International Institute for Strategic Studies

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The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) describes itself as 'the world's leading authority on political-military conflict.Based in London, IISS is registerd as charity in UK, US and Singapore. Founded in 1958 the IISS has strong establishment links, with former US and British government officials among its members. The Foreign Office contributed £100,000 towards the setting up of its headquarters in central London, and the opening was attended by Thatcher and Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, then secretary general of Nato. Its early work focused on nuclear deterrence and arms control and was "hugely influential in setting the intellectual structures for managing the Cold War."

Selling the Iraq War

IISS played a key role in furnishing the pretexts for the invasion of Iraq by publishing a dossier on Iraqi WMDs, on 9 September 2002, which was edited by Gary Samore, formerly of the US State Department, and presented by Dr John Chipman, a former Nato fellow.

The dossier was immediately seized on by Bush and Blair administrations as providing "proof" that Saddam was just months away from launching a chemical and biological, or even a nuclear attack. Large parts of the IISS document were subsequently recycled in the now notorious Downing Street dossier, published with a foreword by the Prime Minister, the following week.[1]

To salvage its credibility, the IISS, unlike the British Government, claimed that it made mistakes in its dossier about the extent of the Iraqi threat, and commissioned an independent assessment by Rolf Ekeus, a former head of United Nations arms inspectors in Iraq.Samore and Chipman later claimed that their dossier had caveats about Iraq's supposed WMD arsenal, while the Government insisted on removing such caveats from intelligence assessments - leading to "sexing up" accusations.[2]

Pushing the bombing of Iran

In April 2006 The Institute was involved in briefing the media in which the BBC reported that Iran was 'on course' to develop nuclear weapons in 'three years'. On being challenged the Institute backed down slightly.[3]

The Officers of the Institute

The Chairman of the IISS and Chairman of the IISS Executive Committee are elected by the Executive Committee from amongst their number. The Executive Committee appoints the Honorary Treasurer, the Chairmen of subordinate committees, the Director-General and Chief Executive (following consultation with the Council) and the Company Secretary.

These posts are currently filled as follows: Chairman of the IISS: Professor François Heisbourg Chairman of the IISS Executive Committee: Ms Fleur de Villiers Honorary Treasurer and Investment Committee Chairman: Mr Thomas Seaman Audit Committee Chairman: Mr Peter Stormonth Darling Director-General and Chief Executive: Dr John Chipman Company Secretary: Mr Michael Draeger

President, President Emeritus and Vice-Presidents

The Executive Committee, following consultation with the Council in April 2006, recommended that the title of President, currently vacant, be abolished. It was also agreed that the titles of President Emeritus and Vice-President of the Institute be restricted to the present incumbents.

These appointments are currently filled as follows:

President-Emeritus: Professor Sir Michael Howard Vice-Presidents: Hon Robert Ellsworth, Sir Michael Palliser, Ambassador Yoshio Okawara


The council

other associates

Notes

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