove Blair from office, and which had made clear that without another resolution, Blair would be proceeding without the support of most of the UK's voting population, which was strongly against a war including only US and UK forces.