"Now, many months after the armed action of the US and its allies, I can't help but wonder how the world would have reacted if the inspectors had simply stated that they agreed with the US/UK assessments - which later proved to be wrong or highly questionable - about aluminum tubes, uranium contracts, mobile laboratories, remote-controlled vehicles, etc. What would have been the situation if the Security Council had then authorized armed action and occupation, only to find out that Iraq did not have prohibited items?"
The war against Iraq divided public opinion worldwide and created a whirlwind of constructed stories and their denials. The man who was at the eye of the storm and admittedly the only one who emerged from it with his integrity intact was Hans Blix, the head of the United Nations weapons inspection team.
Here is Dr. Blix's assessment of what really happened during the months leading up to the declaration of war in March 2003. With captivating descriptions of his meetings with Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Kofi Annan, he conveys the disappointments, tensions, and dramatic situations that unfolded as the clock ticked towards the fateful hour. Throughout his narrative, he poses vital questions regarding this war: Was it inevitable? Why couldn't the US and the UK win the support of other Security Council member states? Did Iraq have weapons of mass destruction? What does the situation in Iraq teach us about the correctness and effectiveness of the policy of preemptive attack and unilateral action?
Unburdened by the commitments of politicians and ideologues, Blix speaks plainly - a measured voice of reason amidst the cacophony of the Iraq conflict. His assessment of what happened is invaluable in the effort to understand what has brought us to the present state of affairs and what we can learn as we strive for peace and world security after Iraq."