@article {637846,
	title = {Weapons Inspections and the Prelude to War with Iraq: The International Debate Over the Use and Effectiveness of Weapons Inspections.},
	journal = {published as Iraq: Weapons Inspections and the Prelude to War. Government Information Quarterly. Elsevier, 2005. (online) Draft Copy (Redacted) Originally: Lerner, K. Lee and B. Wilmoth Lerner. Iraq: Prelude to War. Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence},
	year = {2003},
	abstract = {
	In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001,...\&nbsp; U.S. officials asserted that Iraq{\textquoteright}s proven development and use of weapons of mass destruction made Iraq a potential source of those weapons for terrorists who could then use them against U.S. or other Western targets.\&nbsp;During the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, Hussein ordered the use of chemical weapons against Iranian forces, and additionally used chemical weapons against civilians in rebellious areas of Iraq. .. After Iraqi forces were expelled by U.S. led western coalition forces during the Persian Gulf War, as a part of the agreements that prevented the occupation of Iraq and allowed Hussein to remain in power, Hussein agreed to destroy all weapons of mass destruction and forsake the future development of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Over a period of twelve years, 17 specific United Nations Security Council resolutions, weapons inspection programs, and economic sanctions against Iraq failed to secure Hussein{\textquoteright}s full compliance with U.N. resolutions and assure the international community that Iraq had indeed disposed of weapons of mass destruction and abandoned programs to develop new weapons of mass destruction.\&nbsp;Hussein, in an effort to bolster his strong-man image that helped maintain his power in Iraq and influence in the region, played cat and mouse with international inspection teams. Fearing it would make him weak and vulnerable, Hussein refused to give up the appearance that his regime still might control weapons of mass destruction... Hussein{\textquoteright}s obstruction, pretense, and posturing resulted in highly polarized Western intelligence assessments of his warfare capacity and willingness to use WMD{\textquoteright}s... Hussein played a dangerous bluff -- bet on the lives of the Iraqi people -- that was ultimately called when the United States invaded and deposed him from power....Addendum I: U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair{\textquoteright}s "Iraq War speech" to Parliament ... March 18, 2003. Addendum II:\&nbsp; A brief overview of the immediate aftermath of the invasion of Iraq.\&nbsp;(read more)

},
	author = {K.Lee Lerner}
}
