Iraq War as UN Mandate

If you find comforting the understanding that George Bush lied to the country and the world about Saddam Hussein possessing WMD’s to enable him to start the Second Iraq War, please read no further.

The war began with the United Nations Security Council passing Resolution 678, which reaffirmed and recalled eleven prior resolutions concerning Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. Resolution 678 did not order the coalition to simply expel Saddam’s forces from Kuwait but used a more expansive term for which precedence existed. The term” restore international peace and security in the area” used language the UN and our Congress understood from the Korean War after the Inchon landing to authorize the invasion of Iraq as it had then affirmed military operations above the 38th parallel to invade North Korea. The United States was selected as its commander in chief for the use of military forces.

A point to emphasize is that the resolution language was accepted by all five permanent members of the Security Council who had veto powers. Great Britain and often France could be relied upon to support United States initiatives, but Russia and the PRC could have promised a veto and demanded the more restrictive language to only expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Therefore, at the margin those two countries made the invasion of Iraq possible. To believe invasion was not authorized in the case of Iraq requires breathtaking, premeditated ignorance, because each phrase of Resolutions 678, 687, and 1441 was laboriously parsed by diplomats and politicians whose lives are dedicated to precise meaning of words and precedents.

Next came Resolution 687 which did not end the war but provided Saddam Hussein with a unilateral armistice. He was given an opportunity to renounce international terrorism and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) with their delivery systems. Everyone in the Security Council and Congress understood that a material breach of those requirements meant ending the ceasefire, and invading Iraq to resume the war authorized by Resolution 678.

Hussein refused to comply with his responsibility to submit a comprehensive declaration of and allow removal of all WMD stockpiles and programs, and missiles with greater than 150-kilometer range. He refused to abandon all interest in pursuing the development of nuclear weapons. He also continued forbidden involvement in international terrorism. He thwarted the inspection program envisioned by menacing, parrying, and finally expelling the inspectors in 1998. In response Bush #1, UN, and Clinton ignored their responsibilities to deal effectively with his ongoing material breaches.

The UN had granted its chosen Commander in Chief of military operations the authority to invade Iraq to enforce its mandates, but trembled before the prospect he might actually use it under the criteria members had specified. Debate over Resolution 1441 provided UN diplomates the final opportunity to find a different direction. Instead, these diplomats demonstrated their impotency in debates by deciding to be undecided, resolving to be irresolute, and offering ethereal language not touching the consequence they had originally put in place.

The stage was set to invade Iraq and now requires discussion of the popular canard that resuming the war relied upon possession of WMD. The truth is that presence of WMD stockpiles before resuming the war in 2003 was both wrong and irrelevant, thereby rendering allusions to deception by the Bush administration false.

Wrong because after the invasion, David Kay’s examination confirmed Saddam Hussein was developing missiles with ranges in excess of UN limitations, and said they were the center pole of the tent under which Hussein would rebuild his WMD as the regime sanctions further deteriorated. He found Hussein retained the scientists and technology to restart production of mustard and VX gas. Hussein was also currently developing an indigenous precursor for VX and a stimulant for freeze-drying anthrax. Kay reported Hussein was rebuilding infrastructure and staff for nuclear weapons. Mahdi Obeidi maintained in the New York Times that when the world looked the other way, the knowledge of hundreds of scientists could be applied to existing designs of a centrifuge prototype to jumpstart the nuclear weapons capability. Iraq already had 500 tons of yellow cake in the country under UN seal. We already knew that restraint had no meaning after the North Korean experience. The regime just needed a latter-day Albert Speer or Leslie Groves to replace Hussein Kamel.

The idea Hussein did not have stockpiles of WMD’s was never a creditable assumption. One must believe that a fracturing, Middle Eastern dictatorship of several competing and self-interested spheres of influence achieved an unparalleled intelligence deception. The sophisticated intelligence services of United States, Britain, France, Israel, and Germany had independently determined Iraq had stockpiles of WMD. These intelligence professionals applied different methods, used different resources, jealously guarded their insights and prerogatives, and refused to parrot someone else’s analysis. The media and various diplomats maintained consistent campaigns of disinformation and willful ignorance to fashion a contrary world view.

As an example, the Butler Commission confirmed the analysis by the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) that Hussein’s people went to Niger to acquire uranium was creditable. The SIS followed classical methods of validation, analysis, and assessment of several different sources, not including the famous forgeries, to conclude that Saddam Hussein sought significant quantities of uranium. George Bush used this professional intelligence product to claim in his State of the Union message that Iraqi officials had gone to Africa on that mission.

In opposition we only have the childish claims of Joe Wilson whose State Department training left him completely unqualified in terms of the fieldcraft needed to make an intelligence assessment. Basic common sense tells one no totalitarian regime would allow key officials the latitude to just collect a few local crafts while vacationing in other countries. Iraqi intelligence routinely placed families under house arrest when important officials departed the country on assignment. Examine the CIA Fact Book for Niger exports, and you will see uranium is the only business reason Iraqi officials would have had in the country.

All five intelligence services were not wrong. The most reasonable assumption, for which much evidence exists, is that Syria and Russia received inventories for the regime. By the way, is no one curious about how Syria got all those chemical weapons they had to dispose of? Again, one can see from the CIA Fact Book, Syria does not have industries that can be adapted to their production.

I will now discuss why the possession of WMD was irrelevant. The ceasefire ended, and the war begun in 1991 was resumed in 2003, because Hussein behaved in material breach of international obligations as reaffirmed with Resolution 1441. Nowhere in Congressional resolutions of 1991, 1998 and 2002, or UN Resolutions 678, 687 and 1441 can one see possession of stockpiles of WMD as reasons for confronting him with military action. Emerging behaviors in terms of threats, evasion, intimidation, and continuing past actions; not possession was always the key. He was to unconditionally accept destruction or removal of all inventories and programs for WMD and for all missiles over 150-kilometre range. He was enjoined from committing, supporting, or providing safe haven for international terrorism.

The Security Council approved Resolution 687, incorporated 678 and 11 previous resolutions without amendment, and offered Hussein a conditional ceasefire in 1991. The resolution’s key words were to guarantee, reaffirm, accept, submit, declare, yield, designate, forgo, agree, inform, comply, and cooperate. Once again remember none of these resolutions were cobbled together like a middle schooler’s term paper. Diplomats and politicians laboriously parsed each phrase for clear focus on actions instead of possessions; behaviors, not stockpiles.

In this country, even Bush’s strongest opponents were convinced Hussein could not be deterred from development and deployment of WMD. I quote, “We have known for years Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing WMD. Iraq’s search for WMD has proven impossible to deter and we should assume it continues as long as Saddam is in power. He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that demanded he disarm and destroy chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq October 1998. We are confident Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up chemical and biological warfare capabilities. There is unmistakable evidence Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years. That is why we must be prepared to use force, if necessary, to disarm Hussein and eliminate Iraq’s WMD once and for all.”

The above quotes compile statements respectively by Ted Kennedy, Al Gore, Henry Waxman, Robert Byrd, Jay Rockefeller, and John Edwards. These quotes were uncontested points in 2002, and were followed up with “yah, buts”, which presented again all the logics used for over a decade to excuse Hussein’s violation of his responsibilities. The original links to these quotes have been deactivated to protect the credulous and embarrassed. However, one link at Snopes can be found which both emphasizes the “yah, buts” and the statements delineating the intelligence product. I also provided a link to an article containing additional quotes of a similar nature and including the six voided.

The intelligence product formed a basis for Congressional legislation supporting UN resolutions and enabled Bush to use military force to remove Hussein’s regime, and remove the threat posed by his material breach of obligations to prove abandonment of WMD, missiles, and terrorist support. Notice all these quotes speak to the many UN resolutions emphasizing his obligations to desist developing chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.

The UN had resorted to surveillance, analysis, and investigation to destroy material and disrupt programs. Hussein continued forbidden involvement in international terrorism. In response, Bush #1, UN, and Clinton ignored their responsibilities to deal with Hussein’s ongoing material breaches. When Clinton was President, Hussein in 1998 even expelled the inspectors turned investigators.

Once again, remember UN precedent from the Korean War incorporated into Resolution 687 provided for the intended invasion of Iraq. The war against Saddam Hussein was resumed because Bush #2 finally obeyed UN and confirming Congressional mandates. Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill envisioned the re-establishment of collective security when the UN was founded in San Francisco. Finally, in 2003 the United States, heading a coalition exceeding that Churchill and Roosevelt assembled to confront Hitler’s Germany, toppled Hussein’s regime, and forced the UN to confront the reason for its’ existence as defined in 1948.

The below six links have been deactivated to protect the credulous, but a discussion can be found at Snopes. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/words-of-mass-destruction/

Al Gore Sept. 23, 2002: www.commonwealthclub.org/archive/02/02-09gore-speech.html

John Edwards October 10, 2002; http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?r107:7:./temp/~r107pqkqkf:e858562:

The below site is still active and contains these and other statements. If The Bush Administration Lied About WMD, So Did These People — Version 3.0

https://rightwingnews.com/quotes/if-the-bush-administration-lied-about-wmd-so-did-these-people-version-3-0/

Here’s a few other ones connecting some dots:

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https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/top-uranium-producing-companies/

In 2017, the top ten uranium producing companies marketed 86% of the world’s uranium production, according to a report released by World Nuclear Association.

Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia are the major producers of uranium, accounting for more than two-thirds of the world’s production.

Here is the list of top uranium producing companies in the world:

Kazatomprom

Headquartered in Astana, Kazakhstan, Kazatomprom is the world’s largest producer of uranium. The company produced 12,488 tons U in 2017, accounting for 21% of the world’s uranium production, according to World Nuclear Association report.

The company claims to have the largest reserve base in the industry, with attributable uranium reserves of 300 ktU. Kazatomprom operates 26 deposits grouped into 13 mining assets located in Kazakhstan.

Cameco

Based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Cameco is one of the world’s largest publicly traded uranium companies. In 2017, the company produced 9,155 tons U, occupying a share of 15% in the world’s uranium production.

The company claims that its tier-one operations in Canada and Kazakhstan have the licensed capacity to produce over 53 million pounds (100% basis) annually.

It has nearly 458 million pounds of proven and probable uranium reserves on three continents. Cameco is also a major supplier of uranium refining, conversion and fuel manufacturing services.

. . .

Uranium One

A wholly owned subsidiary of the Russian state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom, Uranium One is a Canadian uranium mining company with headquarters in Toronto, Ontario. The company produced 5,102 tons U in 2017.

The company is responsible for Rosatom’s uranium production outside the Russian Federation. Uranium One is involved in uranium production through its subsidiaries and joint ventures. It is also engaged in the exploration and development of uranium properties, in Kazakhstan, the US, Tanzania and other countries.

The firm generates a significant part of its revenues from the sale of uranium concentrates. It sells its uranium to major nuclear utilities in Russia, Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Asia. . .

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https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL07684968

JULY 7, 20085:08 AMUPDATED 15 YEARS AGO
Iraq removes uranium left over from Saddam era
By Reuters Staff

BAGHDAD, July 7 (Reuters) - Iraq’s government has removed 550 tonnes of natural uranium left over from Saddam Hussein’s era and sold it to a Canadian company, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.

The uranium, called yellowcake, had been stored in a compound at Tuwaitha, south of Baghdad, which was once the centre of Saddam’s nuclear weapons programme.

“The Iraqi government decided to get rid of the uranium, which amounted to 550 tonnes, because of its potentially harmful affects on Iraq and the region and because it causes pollution,” Dabbagh said on Iraqiya state television late on Sunday.

The Tuwaitha nuclear complex was dismantled after the 1991 Gulf War. But tonnes of nuclear material remained there under the seal of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), until the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq when it was left unguarded and looted by Iraqi civilians.

Dabbagh said the uranium had not undergone any enrichment. He did not name the Canadian company that bought the stockpile, but other media reports said it was Cameco

CCO.TO
.
He said the removal had been carried out in cooperation with the IAEA, and the United States had provided technical assistance to Iraq to help ship the stockpile out safely. U.S. officials were not immediately available for comment. . .

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https://www.reuters.com/article/cameco-uraniumone-idCAN2727440320100727

JULY 27, 201010:31 AMUPDATED 13 YEARS AGO
Cameco, Uranium One rise on Kazakh uranium output
By Reuters Staff

* Kazakhstan boosts uranium output by 41 pct in first half

* Cameco shares up 4 pct, Uranium One rises 6 pct

TORONTO, July 27 (Reuters) - Shares of Cameco Corp CCO.TO and Uranium One UUU.TO Inc rose on Tuesday on news of a sharp rise in uranium production in the central Asian nation of Kazakhstan, where both Canadian miners operate.

Kazakhstan boosted uranium production by 41 percent in the first six months of 2010 to cement its place as the world’s largest producer of the metal used in nuclear fuel, a government official said on Tuesday.

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based Cameco owns 60 percent of the Inkai uranium mine in Kazakhstan. The company said last month that the joint venture with state-owned Kazatomprom would double its output to 4,000 tonnes after the two partners agree on how to process the uranium.

Toronto-based Uranium One has a 49.7 percent interest in the Zarechnoye uranium mine and a 50 percent interest in the Akbastau mine, as well as other mining properties in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan holds over 15 percent of global uranium reserves and last year surpassed Canada as the world’s largest uranium producer. . .

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https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Cameco-to-supply-Ukraine-s-uranium-needs-to-2035

Cameco to supply Ukraine’s uranium needs to 2035
09 February 2023

Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear energy utility Energoatom and Cameco Corporation have agreed commercial terms for a major supply contract that would see Cameco meeting Ukraine’s needs for natural uranium for nuclear fuel until 2035. . .

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