Negotiations on regional disarmament will be difficult and controversial but willingness to pursue them seriously would restore a perception of balance and fairness by the U.S. in dealing with such issues. One crucial element in regional disarmament is to curb the flow of additional and high-tech weapons into the Gulf and the Middle East. A new configuration of policies must be created. Too often the United States either strives to control the outcome of United Nations deliberations and Security Council votes or else ignores the U.N. and goes its own way, thus undermining respect for its leadership. Both the efforts at manipulation and the persistent unilateralism by the U.S. have the effect of weakening the United Nations and undercutting the capacity of the Security Council to gain respect and compliance with its peace and disarmament endeavors.
Most observers agree that there are no military solutions to the problems posed by Iraq.
Further bombing is not likely to compel the government of Iraq to conform to U.S. or U.N. requirements or to abandon its quest for Weapons of Mass Destruction. The heavy attacks staged in December were launched without explicit approval by the U.N. Security Council, thus raising doubts not only about their utility but also about the legality of the raids. The Clinton Administration altered its policy goals toward Iraq at the time of the December raids.