IN THE NEWS - Iraqi Weapons Declaration

IN THE NEWS - December 14, 2002: Iraqi Weapons Declaration

By Cynthia Kirk

This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English program IN THE NEWS.

Last Saturday, the government of Iraq gave a declaration of its weapons programs to the United Nations. A U-N
Security Council resolution ordered Iraq to report on its nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons programs by
December eighth. The time limit was widely considered Iraq’s final chance to prevent a military attack.

The Security Council also required Iraq to agree to U-N weapons inspections¹. The first U-N inspectors² arrived in
late November. U-N weapons inspections were started after Iraq’s defeat in the nineteen-ninety-one Gulf³ War.
Four years ago, inspectors left the country because they were not permitted to visit all the areas they wanted to
examine.

The U-N resolution required Iraq to surrender any weapons of mass destruction. It called for serious measures if
Iraq failed to do so. Iraq could be found in violation⁴ of the resolution if its weapons declaration is believed to
include false information or not complete.

Iraq says the declaration proves it does not have weapons of mass destruction. It says the documents contain
current, full and correct information. Iraqi Lieutenant⁵ General Hussam Mohammed Amin supervised preparation
of the report. He said it would satisfy and answer all the questions that have been asked in recent years.

The Iraqi official said the declaration explains the history of Iraq’s weapons programs. He said it describes
civilian⁶ activities involving equipment and technology that could have military uses. He also said it identifies the
companies and countries that sold Iraq technology and equipment to develop weapons of mass destruction in the
past. Iraqi officials did not say if the declaration provides new evidence to support Iraq’s claim that it has
destroyed all its old biological and chemical weapons.

The United States claims there is evidence that Iraq still has some banned weapons programs. The United States
has threatened to use military force if Iraq fails to honor U-N demands to disarm⁷. Iraq has accused the United
States of seeking to use the declaration to find a reason for aggression⁸ against Iraq.

In the nineteen-nineties, Iraq admitted making three kinds of biological weapons, including one that spreads the
deadly anthrax bacteria. But U-N inspectors were never able to confirm Iraq’s claims that it destroyed hundreds
of missiles containing anthrax.

Similar questions surround Iraq’s supply of the deadly V-X nerve agent. In the past, Iraq admitted making
almost four tons of V-X. Iraq later said it had destroyed all the V-X. However, U-N inspectors said it never
provided evidence to support the claim.

Iraq says the new declaration shows it wants to cooperate to prevent war. It said the United States should accept
the report as truthful⁹.

The United States has not yet presented proof that Iraq still has banned weapons. However, Bush administration
officials said strong evidence would be given soon to U-N inspectors.

This VOA Special English program, IN THE NEWS, was written by Cynthia Kirk. This is Steve Ember.

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1 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

4 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

5 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

6 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

7 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

8 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

9 truthful   

adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的

参考例句：

• You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
• I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。