"I want to say that the dossier produced by the British government and tabled in the Commons yesterday is an excellent document and I think it has made a significant impact not only here but also in Australia. It’s a further coherently argued document which pinpoints the dimension of the threat that Iraq poses if the issue is left unaddressed. I said yesterday after I met Mr Blair that nobody wants military conflict. I don't, the British don’t, the Americans don’t, none of us want military conflict and if that can be avoided we’ll all be delirious with joy but you cannot leave this issue unaddressed and that’s happened in the past and it can't be allowed to happen indefinitely in the future."

THE PRIME MINISTER THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP

CHAPTER 3: THE CURRENT POSITION: 1998-2002

This chapter sets out what we know of Saddam's chemical, biological, nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, drawing on all the available evidence. While it takes account of the results from UN inspections and other publicly available information, it also draws heavily on the latest intelligence about Iraqi efforts to develop their programmes and capabilities since 1998. The main conclusions are that:

Iraq has a useable chemical and biological weapons capability, in breach of UNSCR 687, which has included recent production of chemical and biological agents;

Saddam continues to attach great importance to the possession of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles, which he regards as being the basis for Iraq's regional power. He is determined to retain these capabilities;

Iraq can deliver chemical and biological agents using an extensive range of artillery shells, free-fall bombs, sprayers and ballistic missiles;

Iraq continues to work on developing nuclear weapons, in breach of its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and in breach of UNSCR 687. Uranium has been sought from Africa that has no civil nuclear application in Iraq;

Iraq possesses extended-range versions of the SCUD ballistic missile in breach of UNSCR 687, which are capable of reaching Cyprus, Eastern Turkey, Tehran and Israel. It is also developing longer range ballistic missiles;

Iraq's current military planning specifically envisages the use of chemical and biological weapons;

Iraq's military forces are able to use chemical and biological weapons, with command, control and logistical arrangements in place. The Iraqi military are able to deploy these weapons within forty five minutes of a decision to do so;

Iraq has learnt lessons from previous UN weapons inspections and is already taking steps to conceal and disperse sensitive equipment and documentation in advance of the return of inspectors;

Iraq's chemical, biological, nuclear and ballistic missiles programmes are well-funded.