Towards the end of 1998, the United States launched Operation Desert Fox on Iraq after many months of sanctions and difficulties. This mission was performed in order to strike military and security targets in Iraq which contribute to Iraq's ability to produce, store, and maintain weapons of mass destruction. US President William Clinton launched the plan in hopes that it would prevent Saddam Hussein from being able to wage war against his neighbors. The United States also hoped that this action would prove to Iraq the consequences of violating international obligations.

President Clinton remains by his opinion that the military action, though very violent, was the right thing to do. Saddam Hussein's use of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles was out of control, and there was a need to halt their development. This military action was a decision arrived at after a long period of problems with Iraq. In November of 1998, Hussein had promised to comply with explicit terms set forward, however UNSCOM officials soon encompassed more difficulties in doing their jobs of weapon inspections. In fact, Saddam had set up even more barriers and set backs for UNSCOM. Clinton finally gave orders to launch Operation Desert Fox so that Saddam Hussein would stop dismantling UNSCOM. The surprise raid was done at such a time that it would have a maximum impact with a minimum risk to United States officials. The attack was also launched at such a time to avoid military action during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

UNSCOM had undertaken the mission of elimination Iraq's capability to create and use weapons of mass destruction at the end of the Gulf War when Iraq agreed to declare and destroy its arsenal as a condition of the cease-fire. It is not illegal for a country to have weapons of mass destruction, and many countries do, but Saddam used them. He repeatedly unleashed chemical weapons against Iranian troops, and fired Scud missiles at the citizens of Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Iran. These were people who were not involved in war, not soldiers, but civilians. Hussein was, and still is, a giant threat. Saddam even went so fire as to firemissiles against his own people, gassing Kurdish civilians in Northern Iraq.

Saddam is not backed by his Arab neighbors-- Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Oman have all warned Iraq that it alone would bear the responsibility for the consequences of defying the UN.

After Operation Desert Fox was launched, the UN weapons inspectors carried out a plan for testing Iraq's cooperation. UNSCOM's chairman, Richard Butler, reported the results of this trial periods to UN secretary-general Annan. The conclusions to this period were dark. While it would be thought that Iraq, feeling threatened, would comply to UNSCOM's requests, Iraq instead set up further barriers. Iraq has blocked UNSCOM from testing some sites and restricted the availability of necessary evidence. In many sites Saddam refused to turn any information over to the UNSCOM teams.

After this trial period, the UNSCOM report concluded "Iraq's conduct ensured that no progress was able to be made in the fields of disarmament. In light of this experience, and in the absence of full cooperation by Iraq, it must regrettably be recorded again that the commission is not able to conduct the work mandated to it by the Security Council with respect to Iraq's prohibited weapons program." Saddam's deception has ruined UNSCOM's effectiveness. After this occurred, President Clinton, on the recommendation of his national security teams, ordered for air strikes on Iraq, even with the month of Ramadan fast approaching.

Since the end of last year, very little has been accomplished. Saddam Hussein has continued to evade responsibility of his actions and UNSCOM has made little head in their inspection. Hussein appears to be the king of deception, and it is unknown how long he will be able to continue with his treacherous methods.