Mohammad ElBaradei: US Military Pressure on Iraq Has Yielded Results - 2003-01-14. The United Nations weapons inspection team states that completing the search for prohibited weapons in Iraq may take up to a year, but the buildup and readiness of US military forces for a possible war against Iraq continues unabated and is expected to be completed by mid-February. Mohammad ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that US military pressure on Iraq has yielded results and that as inspections continue, the pressure must also be intensified. Mr. ElBaradei made these remarks on Monday, just a few days after Donald Rumsfeld, the US Secretary of Defense, ordered the doubling of US forces in the Gulf region to 60,000. On January 27, UN inspectors are to report to the United Nations Security Council whether the first two-month searches for prohibited weapons have yielded any results.
Mohammad ElBaradei: US Military Pressure on Iraq Has Yielded Results - 2003-01-14
Mohammad ElBaradei stated that US military pressure on Iraq has produced results, while the UN weapons inspection team indicated that the search for prohibited weapons may take a year. The buildup of US forces in the Gulf is ongoing, with a report due to the UN Security Council on January 27 regarding the inspections.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Mohammad ElBaradei stated that US military pressure on Iraq has led to positive results in the context of weapons inspections, while the US continues to build up its military presence in the Gulf. A report from UN inspectors on their findings is expected soon.
- US military forces in the Gulf are being doubled to 60,000.
- UN weapons inspections may take up to a year to complete.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
In the early 2000s, the US was focused on preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, particularly in Iraq, which was suspected of having such capabilities. This period also saw rising tensions with Iran over its nuclear program.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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