Disarming Iraq: the Search for Weapons of Mass Destruction.

DISARMING IRAQ: The Search for Weapons of Mass Destruction by Hans Blix 

London: Blomsbury Publishing, 2004, pages 274 and index, $29.95

Disarming Iraq is an account by Dr. Hans Blix of his work in relation to Iraq as Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and later as Executive Chairman of the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission. Dr. Blix was intimately involved in the process of assessing the extent to which after the first Gulf War in 1991 Iraq retained weapons of mass destruction and of ensuring that such weapons were surrendered or destroyed.

It is evident from Disarming Iraq that in 2003, when Iraq was entered by coalition forces led by the United States, Dr. Blix and the various weapons inspectors were by no means convinced that Iraq still retained weapons of mass destruction. Dr. Blix is clearly sympathetic with those who, like Germany and France, believed that Iraq should not be attacked until further efforts were made by the weapons inspectors, and should not be attacked unless reasonably acceptable proof of the existence of such weapons existed. Dr. Blix is equivocal as to whether terrorism was dealt a blow by the Iraq invasion. In favour of this he notes the argument that all terrorist movements will now know that the United States will go after any movements that it perceives as threats. But he also notes the opposite argument that "there is a risk that, especially if further mistakes are made, more states and people around the world may come to view the United States as a global bully, and that many more Muslims and Arabs will consider the occupation of Iraq a humiliation, and that this feeling may breed hatred--and further terrorism".

Dr. Blix clearly favoured observance of the Security Council's requests in 2003 for more time for inspection. By disregarding these requests:

   "Instead, a greater price was paid
   for this action: in the compromised
   legitimacy of the action, in the damaged
   credibility of the governments
   pursuing it, and in the diminished
   authority of the United Nations."

There is clear purpose of self-justification in Dr. Blix's account of events. He had been criticised, and he has an understandable wish to justify himself. In this he succeeds: he was evidently conscientious in the discharge of his duties, and there are serious questions whether the attack on Iraq in 2003 was justified. Nonetheless, now that an attack has taken place, it is in the interest of all countries to support the Coalition in its attempt to instal a democratic government in Iraq and to suppress terrorist and Ba'athist activities there.

In these respects the United States has once again become a victim of its uncritical support for Israel. Israeli actions have de-stabilised the Middle East. The Israeli settlements in Palestinian lands and the killing by Israeli forces of Palestinians--including women and children--have been a continuous source of resentment and hatred, both against Israel, and also, not surprisingly, against the United States. The United States has provided Israel with arms and money and has made no real attempt to moderate Israelis: the United States government has submitted uncritically to the powerful New York Jewish lobby. It has been shown to be very damaging to the United States to allow itself to be manipulated in this way.

R. M. Pearce