• Military

• WMD Menu                           

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

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

December 1999

• RFE/RL Iraq Report, Volume 2, Number 47 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 30 December 1999 -- IS AN IRAN-IRAQ AXIS IN THE OFFING? / ZHIRINOVSKY AGAIN IN BAGHDAD / IRAQI OPPOSITION HAS LOW EXPECTATIONS / BAHRAIN-IRAQ SEA LINK REOPENS / ILISU DAM CONTINUES TO GENERATE CONTROVERSY / RUSSIA TO BUILD IRAQ'S BIGGEST POWER STATION / KURDISH INFIGHTING "BENEFICIAL FOR BAGHDAD." / ASSYRIAN CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS FORMING IN US? / TURKMENS UNENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT NEW KRG GOVERNMENT
• Iraqis fire at ONW aircraft UNITED STATES EUROPEAN COMMAND (30 Dec 99) -- The Iraqi forces fired anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) at coalition aircraft from a site east of Mosul. Coalition aircraft responded by dropping ordnance on the integrated air defense system.
• Little-noted air war over Iraq grinds on, with criticism rising James W. Crawley The San Diego Union-Tribune December 27, 1999, -- "This is the longest (air) operation since Vietnam," said John Pike, a military analyst.
• DoD News Briefing December 23, 1999 -- There are some signs that in recent weeks Saddam Hussein has been concentrating more on defensive measures, rather than offensive measures; that he has pulled some of his surface-to-air missiles and other air-defense assets out of the no-fly zones closer to Baghdad and to Tikrit and other areas in central Iraq, in the so-called free-fly zone.
• State Department's Welch Briefs on U.N. Iraq Resolution By Rick Marshall USIA 21 December 1999 -- David Welch, assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs, addressed reporters December 21 on the subject of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1284, the so-called omnibus Iraq resolution that was adopted December 17.
• IRAQ REACT/U-N Voice of America 18 December 1999 -- Iraq has strongly condemned a United Nations resolution designed to send weapons inspectors back into Iraq in exchange for the suspension of U-N sanctions.
• RFE/RL Iraq Report, Volume 2, Number 46 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 17 December 1999 -- UNSC CONTINUES TO DISCUSS DRAFT RESOLUTION / IRAQI MINISTER DENIES 'UDAYY-QUSAYY RIVALRY / NEW CHIEF OF STAFF FOR IRAQI ARMY / NO PAPAL VISIT TO IRAQ / IRAQI AGENTS FAIL TO ACQUIRE CZECH RADAR / ROMANIAN-IRAQI TRADE TALKS CONTINUE / IRAQ, YUGOSLAVIA TO EXPAND COOPERATION / TALABANI URGES GREATER REGIONAL COOPERATION WITH IRAN / NO OPPOSITION MEETING IN IRAQI KURDISTAN / SCIRI LEADER TO TRAVEL TO KUWAIT / KDP OFFICIAL ON KURDS IN IRAQ / PKK SUPPORTED BY SADDAM HUSSEYN / IRAQ TURKMEN FRONT MEETS IN IRBIL / A TURKISH VIEW ON KURDS AND TURKMEN IN IRAQ
• U-N APPROVES IRAQ MEASURE Voice of America 17 December 1999 -- The United Nations Security Council today (Friday) approved a long-awaited resolution that could result in the lifting of economic sanctions against Iraq. But there is serious doubt about whether Iraq will comply with the resolution.
• SECURITY COUNCIL ESTABLISHES NEW MONITORING COMMISSION FOR IRAQ ADOPTING RESOLUTION 1284 (1999) BY VOTE OF 11-0-4 Press Release SC/6775 - 17 December 1999 -- Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter, the Security Council today established the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) to undertake the responsibilities of the former United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM), which was charged with monitoring the elimination of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The new Commission is mandated to establish and operate a reinforced, ongoing monitoring and verification system, address unresolved disarmament issues and identify additional sites to be covered by the new monitoring system. The UNMOVIC will submit its work programme and organizational plan to the Council for approval.
• ADOPTION OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (17 December 1999) We are pursuing two objectives. The first is to ensure regional security. To this end, inspectors must return to Iraq to monitor weapons. This cannot be achieved by force. Iraq's cooperation is necessary. The second objective is to resolve the disastrous humanitarian situation in Iraq.
• ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY ALAIN DEJAMMET AMBASSADOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF FRANCE TO THE U.N. (New-York, 17 December 1999) The draft resolution takes note of the difficulties of implementing Resolution 687; the demands laid down in the area of disarmament could not be met 100%, the prospect of lifting the sanctions soon was no longer credible and UNSCOM no longer offered all the required guarantees.
• Fact Sheet on Iraq Omnibus Resolution USIA17 December 1999 -- This resolution reaffirms Iraq's obligations to disarm, to provide for the needs of its people, to account for Gulf War missing and to return stolen Kuwaiti property. All members of the UN Security Council have agreed, again, that these obligations on Iraq are unsatisfied and continue.
• Text: Burleigh Explains U.S. Position on Omnibus Iraq Resolution USIA 17 December 1999 -- Amb. A. Peter Burleigh, U.S. deputy permanent representative to the United Nations explained the U.S. position on the December 17 U.N. Security Council"s Omnibus Resolution on Iraq.
• US - IRAQ - UN Voice of America 17 December 1999 -- The Clinton administration is welcoming a U-N Security Council resolution passed Friday that could send U-N arms inspectors back to Iraq if Baghdad cooperates. But three of the five permanent council members abstained from the 11-to-zero vote
• PRESS BRIEFING BY JOE LOCKHARTDecember 17, 1999 -- I think we believe it's unfortunate that France took the position they did. It doesn't completely add up for us, given the fact that they said they supported the text of the resolution. But I think the bottom line is there was a strong majority that sent a strong message to Saddam Hussein and passed a strong resolution.
• US Department of State Daily Press Briefing 13 December 1999 -- My understanding is that in terms of full consensus, in other words, 15 nations voting for a resolution that we can support along the lines I've just described, is not yet in place.
• IRAQ/OIL-FOOD Voice of America 12 December 1999 -- Iraq says it is ready to resume oil exports this week, after accepting a new oil-for-food program adopted by the U-N Security Council.
• Iraqis fire AAA at ONW aircraft UNITED STATES EUROPEAN COMMAND (12 Dec 99) -- Iraqi forces fired anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) from a site near Bashiqah, northeast of Mosul, and sites northwest of Mosul. Coalition aircraft responded by dropping ordnance on the integrated air defense system.
• RFE/RL Iraq Report, Volume 2, Number 45 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 10 December 1999 -- U.S. WORRIED ABOUT IRAQ'S WEAPONS BUILD-UP / AZIZ ENDS MOSCOW TRIP / AZIZ URGES EXTENSION OF OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM / IRAQ THREATENS FRENCH OIL INVESTMENTS / U.S. SEEN WEAKENING IRAQI OPPOSITION / ANOTHER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON QUSAYY / SADDAM SEEN TIGHTENING SECURITY / MUJAHEDIN-E KHALQ IN KURDISTAN-IRAQ BUFFER ZONE / GCC DECLARATION STRESSES 'FORM OVER SUBSTANCE.' / JORDANIAN-IRAQI OIL TALKS STALL / FREE TRADE ESTABLISHED IN KRG / KURDS FOR SALE IN RUSSIAN PRISONS
• SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS IRAQ 'OIL-FOR-FOOD' PROGRAMME FOR 180 DAYS, ADOPTING RESOLUTION 1281 (1999) UNANIMOUSLY Press Release SC/6769 - 10 December 1999 -- Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter, the Security Council this afternoon decided to continue to permit the import of up to $5.26 billion in Iraqi oil and oil products for a new period of 180 days under the humanitarian assistance programme for Iraq known as "oil for food".
• IRAQ / OIL SMUGGLING Voice of America 10 December 1999 -- The State Department released a satellite photo of the Shatt al-Arab waterway at Basra, which it says shows Iraq has been smuggling increasing amounts of oil to provide the regime with money for its own -- non-humanitarian -- purposes.
• U-N-IRAQ OIL Voice of America 10 December 1999 -- The United Nations Security Council today (Friday) extended for six months the oil-for-food program for Iraq.
• Iraqi Oil Smuggling U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman -- December 10, 1999 -- Recently declassified satellite photography reveals that Iraq continues to smuggle oil in violation of UN sanctions.
• US Department of State Daily Press Briefing 10 December 1999 -- Recently declassified satellite photography - of which this is one example - reveals that Iraq continues to smuggle oil in violation of UN sanctions. This comes at a time when the government of Iraq has refused to participate in an extension of the Oil-For-Food Program.
• Text: UNSC Approves Six-Month Extension of Iraq Oil-for-Food Program USIA 10 December 1999 -- The U.N. Security Council December 10 unanimously approved a six-month extension of the Iraq "Oil-for-food" program. The resolution allows Iraq to sell $5,200 million in oil during the 180-day period which begins on December 12.
• U-N - IRAQ SITUATION Voice of America 09 December 1999 -- The United States tonight (Thursday) again pressed the U-N Security Council for a vote on a so-called "comprehensive" resolution on Iraq.
• U.S. Pressing for UN Security Council Vote on Iraqi Disarmament By Judy Aita USIA 08 December 1999 -- -- After six months of debate and discussion, the Security Council is getting close to voting on a comprehensive resolution to deal with remaining Iraqi disarmament issues and sanctions, UN diplomats said December 8.
• US Department of State Daily Press Briefing 08 December 1999 -- What our focus on at the moment is not Iraq. It's the Security Council. It's the effort to reconstitute consensus within the Security Council on the basis not of concessions to Iraq's desire to avoid complying with its disarmament requirements but, rather, consensus on the basis of an assertion, a reassertion, of the requirements of Iraqi compliance.
• U-N-IRAQ RESOLUTION Voice of America 08 December 1999 -- The United Nations Security Council today (Wednesday) moved a few steps closer to a vote on a so-called "comprehensive" resolution on Iraq.
• DoD News Briefing: Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen Tuesday, December 7, 1999 - I think as you indicated, Iraq is still trying to acquire nuclear materials or nuclear weapons. I wouldn't disagree with that characterization. I think they have in their minds an ability at some future time to be able to develop weapons of mass destruction, which is precisely the reason why we've insisted that inspectors must go back in.
• US Department of State Daily Press Briefing 06 December 1999 -- Given that Iraq has suffered significant isolation internationally in the last almost ten years and the political and economic costs to Iraq of its isolation, I think one can only conclude that these programs of weapons of mass destruction are very important to Saddam Hussein.
• Remarks on Iraq, Pakistan and India Thomas R. Pickering, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Foreign Policy Forum, George Washington University, December 6, 1999 -- Our policy towards Iraq rests on three pillars: containment, humanitarian relief and regime change. The southern no-fly zone provides a deterrent against troop movements that would threaten Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. While we do not rule out providing lethal assistance, as allowed in the Iraq Liberation Act, we do not want to put lives at risk needlessly, as would be the case at this early stage of our efforts.
• IRAQ/WEAPONS INSPECTIONS Voice of America 06 December 1999 -- Baghdad may succeed in preventing U-N arms inspectors from ever returning to the country and finishing the task of declaring Iraq free of weapons of mass destruction.
• COALITION AIRCRAFT STRIKE IRAQI UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND December 6, 1999 -- U.S. Navy F/A-18 "Hornets" and F-14 "Tomcats" used precision-guided weapons to strike an Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery site and a military radar site located near the city of Al Amarah, approximately 165 miles east-southeast of Baghdad.
• Iraqis fire AAA at ONW aircraftUNITED STATES EUROPEAN COMMAND (4 Dec 99) -- Iraqi forces fired anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) from a site near Bashiqah, northeast of Mosul. Coalition aircraft responded by dropping ordnance on the integrated air defense system.
• IRAQ/U-N Voice of America 04 December 1999 -- Iraq has rejected a one-week extension of the United Nations' oil-for-food program.
• RFE/RL Iraq Report, Volume 2, Number 44 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 3 December 1999 -- REFUGEES EXPELLED FROM BAGHDAD / AZIZ TO DISCUSS UN SANCTIONS IN MOSCOW / IVANOV: NO ACCORD ON CHECHNYA, IRAQ / GCC SUMMIT FOCUSES ON IRAQ / IRAQI OIL MINISTRY DELEGATION VISITS BELGRADE / SOUTH AFRICA SEEKS TIES WITH BAGHDAD / NECHIRVAN BARZANI NEW PREMIER OF KRG / INTRA-KURDISH STRUGGLES CONTINUE / BAGHDAD OPPOSES MINORITY LANGUAGE SCHOOLS / OSMAN OCALAN ON WAR BETWEEN KDP AND PKK / PKK MARKS ANNIVERSARY IN MOSCOW
• U-N-IRAQ OIL Voice of America 03 December 1999 -- The United Nations Security Council today (Friday) extended, for one week, Iraq's "oil-for-food" program.
• Oil-for-Food Program Ambassador A. Peter Burleigh, Deputy Permanent Representative - Security Council - December 3, 1999 -- There has been no disruption of humanitarian assistance under the Oil-for-Food program, and it is a matter of the utmost importance that the program continue without disruption.
• US Department of State Daily Press Briefing 03 December 1999 -- We believe this resolution meets the critical test of requiring Iraq to allow the inspectors to return, requiring Iraq to fulfill the key disarmament tasks and requiring a testing period for that cooperation prior to any adjustment in the sanctions regime. So we believe this increases the chances that we can get inspectors back to Iraq, which we want to have, but also ensures that the Iraqi regime would not have access to unlimited and uncontrolled resources in order to pursue a purpose of spending additional money on it's mad military machine.
• SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAMME FOR IRAQ BY ONE WEEK, PENDING FURTHER CONSIDERATION Press Release SC/6767 - 3 December 1999 -- Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter, the Security Council this afternoon extended the programme of humanitarian assistance to Iraq known as "oil-for-food" for one week, until 11 December.
• Text: UNSC Votes to Extend Iraq Oil-for-Food Program for Seven Days USIA 03 December 1999 -- The U.N. Security Council late December 3 voted to extend phase VI of the Iraq Oil-for-Food program for seven days, through December 11. The resolution was passed by a vote of 11 in favor and 3 abstentions -- China, Russia and Malaysia. France, which opposed the proposal, saying seven days was insufficient for technical reasons, did not participate in the vote.
• Iraqis fire at ONW aircraft UNITED STATES EUROPEAN COMMAND (2 Dec 99) -- Iraqi forces fired anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) from sites near Bashiqah, northeast of Mosul and from an area near Tall Afar. Coalition aircraft responded by dropping ordnance on the integrated air defense system.
• U-S - IRAQ Voice of America 02 December 1999 -- The United Nations Security Council has yet to resolve differences on how to resume international weapons inspections in Iraq.
• U-S - IRAQ Voice of America 02 December 1999 -- The United States is urging the U-N Security Council to move quickly on a comprehensive resolution that would put weapons inspectors back into Iraq.
• US Department of State Daily Press Briefing 02 December 1999 -- We believe - and are concerned - that Iraq has taken steps to reconstitute facilities that were destroyed in the Desert Fox military operation. We do not believe that they have crossed the red line that the President set out at the time of that military enterprise, and that is that they have reconstituted their weapons of mass destruction programs.
• DoD News Briefing Thursday, December 2, 1999 -- Q On Iraq, can you update us on where we believe Iraq stands in terms of reconstituting weapons of mass destruction programs, chem, bio, nuclear, ballistic missile? ADM. QUIGLEY: We have no hard evidence of a substantive reconstitution effort under way. But it's an area that -- again, where we can't say with conviction that this is the case or this is not the case, absent the knowledge and the access and the visibility into activities on the ground.
• US Department of State Daily Press Briefing 01 December 1999 -- I think there is nothing new about Tariq Aziz tromping around the world pathetically seeking support for a position in which Iraq increasingly finds itself isolated in all over the world.
• RUSSIA / IRAQ Voice of America 01 December 1999 -- Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz is meeting Russian officials in Moscow to seek support for help in easing United Nations sanctions against his country.