“Saddam himself helped spur enactment of the Iraq Liberation Act [a U.S. law declaring the intent of Iraq regime change] when he decided in August 1998 to end Iraq’s cooperation with UN weapons inspections. He closed the door on both UNSCOM [UN Special Commission on Iraq] and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN body that inspects nuclear facilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Declaring Iraq’s action ‘unacceptable,’ the UN Security Council adopted a resolution of condemnation on September 9, 1998. It adopted another such resolution two months later, on November 5. Saddam shrugged off the condemnations and continued to refuse to cooperate.”
– Douglas Feith, War and Decision, Page 197