From the horse's mouth
I am grateful for the opportunity to set out once again the Government's position on the current crisis over Iraq, and to explain the reasons that lie behind our policy.
Iraq represents a major threat to world peace. Situated in the world's most volatile region, and dominated by one of the most vicious and corrupt regimes ever seen, Iraq has twice under its current leader attacked neighbouring states. It is even now engaged in the concealment of its weapons of mass destruction and their development programmes.
The potential for the Iraqi regime to use its weapons of mass destruction has already been tangibly demonstrate - it has used them on its neighbours and on its own people, with horrific effect. It has also tried hard to develop nuclear weapons, and consistently lied about it.
There is another concern too. The appalling events in the United States of 11 September 2001 reminded us that there are people who try to get their hands on the sort of weapons Saddam Hussein hides, and would not hesitate to use them. Can we really rely on Saddam Hussein's goodwill to ensure they do not get them?
The international community has for many years demonstrated its concern about the very real threat posed by Iraq's illegal weapon holdings, most recently when the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1441.
That resolution places the onus on Saddam Hussein to co-operate and disarm, not on the inspectors to do it for him. Yet Dr Blix has reported to the UN Security Council that "Iraq appears not to have come to a genuine acceptance - not even today - of the disarmament which was demanded of it." Saddam Hussein's secrecy only gives us greater cause for concern.
The Government's position is clear: disarmament must happen. We hope that Saddam Hussein will put his people first and disarm voluntarily. We are working hard to achieve this through the UN. But we cannot allow him to go on prevaricating indefinitely.
Twelve years ago the United Nations demanded that Saddam Hussein give up his WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) programmes. We are still waiting.
I am aware of the speculation that there is an ulterior motive lying behind our policy on Iraq. This is not about oil: Iraq's oil belongs to the Iraqi people and should be used for their benefit alone.
As a responsible member of the international community and the United Nations Security Council, we must act in the interests of global security and uphold the will of the United Nations.
If Saddam Hussein is able to walk away from this situation, his grip on power tightened, his WMD programme secure and the reputation of the UN undermined, he will have won - and the world will be a still more dangerous place.
I have now announced in Parliament, deployments from all three of our armed services. This is not because the Government wants war, but because history shows us that Saddam Hussein has never yielded to the will of the international community unless threatened with force. I hope very much that conflict can be avoided, but we must retain a credible threat to have any chance of Saddam Hussein obeying the will of the United Nations.
The decision rests in Baghdad. If Saddam Hussein abides by the UN resolutions he agreed to, and reveals and disarms his chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programmes in full, then conflict will be avoided.
We have given Saddam Hussein 12 years of chances. To give in now to his procrastination would be a massive abdication of responsibility.
Geoff Hoon is Secretary of State for Defence
20th Feb 2003