• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

98166. Cohen Says Saddam Must Provide Full Accounting of Weapons

By Paul Stone
American Forces Press Service
	WASHINGTON -- Saddam Hussein must offer "convincing 
evidence" Iraq has destroyed its weapons of mass destruction 
before the current crisis can come to an end.
	That's the message Defense Secretary William S. Cohen 
sent the Iraqi president March 17 in a speech here at the 
National Press Club.
	"I would like to point out that the crisis is not 
over," Cohen said, referring the recent face-off between 
Iraq and the international community over weapons inspection 
rules. "After seven years, it is clear that Iraq is not to 
be trusted. It has displayed a historical pattern of deceit, 
deception and delay. "The bottom line is that Iraq may still 
be holding munitions and operational missiles with warheads 
filled with deadly chemical or biological agents," Cohen 
said.
	Iraq has offered no proof to back its claim it has 
destroyed 50 warheads filled with the deadly nerve agent 
sarin, 25 Scud warheads and 157 bombs filled with biological 
agents, 130 tons of chemical agents and more than 15,000 
chemical weapons, he said.
	"He (Saddam) must, once and for all, make a full, final 
and complete declaration about what he has and what he has 
destroyed," Cohen said. "Saddam Hussein has an affirmative 
duty to produce hard evidence -- records, names, dates and 
places describing what was destroyed, how, when and where. 
It is not the inspectors' responsibility to prove that he is 
guilty of having and hiding these weapons ... It is Saddam's 
responsibility to provide proof positive that he is not."
	Although critical of Iraq's past behavior, calling it a 
"historical pattern of delay, deception and deceit," Cohen 
praised the recent agreement reached with Iraq to resume the 
inspection process. "Under this agreement, nothing is off 
limits, there are no deadlines and there is no bar against 
repeat visits to the same site," the secretary said.
	At minimum, Cohen said, the agreement gives U.N. 
inspectors the access they need to find and destroy weapons, 
munitions and missiles, and to institute a long-term 
monitoring system to ensure Iraq does not build more.
	He warned Saddam the United States is prepared for a 
long and protracted process, and he should not expect 
international sanctions to be lifted soon.
	"Only when Saddam is in full compliance with all 
relevant U.N. resolutions will there be sanctions relief for 
the Iraqi people," Cohen said. "Given Saddam's track record, 
full compliance may be a long time coming."
	He urged the international community to remain vigilant 
and said U.S. forces will remain in the region at the ready.

##End##