From another thread site:
A lot of the talk about Iraq in the UN suggests that the US and UK on one hand and France, Germany, Russia, and China on the other hand have different assessments as to the WMDs of Iraq: the latter group denying that Iraq has them or poses a significant threat. But that's merely what the POLITICOS say. The intelligence agencies are saying something else. For instance, the Germans:
quote:
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The BND says it has evidence to suggest the following:
Iraq has resumed its nuclear programme and may be capable of producing an atomic bomb in three years. Work has been observed at the Al Qaim site, believed to be the centre of Baghdad's nuclear programme.
Iraq is currently developing its Al Samoud and Ababil 100/Al Fatah short-range rockets, which can deliver a 300kg payload 150km (95 miles). Medium-range rockets capable of carrying a warhead 3,000km (1,900 miles) could be built by 2005 - far enough to reach Europe.
Iraq is also believed to be capable of manufacturing solid rocket fuel.
A Delhi-based company, blacklisted by the German Government because of its alleged role in weapons proliferation, has acted as a buyer on Iraq's behalf. Deliveries have been made via Malaysia and Dubai.
Since the UN inspectors left, the number of Iraqi sites involved in chemicals production has increased from 20 to 80. Of that total, the BND believes a quarter to be involved in making weapons.
Widespread procurement activity has been observed abroad and production of biological weapons could be resumed at short notice.
It is possible that production may already have begun.
There has been no response to the report from Iraq.
But US Secretary of State Colin Powell referred to it during his tour of the Mid-east.
He told a news conference in Jerusalem that it underlined the need to contain Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
"We have to make sure he is denied the opportunity to continue moving in this direction," Mr Powell said. //snip by leonard//
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Above from:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1189182.stm
The BND is the German intelligence agency. ( Above emphasis in quote leonard's)
And yes, the story is from 2 years ago.
Cheers!
[ 03-10-2003, 10:50 PM: Message edited by: leonard ]
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Posts: 4822 | Registered: Aug 2001 |
leonard
Member # 518
posted 03-11-2003 08:28 AM
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Rather than make a separate thread entitled "French politicians versus French intelligence" I post this here. A report from July 15, 2002 (ie almost 2 months before President Bush's speech on Iraq before the UN) wherein France passes along a warning to Iraq that military action as a result of Iraq's failure to follow the WMD ban by the UN is approaching. And what else is in the story? This:
quote:
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The French sources said it has French intelligence information
saying that Iraq has relaunched its program to produce mass destruction weapons.
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My emphasis above.
So France didn't believe at the intelligence level back in July that Iraq had disarmed; quite the contrary: French intelligence believed that Iraq had "relaunched its program to produce mass destruction weapons" . Back in July.
Above from: arabicnews.com
Cheers!
arn.org |
