Author Topic: Interesting quote from the UN weapons inspectors (Read 623 times)

Hortlund · « **Reply #15 on:** January 28, 2003, 06:27:47 AM »

No you are missunderstanding. They were dropped by the Iraqi airforce as in used, dropped on enemies, as in kaboom followed by gas cloud.

Ping · « **Reply #16 on:** January 28, 2003, 07:00:49 AM »

Yes they were used, with the nod of approval from its sponser Nation.

Hortlund · « **Reply #17 on:** January 28, 2003, 07:09:49 AM »

The entire report:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,76710,00.html

Some highlights:

13 000 chemical bombs were dropped by Iraqi airforce during the Iran-Iraq war 1983-88 according to Iraqi airforce documents. Iraq now claims that 19 500 of these bombs were dropped when they are trying to explain where all their C went after the 91 war. Thus 6 500 warheads are missing.

6 500 chemical warheads estimated containing 1 000 metric tons of chemical agent

Iraq has declared that it produced about 8,500 liters of this biological warfare agent [anthrax], which it states it unilaterally destroyed in the summer of 1991. Iraq has provided little evidence for this production and no convincing evidence for its destruction.

-tronski- · « **Reply #18 on:** January 28, 2003, 07:12:52 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Hortlund
No you are missunderstanding. They were dropped by the Iraqi airforce as in used, dropped on enemies, as in kaboom followed by gas cloud.

Hmmmm bit pointless using the airforce, when you could just shoot them using arty like in WW1

Tronsky

bounder · « **Reply #19 on:** January 28, 2003, 08:13:52 AM »

Ah OK, 6,500 missing, not 13,000.

The one's he's used don't really count since they are not really usable any longer.

6,500 is still a hefty number to move around. Anyone have any idea what their average size/weight might be?

Quote

Originally posted by bounder
I understand that the Allies (primarily the USA) will be supplying Dr Blix with some more useful intelligence than the list of suspected sites he was given to begin with, which seemed to turn up empty (perhaps unsurprisingly).

I should be very surprised if the whole country has not been under very close surveillance for a long time.

If those 6,500 Chem Warheads are found, and are found to contain chemical agents, then it is over for Saddam, no question.

And if they have been moved, there will be evidence of it, because that is quite a large job. It is up to the allies to point Dr Blix at the right places.

Dr Blix's report was a mixed bag, but pointed to some serious shortcomings in cooperation by the Iraqis. However, access to specified sites and locations was granted, and granted promptly in all but one case.

It would be very telling indeed if that policy of prompt compliance changed when Dr Blix asks for access to locations pinpointed in the soon to be received intelligence material.

The inspectors should be assisted and allowed the time they need. At any point they can tell the Iraqi regime that they are unhappy with their cooperation, they are being obstructed, they feel they are not being shown all the documents etc. Then they can threaten to withdraw, and then they can withdraw. At that point it will be back to the UN and a Resolution for military action.

If that is not passed then I expect the UK and the US and anyone else who can be cajoled into assisting with materiel or money, will exercise the Kosovo option and start hostilities with Iraq under the auspices of NATO.

My current $0.02.