Role as U.N. Arms Inspector Ritter joined the United Nations' arms inspection effort in Iraq in 1991. Subsequently, his presence on U.N. inspection teams became a flash point with the Iraqi government. The U.N. inspectors' mission was to certify that Iraq was free of weapons of mass destruction before economic sanctions, residue of the Gulf War, could be lifted. Iraq has implosion-type nuclear devices, which could become atomic bombs if fissionable material is obtained. Consequently, chemical agents officially listed as expended, may still be in Iraq's arsenal.
Evidence exists showing Iraq tested biological weapons on people four years ago.
Despite claims to the contrary, Iraq does have a missile force. The U.S. threatened to attack Iraq, if inspectors were not given access to the controversial sites. Iraq argued such inspections violated its sovereignty. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan brokered a deal in February, where Iraq promised to let the inspectors do their job. Ritter and his team of 50 inspectors returned to Baghdad early in March.