notes on the departure of UNSCOM from Iraq in 1998; were they expelled, or withdrawn? after compiling this, I come across the following authoritative link: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/unscom/ source: http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/01/t01131998_t0113asd.html The Iraqis continue to insist that Mr. Ritter is a spy for the United States. source: http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/01/98011308_tpo.html 13 January 1998 "He [Scott Ritter] is not a spy" - UNSCOM Chairman Richard Butler source: http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/01/98011610_tpo.html 16 January 1998 "Iraq has complained that inspections teams have been composed of too many Americans and on January 12 refused to cooperate with a team headed by one of UNSCOM's chief inspectors, Scott Ritter, an American whom Iraq accuses of being a spy. In November Iraq expelled all American employees of UNSCOM and threatened to shoot down U-2 reconnaissance flights carried out by the United States for UNSCOM." source: http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/08/980827-unscom.htm 27 August 1998 -- Scott Ritter resigns from UNSCOM; was acrimonious, SR accusing UN of being "soft" source: http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB80/ "October 6, 1998 .... when Iraq declared it would no longer submit to such inspections." source: http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/s98-1023.htm 31 October 1998 -- Iraq calls for cessation of UNSCOM activities source: http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/11/02/ "2 November 1998 -- The Office of the Executive Director of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM), Richard Butler, had informed the Council in writing that on Saturday evening, Baghdad time, UNSCOM had been informed by the Iraqi authorities that the Revolutionary Command Council had decided to suspend all activities of the Special Commission, including monitoring." source: http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/s98-1023.htm 2 November 1998 -- "Iraq's decisions of 5 August and 31 October make it impossible for the Commission to implement its disarmament and monitoring rights and responsibilities." source: http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/11/11/ "11 November 1998 -- The decision made last night to remove United Nations weapons inspectors from Iraq this morning was based on a "strong recommendation" by the United States Government." "The notion that Iraq is a threat to the region is a false fantasy created by the U.S. to justify its vast military presence in the region, to dominate the oil resources and to contain Islam." -- Ramsey Clark to UN The use of force in 1998 did not contribute to successful disarmament if Iraq. http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/11/11/981111-un.htm source: http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/s98-1172.htm communications of 14 November 1998 received from the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq and the Ambassador of Iraq, "that Iraq has decided, clearly and unconditionally, to cooperate fully with the Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), that this decision constitutes a rescinding of the decisions of 5 August and 31 October and that Iraq's cooperation with the Special Commission and the IAEA will allow the return of inspectors to resume all their activities on an immediate, unconditional and unrestricted basis, ii) accordance with the relevant resolutions and with the Memorandum of Understanding of 23 February 1998." source: http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/s98-1106.htm "Iraq's undertaking, given on 14 November, that it was prepared to extend to the Commission the full cooperation required of it under relevant resolutions of the Security Council." "In the context of the United Nations Special Commission's (UNSCOM) resumption of work in Iraq, on 17 November 1998," Iraq still stalling. It seems that Iraqi resistance, and mutual disputes, were relative to the lifting of sanctions, in accordance with Section F of the same Security Council Resolution 687 [http://www.fas.org/news/un/iraq/sres/sres0687.htm] of which Section C specifies the inspections and monitoring. This page provies some good review: http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/11/13/comment.html and this: http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/11/16/wwwh8n16.html source: http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/11/14/ also: http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/11/14/aziz111498.html and: http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/11/14/hamdoon111498.html 14 November -- "The Leadership of Iraq decided to resume working with the Special Commission and the IAEA and to allow them to perform their normal duties in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and on the basis of the principles which were agreed upon in the Memorandum of Understanding signed with you on 23 February 1998." US rejects the letter source: http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/11/15/ After wrangling and negotiating etc. US and UN accept Iraq's statements to cooperate. source: http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/s98-1127.htm 27-30 November letters between UNSCOM and Iraq source: http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/s98-1172.htm 15 December -- Iraq is cooperating fully with IAEA; only partially with UNSCOM "Finally, in the light of this experience, that is, the absence of full cooperation by Iraq, it must regrettably be recorded against that the commission is not able to conduct the substantive disarmament work mandated to it by the Security Council and, thus, to give the Council the assurances it requires with respect to Iraq's prohibited weapons programmes. source: http://www.fair.org/activism/post-expulsions.html "The story centers on the Iraq crisis that broke out on December 16, 1998. Richard Butler, head of the United Nations weapons inspection team in Iraq, had just released a report accusing the Iraqi regime of obstructing U.N. weapons checks. On the basis of that report, President Clinton announced he would launch airstrikes against Iraqi targets. Out of concern for their safety, Butler withdrew his inspectors from Iraq, and the U.S.-British bombing proceeded." source: http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/Chronology/chronologyframe.htm 16 Dec 1998 The Special Commission withdraws its staff from Iraq. source: http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/scomspy.htm "The inspectors were withdrawn in December, hours before American and British attacks on Iraq." 7 January 1999 -- US admits to having spies on UNSCOM teams. source: http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/scomspy3.htm source: http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/s99-94.htm Summary Report 25 January 1999 "In discussions with Iraq during an inspection in December 1998,..." "During the inspection in December 1998,...." "The Commission carried out a survey mission in December 1998...." source: http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/unscmdoc.htm UNSCOM Documents source: http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/Chronology/chronologyframe.htm UNSCOM Chronology Chronology by http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/ops/iraq_back.htm November 11, 1998 -- The United Nations withdraws most of its staff from Iraq. November 14, 1998 -- With B-52 bombers in the air and within about 20 minutes of attack, Saddam Hussein agrees to allow U.N. monitors back in. The bombers are recalled before an attack occurs. Weapons inspectors return to Iraq a few days later. December 8, 1998 -- Chief U.N. weapons inspector Richard Butler reports that Iraq is still impeding inspections. U.N. teams begin departing Iraq. December 15, 1998 -- A formal U.N. report accuses Iraq of a repeated pattern of obstructing weapons inspections by not allowing access to records and inspections sites, and by moving equipment records and equipment from one to site another. December 16, 1998 -- The United States and Great Britain begin a massive air campaign against key military targets in Iraq. Chronology by http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/ops/docs/irqchrn.htm October 31 -- Iraq suspends all dealings with the U.N. inspectors, but does not expel them from the country. The International Atomic Energy Agency is allowed to continue monitoring activity only. November 1 -- U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen says Iraq could face military attack November 5 -- The U.N. Security Council unanimously approves a resolution that condemns Iraq and demands Saddam Hussien to rescind his ban on cooperation with U.N. weapons inspectors. -the final entry- source: http://www.acronym.org.uk/dd/dd32/32iraq.htm 6-13 November -- "week saw a concerted build-up of US and British forces in the Gulf, and no sign of Iraqi willingness to resume cooperative relations." 11 November -- "US Defense Secretary Cohen signed a 'deployment order' authorising what appeared to be the final elements necessary for a serious and sustained bombardment." "On 15 November, an unnamed US official explained to reporters the principal rationale behind calling off the air attacks: "We ran the risk of fracturing a coalition against Saddam Hussein." "20 November - US announces it will soon be appointing a Special Representative to coordinate the planning of Iraqi opposition groups hoping to overthrow the Hussein regime;" "24 November - Security Council approves extension of oil-for-food programme; Russia criticises emphasis on toppling Iraqi regime." the definitive source: http://www.fas.org/news/un/iraq/s/sres401eng.htm also http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iraq/un/sres401eng.htm "On 31 October 1998, Iraq terminated all of the Commission's activities in Iraq." "The Commission's personnel were withdrawn on 11 November 1998 and did not return to Iraq until 17 November 1998 following a decision by Iraq, on 14 November 1998, which made that possible (S/1998/1078, annex)." 11 November -- UNSCOM withdraws "entire contingent" to Bahrain "pending decisions by the Government of Iraq enabling them to return immediately to Baghdad" 13 November -- Secretary-General appeals to Iraq to resume cooperation (S/1998/1077) [http://www.fas.org/news/un/iraq/s/s19981077.htm] 14 November -- Iraq recinds non-cooperation decisions (S/1998/1078) [http://www.un.int/usa/s1998_1078.pdf] 15 November -- Security Council acknowledgement (Press Release SC/6596 IK/258) [http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/11/15/19981115_exit.html] 17 November -- UNSCOM returns much haggling "On 16 December 1998, the Commission again withdrew its personnel from Iraq. The Commission has carried out no work in Iraq since that time." "The Executive Chairman's letter noted that the prime considerations in his decision were to ensure the safety and security of the Commission's personnel and the need to act immediately." 16 December -- military action commenced from US/Britain; (S/1998/1181 and S/1998/1182) FAIR summary: http://www.fair.org/activism/iraq-myths.html Media Lens review: Part 1: http://www.medialens.org/alerts/2002/021029_Big_Lie1.HTM Part 2: http://www.medialens.org/alerts/2002/021029_Big_Lie2.HTM