Richard Butler (diplomat)

Richard Butler (born 1942) is an Australian diplomat. He is best known for his role as the Executive Chairman of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) from 1997 to 1999, tasked with disarming Iraq of weapons of mass destruction following the Gulf War.

Butler served as Australia's Ambassador to the United Nations from 1992 to 1996. Prior to that, he held various positions within the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including representing Australia at disarmament conferences.

As head of UNSCOM, Butler oversaw numerous inspections of Iraqi facilities suspected of harboring weapons of mass destruction. His tenure was marked by increasing tensions with the Iraqi government, which accused UNSCOM of overstepping its mandate and spying for the United States. Butler's reports to the UN Security Council often detailed Iraqi non-compliance and obstruction of UNSCOM's work, leading to further international pressure and military action.

Following his departure from UNSCOM, Butler became a vocal critic of the Bush administration's decision to invade Iraq in 2003, arguing that the case for war was based on flawed intelligence and that the invasion would destabilize the region. He has written extensively on disarmament, arms control, and international relations, including his memoir, "Saddam Defiant: The Threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction, and the UN Inspection in Iraq."