The problem with Butler is he seems to change his tune more than he changes his underwear. Not so long ago, Saddam threatened the world.
Iraqi nerve gas 'could paralyse western cities'
Iraq: special report Ewen MacAskill, diplomatic editor Wednesday May 24, 2000
The Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, has built up a deadly arsenal of chemical, biological and possibly nuclear weapons over the past 18 months capable of creating mayhem in London, New York and Tel Aviv, according to the former UN weapons inspector, Richard Butler. His warning runs counter to the Iraqi government's claim that it has destroyed all its weapons of mass destruction in compliance with UN resolutions agreed after the Gulf war.
The issue is at the heart of one of the most complex problems confronting the UN. Some campaigners against UN sanctions on Iraq insist there is no evidence that Baghdad still retains weapons and that sanctions should be lifted.
Mr Butler, who headed the UN weapons inspectorate in Baghdad until the UN pulled out in 1998 alleging obstruction by the Iraqi government, said he had evidence from his time in Baghdad that President Saddam had kept weapons of mass destruction hidden from the UN.
But he said that more worryingly President Saddam had used the absence of the UN in the intervening period to build up his arsenal of missiles and chemical and biological weapons.
Mr Butler had also been presented with evidence that President Saddam had re-convened his nuclear development team and had the capability to build nuclear weapons.
His warning came as President Saddam praised Iraqi scientists for their innovative work in finding ways of combatting US and British fighters flying missions over the country. The Iraqi leader said he had "listened to a detailed explanation on innovations and work conducted by a group of researchers and fighters to confront and stop the aggressors". He added: "I am very proud of you and all Iraqi scientists."
In an interview with the Guardian, Mr Butler, an Australian diplomat dubbed "Mad Dog" by the Iraqi government, said: "This stuff is out there and it is serious. This man has a track record. We do not want to wait until this stuff turns up in Trafalgar Square or Times Square and say we did not see it coming."
Iraq had been building up the range of its missiles to 375 miles over the past 18 months, he said. "I have seen evidence they have been attempting to procure missile manufacturing equipment from the west through front companies."
"Missiles are only a delivery system. They can carry conventional warheads but Iraq has wanted them for chemical, nuclear and biological weapons."
He said he was convinced that President Saddam had stores of the nerve agent VX, which he described as more dangerous than Sarin and anthrax.
"A Scud missile with 140 litres of VX can kill up to a million people," he said, recalling that President Saddam had fired Scuds at Israel during the Gulf war.
He warned that Iraq had, or could soon have, the nuclear weapons to "hollow central London". The Iraqi government had never yielded its nuclear weapons designs to his team. It had the know-how and all it needed was the uranium, which it could get on the black market or from its own mineral supplies.
The US and Britain bombed Baghdad in 1998 after Mr Butler reported that the Iraqi government had been obstructive.
The UN is at present putting together another weapons inspection team under Hans Blix, but Iraq has so far said it would not allow an inspection team back in. The UN will formally ask Iraq to allow its team in this summer.
Mr Butler said that either President Saddam would allow Mr Blix and his team back into Baghdad or he would ignore it. He believed the latter was the more likely.
He blamed three of the five permanent members of the UN security council - France, China and Russia - for the UN's impotence, saying they all put self-interest ahead of tackling Iraq. France's main aim was protecting its oil interests.
Mr Butler has written a book about his bruising encounters with the Iraqi government, Saddam Defiant, which is to be published shortly. Although he wants tougher action against Iraq, he says in his book that sanctions have proved to be largely ineffective.
Then of course theres that other little matter, apart from the "hidden weapons", is...........WTF does saddam want with those 300 missile engines Hans Blix said he illegally imported last year, ..........build himself 300 dragsters??
