The United Nations and Iraq: Defanging the Viper

by Jean Krasno, James S. Sutterlin

Overview

Following the Gulf War from 1991 to 1998, the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) was created to unveil and eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction through inspections. This study describes how UNSCOM was designed to maintain its independence and authority, detailing the dramatic events that occurred as UNSCOM attempted to deal with an intransigent Iraq. Krasno and Sutterlin outline the special intelligence skills that UNSCOM developed over the years in response to Iraqi tactics. They also provide an accounting of UNSCOM achievements and analyze remaining concerns.

Along with documentary research, much of the information in this book was obtained through a series of interviews with key players, including the Executive Directors, several UNSCOM inspectors, and a number of ambassadors to the United Nations who were directly involved. Concerns about Iraq's remaining weapons capabilities, particularly its biological and chemical weapons, have become increasingly relevant since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the ensuing anthrax threat. This study provides insight about the disarming of Iraq, as well what lessons can be learned from the UNSCOM experiment.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275978396
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/28/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

JEAN E. KRASNO is a Fellow, International Security Studies, Yale University.

JAMES S. SUTTERLIN is Distinguished Fellow in United Nations Studies at Yale University and Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Long Island University.

Table of Contents

Preface
The Genesis of UNSCOM
The Conceptual Framework of UNSCOM: Independence was the Key Factor
UNSCOM in Action
Intelligence
Dealing with the Iraqis
Sanctions
Destroyed and Rendered Harmless: UNSCOM/IAEA Achievements
UNSCOM in Perspective
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Krasno and Sutterin, both political scientists at Yale, offer an in-depth study of the United Nations' Special Commission (UNSCOM) and its efforts to find and eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction in the 1990s. Drawing on documentary evidence as well as interviews with the executive directors and members of the commission, they outline the inspectors' work, Iraq's "noncompliance and untrustworthy behavior," and the achievements the commission had in spite of that behavior. It may seem moot at this point, given that war with Iraq is a fait accompli, but for those interested in assessing for themselves the role of UNSCOM's work, this is balanced and enlightening-if dry-reading. As the authors point out, UNSCOM was a new departure for the UN and a "model of multilateral collaboration" that has lessons to offer for the future regarding the UN's role as an enforcement agency, the effectiveness of economic sanctions, and the importance of a "credible threat of force" against a noncompliant country. (May) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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