Kdo vyzbrojil Irak?
In: Mezinárodní vztahy: Czech journal of international relations, Band 41, Heft 3, S. 71-82
ISSN: 0543-7989, 0323-1844
Among the most important factors influencing the pre-war (not only Transatlantic) debate on Iraq were the close economic ties between Saddam Hussein's regime & those countries opposing military action against it. The most notable aspect of these links was the extensive arms trade. Analysis of Iraq's arms programs reveals that the most resolute opponents of military action against the Iraqi regime were those most extensively involved in arms deals with Iraq -- supplying Iraq with both weapons & weapons technologies. The Iraqi nuclear program received significant assistance from French & German firms. German firms were also among those helping Iraq with their chemical weapons programs. SCUD missiles -- key carriers for weapons of mass destruction -- were supplied by the USSR (later Russia), & their further refinement was mainly due to contributions by German experts. The main suppliers of conventional weapons to Iraq under Saddam Hussein were the USSR (later Russia), France, China, Czechoslovakia & Poland. Compared to this, the role played by the USA & United Kingdom in Iraq's arms programs (both for conventional weapons & weapons of mass destruction) was insignificant. Adapted from the source document.