This week in Iraq War History

December 10, 1996: The oil-for-food program begins operations as oil flows from Iraq for the first time since 1990. (Food shipments to Iraq would not begin until March, 1997.) Estimates of the Iraqi death toll resulting from UN sanctions between 1990 and 1996 vary widely; some indicate that 750,000 people died through malnutrition and lack of medicines; and that the rate at this time was 10,000 a month. "Oil for Food" was initially approved by the U.N. Security Council in April, 1995 (UNSCR 986), but Saddam Hussein would refuse the program until May, 1996. In June of that year Iraq's refusal to allow U.N. weapons inspectors access to sites would threaten the program, but following a strongly worded rebuke (UNSCR 1060) from the U.N. the deal was back on track. Iraq wouldn't block inspectors again until July, when UN Inspector Scott Ritter was denied entry to a Republican Guard facility. In August the President of the Security Council responded with a strongly worded rebuke.

In the beginning, Iraq was allowed to sell $2 billion worth of oil every six months. In 1998, the limit was raised to $5.26 billion every six months. In December 1999, the Security Council removed the ceiling on Iraqi oil exports under the program.

December 8, 1998: Chief U.N. weapons inspector Richard Butler reports that Iraq is still impeding inspections. Cooperation ends between Iraq and inspectors when the country demands the lifting of the U.N. oil embargo. UNSCOM and the IAEA pull their staffs out of Iraq in anticipation of a US-led air raid on Iraqi military targets.

December 9, 1998: The Special Commission submits its second weekly report to the U.N. Security Council describing monitoring activities and the difficulties encountered in the course of those activities, including blockage at a site.

December 11, 1998: The House Judiciary Committee approves three articles of impeachment on a 21-16 party line vote, passing them to the full House of Representatives. The three articles accuse President Clinton of lying to a grand jury, committing perjury by denying he had sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky, and obstructing justice. Clinton declares himself "profoundly sorry" and willing to accept censure.