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Military

Operations in Iraq:  First Reflections

Chapter 1:  Policy Background to the Operation

Soliders from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards deployed to the Gulf

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards deployed to the Gulf after two months of
final training and preparation

1.2   In November 2002, the UN declared that it would no longer tolerate the Iraqi regime's continuing defiance of international law. UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1441 was unanimously adopted, declaring Iraq to be in material breach of previous resolutions, and setting out new procedures for the conduct of inspections, together with the threat of serious consequences in the event of Iraqi non-cooperation.  The resolution provided a final opportunity for Iraq to comply with its disarmament obligations and UNMOVIC inspectors were eventually allowed back later that month. Subsequent reports by UNMOVIC and the IAEA showed clearly, however, that not only was Iraq failing to offer active co-operation but it was engaged in a systematic pattern of concealment and deceit.

1.3   In view of the Iraqi regime's failure to comply with the will of the United Nations, and based on the authority provided by a series of UN resolutions since 1991, the UK joined a US-led coalition that was prepared to use force as a last resort to secure Iraqi compliance. The Government's overriding political objective was to disarm Saddam of his weapons of mass destruction, which threatened his neighbours and his people. It also undertook to support the Iraqi people in their desire for peace, prosperity, freedom and good government. The Government emphasised that, if forced by Saddam to take the military route to achieve the disarmament of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, it would do all it could to minimise civilian casualties and damage to essential economic infrastructure. It would also mobilise the international community to provide emergency humanitarian relief.

1.4   On 24 February, the UK, the US and Spain tabled a draft resolution, making it clear that Iraq had failed to take the opportunity provided in UNSCR 1441. Despite significant diplomatic efforts, it was reluctantly concluded that a Security Council consensus on this new resolution would not be possible.  Faced with continuing Iraqi intransigence, coalition forces commenced military operations against the Saddam Hussein regime on 20 March 2003.

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