On 31 January-1 February 2003 the IISS together with the Nixon Center hosted a workshop entitled “Iraq: Inspections or Invasion?”. The meeting, which took place at IISS offices in London, brought together some 35 officials and experts from Europe, the Middle East and the US to discuss current developments with respect to Iraq and disarmament.
The workshop opened on the morning of 31 January with welcoming remarks by Dr Geoffrey Kemp, Director of Regional Strategic Programs at The Nixon Center. The meeting proceeded with presentations and discussions on the status of UN weapons inspections and military deployments in the region. Updates were provided on the progress of ongoing UNMOVIC and IAEA inspections in regards to nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons as well as missiles. This was followed by speakers offering various regional perspectives. Issues such as economic and security concerns in the region and transatlantic relations were raised. On 1 February, the conference moved on to consider various scenarios for and policy implications of a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq. The political history of Iraq and the structure of its society were addressed. Among the numerous issues discussed during the two-day meeting were also the role of the UN, enforcement of arms control, the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and terrorism.
