Hong Kong: Lashing out at the US for launching military action against Iraq, former
chief UN weapons inspector Richard Butler said that it was "deeply serious" that the
world's leading Democracy has invaded another country against the UN will.
Butler, an Australian who led the UN inspection team that was withdrawn from Iraq in
1998, said the US-led attack on Iraq went against international Law because there
was no sanctioning by the UN Security Council.
He called it "deeply, deeply serious that the world's leading Democracy invaded
another country ... against the will of the Security Council".
Butler said that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein might use weapons of mass
destruction against US-led troops when they approach Baghdad.
"This man has made those weapons," Butler said during a luncheon speech. "His track
record is that he has used them in the past. He has been in violation of
international Law for 12 years."
Butler added, "I fear in the days or weeks ahead he might use them as coalition
forces get closer to Baghdad."
