Dealing with the Threat Posed by Iraq
Abstract
In response to the threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Iraq, the United States, in coordination with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), should take steps to impose a truly effective inspection regime to remove the threat. Should that effort fail, the United States should be prepared, again in conjunction with the UNSC and a willing coalition, to intervene militarily to achieve that goal. Such action will require extensive preparation for a long military occupation of Iraq and construction of a new polity that meets minimal norms of international respect for human rights. The danger posed by Iraq's possession and production of WMD has been raised repeatedly in recent months by U.S. government spokespersons. Even so, there are those who flatly deny that Iraq possesses WMD and who question U.S. motivations. The legitimacy of the UNSC's power to authorize the use of force in the face of a threat to international peace and security is universally accepted. Working through the U.N. presents the United States an opportunity to acquire the support of the international community in contemplating the use of force to strip Iraq of its WMD capacity. Conversely, failing to work through the U.N. would isolate the United States politically and would make it less likely that other states would commit military forces in Iraq. This paper discusses the following topics: whether the United States has the right to act preemptively to counter an Iraqi threat; support in the Middle East for regime change in Iraq; the nature of the threat from Iraq; the end-state sought in a military intervention; foreign policy objectives in Iraq; use of soft power, intelligence, diplomacy, foreign aid, and economic sanctions; use of deterrence, containment, and intervention; the risks of intervention; building a coalition; the center of gravity -- Saddam Hussein; the ground war; anticipating Iraqi strategies; employing Iraqi allies; psychological operations; and the occupation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 28, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA442432
Entities
People
- Roger Moran
Organizations
- National War College