§ Lord Rowallanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that Saddam Hussein's repeated withdrawals of co-operation with the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) are designed to split the Alliance and the United Nations, or to gain time when UNSCOM officials come near to discovering a major cache of chemicals or weaponry, or a combination of the two. [HL22]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanSaddam Hussein is determined to force the international community to lift sanctions on Iraq without Iraq having first complied with United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 by giving up its weapons of mass destruction. The most plausible explanation for his latest act of defiance is alarm over recent UNSCOM discoveries, such as the fact that Iraq had lied about weaponising the deadly nerve agent VX.
We consider Saddam Hussein's actions to be clearly premeditated and designed both to test the resolve of the international community and to frustrate the work of UNSCOM and the IAEA. His 14 November climb-down is the most recent evidence of his failure to do either.
§ Lord Rowallanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the presence of UNSCOM in Iraq would make it impossible to attack Iraq without warning. [HL24]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe Prime Minister has said that, if Iraq reneges on its agreement to co-operate with UNSCOM and the IAEA, it will receive no further warnings in advance of military action. Her Majesty's Government would of course carefully consider the impact of any action on UN personnel and others working in Iraq.