Clinton Administration on the Iraq Threat (1997-2001)

1997

• Bill Clinton accuses Iraq of concealing evidence of its WMD programs, Jan. 8, 1997
• Bill Clinton says Iraq remains a threat to the U.S., May 8, 1997
• Bill Clinton says Iraq has not fulfilled its requirement to destroy its WMD, July 9, 1997
• Sandy Berger calls Saddam Hussein a repeat offender when it comes to WMD, Nov. 18, 1997

1998

• Madeleine Albright says military force may be necessary to rid Iraq of WMD, Jan. 30, 1998
• Bill Clinton says Iraq has failed to answer critical questions on nuclear weapons design and fabrication, procurement, and centrifuge enrichment, Feb. 5, 1998
• Bill Clinton says Iraq continues to conceal chemical and biological weapons, and missiles
  that can deliver them, Feb. 9, 1998
• Sandy Berger declares Saddam Hussein a threat to the U.S., Feb. 13, 1998
• Berger, Cohen and Albright discuss nuclear, chemical or biological threat posed by Iraq, Feb. 20, 1998
• Bill Clinton says UNSCOM is still unable to verify that all of Iraq's SCUD missile warheads filled with biological agents -- anthrax, botulinum toxin, and aflatoxin -- have been destroyed, June 24, 1998
• Bill Clinton says Iraqi actions pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and vital foreign policy interests of the United States, July 30, 1998
• Madeleine Albright editorial in New York Times discusses Iraq's WMD programs, Aug. 17, 1998
• 1998 Indictment against Osama bin Laden cites Iraq-al Qaeda connection.
• Richard Clarke promotes doctrine of preemption, Oct. 8, 1998
• Bill Clinton signs Iraqi Liberation Act, Oct. 31, 1998
• Bill Clinton says Iraq's real goal is to end the sanctions without giving up its weapons of mass destruction program, Nov. 13, 1998
• Sandy Berger ties Osama bin Laden to Saddam Hussein, Dec. 9, 1998
• Bill Clinton attacks Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs, Dec. 16, 1998
• Madeleine Albright discusses preemptive nature of Operation Desert Fox, Dec. 17, 1998
• Bill Clinton says Saddam must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or the world with
  nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons, Dec. 18, 1998
• Bill Clinton says Saddam Hussein must not be allowed to develop nuclear arms,
  poison gas, biological weapons, or the means to deliver them, Dec. 19, 1998
• Madeleine Albright discusses Operation Desert Fox on Meet the Press, Dec. 21, 1998
• William Cohen says Operation Desert Fox made it more difficult for Iraq to use deadly chemical and biological weapons against its neighbors, Jan. 21, 1998

1999

• Bill Clinton says Iraq has defied its obligations to destroy its weapons of terror and the missiles to deliver them, Jan. 19, 1999
• Undersecretary of Defense says Clinton administration has come to the conclusion that there cannot be a fundamental, long-term improvement in the security situation in the Gulf region until there is a change of regime in Iraq, Jan. 28, 1999
• Bill Clinton says as long as Saddam Hussein remains in power, he represents a threat to
  the well-being of his people, the peace of the region, and the security of the world, Mar. 3, 1999
• Madeleine Albright meets with Ahmed Chalabi, pledges that the U.S. will do what it can to
  support the Iraqi people and their efforts to change the regime, May 24, 1999
• Ambassador Pickering voices support for Ahmed Chalabi and Iraqi National Congress, Nov. 1, 1999

2000

• Clinton administration official says the regime of Saddam Hussein cannot be rehabilitated or reintegrated as a responsible member of the community of nations, Mar. 23, 2000
• Ambassador tells Security Council that Iraq remains a threat due to unanswered questions in the areas of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and of the missiles to deliver them, Mar. 27, 2000
• Sandy Berger argues against lifting sanctions on Iraq, May 4, 2000
• Al Gore reaffirmes the Administration's strong commitment to the objective of removing
  Saddam Hussein from power, and to bringing him and his inner circle to justice for their war crimes
  and crimes against humanity, June 26, 2000
• William Cohen says he cannot think of a more important issue to address than protecting the
  American people from the threat posed by states such as North Korea, Iran and Iraq who
  are seeking to acquire nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the long-range
  missiles to deliver them, July 25, 2000
• State Department fact sheet says Iraq has not complied with UN Security Council Resolutions that call for dismantling weapons of mass destruction programs, Aug. 2, 2000
• U.S. statement to U.N. says Iraq has had an aggressive program to develop the full range of WMD and has used such weapons against Iran and also against its very own people, Aug. 17, 2000
• Madeleine Albright meets with the Iraqi National Congress, Sept. 15, 2000
• State Department calls French Flight to Iraq "A Blatant Violation" of Sanctions, Sept. 22, 2000
• Ambassador says Clinton administration does not believe there can be peace or stability in the Gulf while Saddam Hussein remains in power, determined to restrain his quest for nuclear weapons and dangerous technologies, Dec. 19, 2000

2001

• Madeleine Albright says U.S. will maintain pressure on Iraq, Jan. 8, 2001
• Madeleine Albright laments having to pass along the issue of Saddam Hussein, Jan. 9, 2001
• William Cohen discusses defense priorities with Donald Rumsfeld, ties terrorism issues to Iraq, Jan. 9, 2001
• UN Ambassador Richard Holbrooke says Iraq will be one of the major issues facing the incoming Bush administration, Jan. 11, 2001
  
  

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CIA Worldwide Threat Assessments

1996	1997	1998
1999	2000	2001

State Department - Patterns of Global Terrorism

1993	1994	1995	1996
1997	1998	1999	2000

Miscellaneous Documents

• THREAT FINDINGS OF THE NUNN-LUGAR-DOMENICI ACT -1996
• THE IRAQI WMD CHALLENGE -- Myths and Reality - February 10, 1998
• Presidential Decision Directive 63 - May 22, 1998
• WHO BECOMES A TERRORIST AND WHY? - September 1999
• Sen. Kerrey's Address on Iraq - September 29, 1999
• IRAQ’S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: THE ASSESSMENT OF THE BRITISH
  GOVERNMENT
• Butler Report: Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction