Biological weapons inspections - The Iraq experience

Prior to the 1990 Iraq-Kuwait conflict it was well known that Iraq had developed weapons of mass destruction but the extent of its programs were unclear. After the Iraqi defeat in the ensuing Gulf war 1991 the UN Security Council authorized the creation of UN Special Commission for Iraq (UNSCOM) with the purpose of ridding Iraq permanently of weapons of mass destruction. Several conclusions can be drawn from more than ten years of biological weapons inspections in Iraq. Firstly, UNSCOM managed to get a rather clear picture of the past weapons programs. Secondly, it was not possible for Iraq to restart a substantial program with UNSCOM being present in the country. Thirdly, a full and final and complete account of the weapons program could not be established despite the use of the best intellectual and technical capabilities available at the time.