[House Document 104-128]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]





        104th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House 
Document 104-128


 
                             STATUS ON IRAQ

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              TRANSMITTING

A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF EFFORTS TO OBTAIN IRAQ'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE 
 RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL, PURSUANT TO PUB. L. 
                      102-1, SEC. 3 (105 STAT. 4)




October 24, 1995.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations 
                       and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                  Washington, DC, October 23, 1995.
Hon. Newt Gingrich,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: Consistent with the Authorization for Use 
of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1), 
and as part of my effort to keep the Congress fully informed, I 
am reporting on the status of efforts to obtain Iraq's 
compliance with the resolutions adopted by the U.N. Security 
Council.
    Events in Iraq unfolded dramatically in the weeks following 
my August 3, 1995, letter to you on Iraq in a way that makes 
absolutely clear our firm policy has been the correct one. In 
the first half of August, Iraqi leaders, in both public 
statements and private remarks to U.N. officials, threatened 
retaliation if the Security Council failed to lift sanctions by 
August 31, 1995. The retaliation was not specified, but the 
Iraqi remarks echoed those made before previous Iraqi acts of 
belligerence. Ambassador Albright and her colleagues from the 
United Kingdom and France called upon the Iraqi U.N. 
Ambassador, made clear that such threats were unacceptable, and 
urged that Iraq implement all relevant Security Council 
resolutions.
    On August 9, 1995, two of Saddam Hussein's sons-in-law left 
Iraq and were granted refuge in Amman. One of these men, 
Hussein Kamil, directed Iraq's weapons of mass destruction 
(WMD) programs while holding various high level government 
positions during the 1980s and 1990s. Evidently fearful of what 
the defectors might reveal, Saddam Hussein hurriedly invited 
U.N. weapons inspectors to Baghdad to examine previously 
undisclosed information on his weapons programs. Saddam Hussein 
offered the extraordinary explanation that Hussein Kamil had 
hid all this information from inspectors and Saddam Hussein 
himself.
    While the international community had long understood that 
Saddam Hussein had pursued a vigorous and extensive weapons 
program, the revelations were still staggering. Ambassador 
Ekeus, head of the U.N. Special Commission on Iraq, reported to 
the Council that, among other things, Iraq had placed 
biological agents such as anthrax and botulin into bombs and 
missiles and deployed these weapons of terror to military bases 
and airfields in December 1990; lied about the extent of its 
biological weapons program as recently as a few months ago; 
launched a crash program after the invasion of Kuwait to 
produce nuclear weapons within a year; and continued its 
weapons research and procurement activities, including work on 
uranium enrichment, after the Security Council cease-fire 
resolutions, possibly until quite recently.
    The August 1995 revelations virtually erased what little 
credibility Saddam Hussein may have had left. It seems clear 
that, were it not for the defections, Iraq never would have 
revealed this information. Saddam clearly planned to hide this 
weapons information until he could use it to facilitate the 
reconstitution of his WMD programs. Saddam Hussein's intentions 
are hardly peaceful. There is every reason to believe that they 
are as aggressive and expansionist as they were in 1990. It is 
more important than ever that the Security Council demand Iraqi 
compliance with all relevant Council resolutions prior to any 
change to the sanctions regime.
    The August 1995 WMD program revelations have overshadowed 
the fact that Iraq has done nothing to comply with its other 
obligations. Iraq continues to drag its feet on its obligations 
to account for hundreds of Kuwaitis and third country nationals 
missing since the invasion. Iraq has not returned the millions 
of dollars worth of Kuwaiti property looted during the 
occupation. The Iraqi Republican Guards still use a large 
quantity of stolen Kuwaiti military equipment. Iraq continues 
to provide safe haven for terrorist groups. Given this Iraqi 
track record of disrespect for its international obligations, 
the Security Council maintained the sanctions regime without 
change at the September 8, 1995, review.
    Saddam Hussein's unwillingness to comply with the norms of 
international behavior extends to his regime's continuing 
threat to Iraqi citizens throughout the country. We and our 
allies continue to enforce the no-fly zones over northern and 
southern Iraq as part of our efforts to deter Iraq's use of 
aircraft against its population. As reported by Max van der 
Stoel, the Special Rapporteur of the U.N. Commission on Human 
Rights, Iraq's repression of its southern Shi'a population 
continues, with policies aimed at destroying the Marsh Arabs' 
way of life and important environmental resources. Along with 
international and local relief organizations, we continue to 
provide humanitarian assistance to the people of northern Iraq. 
We have facilitated talks between the two major Kurdish groups 
in an effort to help them resolve their differences and 
increase stability in northern Iraq.
    The human rights situation throughout Iraq remains 
unchanged. Saddam Hussein shows no signs of complying with U.N. 
Security Council Resolution 688, which demands that Iraq cease 
the repression of its own people. Iraq announced an ``amnesty'' 
in July for all opponents of the regime, but the announcement 
was seen by most Iraqis and by international human rights 
observers as an ill-conceived ploy. The regime's recently 
announced plans to amend the Iraqi constitution are viewed by 
Iraqi exiles as a transparent effort to bless an extension of 
Saddam Hussein's presidency.
    Last October, the U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 
949, which demanded that Iraq not utilize its forces to 
threaten its neighbors or U.N. operations, and that it not 
redeploy or enhance its military capacity in southern Iraq. 
However, Saddam Hussein has continued to conduct military 
activities that we believe are intended to threaten Kuwait. The 
defections of Saddam Hussein's family members, coupled with 
indications of heightened Iraqi military readiness, increased 
our concerns that Iraqi leadership might lash out as it did 
last October when we responded during Operation Vigilant 
Warrior. In this time of uncertainty, we felt it prudent to 
improve the deterrence and warfighting capability of U.S. 
forces within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. 
Accordingly, the deployment of a mechanized task force was 
accelerated to participate in a scheduled exercise in Kuwait 
and a ground theater air control system was deployed to improve 
our command and control capability within the region. 
Additionally, 13 prepositioning ships were moved into the Gulf 
to increase our deterrence posture.
    We continue to receive good support from the Gulf States in 
our sanctions enforcement efforts. The Multinational 
Interception Force (MIF) conducting the maritime enforcement of 
U.N. economic sanctions against Iraq continues to serve 
magnificently. Since October 1994, the MIF has diverted to 
various Gulf ports 14 sanctions-violating vessels, which were 
carrying cargoes of oil or dates having an estimated cumulative 
value of over $10 million. The multinational composition of the 
MIF has been significantly strengthened. Ships from Belgium, 
New Zealand, Italy, Canada, and the United Kingdom have been 
committed to participate in MIF operations for the remainder of 
1995.
    The expeditious acceptance of two recently diverted 
sanctions-violating vessels by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait has 
greatly contributed to the deterrent effect of MIF sanctions 
enforcement operations and has also freed enforcement vessels 
escorting the diverted vessels to return to patrol operations. 
Panama and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have deflagged three 
sanctions-violating vessels while Honduras has enacted stricter 
sanctions enforcement measures and has continued deflagging 
proceedings against vessels involved in violating Iraqi 
sanctions.
    Security Council Resolution 687 affirmed that Iraq is 
liable under international law for compensating the victims of 
its unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait. Although the 
U.N. Compensation Commission (UNCC) has approved some 355,000 
individual awards against Iraq worth about $1.39 billion, it 
has been able to pay only the first small awards for serious 
personal injury or death (aggregating $2.7 million). The 
remainder of the awards cannot be paid because the U.N. 
Compensation Fund lacks sufficient funding. The awards are 
supposed to be financed by a deduction from the proceeds of 
future Iraqi oil sales, once such sales are permitted to 
resume. However, Iraq's refusal to meet the Security Council's 
terms for a resumption of oil sales has left the UNCC without 
adequate financial resources to pay the awards. Iraq's 
intransigence means that the victims of its aggression remain 
uncompensated for their losses 4 years after the end of the 
Gulf War.
    To conclude, Iraq remains a serious threat to regional 
peace and stability. I remain determined that Iraq comply fully 
with all its obligations under the U.N. Security Council 
Resolutions. My Administration will continue to oppose any 
relaxation of sanctions until Iraq demonstrates peaceful 
intentions through its overall compliance with the relevant 
resolutions.
    I appreciate the support of the Congress for our efforts, 
and shall continue to keep the Congress informed about this 
important issue.
            Sincerely,
                                                William J. Clinton.

                                
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