Iraq: Debating War, Preparing for Reconstruction

As tensions continue over the Iraq crisis, the UN Security Council is preparing to hear another report from Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix, and the debate intensifies over a second resolution offered by the United States, Britain, and Spain. Iraq has agreed “in principle” to destroy its Al Samoud 2 missiles—which exceed UN weapons range limits—following Blix’s order two weeks ago.

The Bush administration has embarked on a major public diplomacy campaign to lay out its plans for postwar reconstruction in Iraq. Officials are hoping both to reassure reluctant allies that they have devised a careful and feasible plan and to convince the Iraqi people and the Arab world that U.S. intentions are benevolent. President Bush has sketched out an even more ambitious agenda, tying the reconstruction of Iraq to both the Middle East peace process and political reform throughout the Arab world.

A panel of experts convened for this next session of the Brookings Iraq Series will discuss these new developments and take questions from the audience.