Posted on 09/26/2004 1:25:01 PM PDT by anotherview
Sep. 26, 2004 21:39
Syria seeking to oust Iraqi nuclear scientists
By DOUGLAS DAVIS
Syria is making desperate efforts to persuade Iran to accept a group of 12 Iraqi nuclear scientists and their families who had sought refuge in Damascus before the US-led coalition toppled Saddam Hussein.
Quoting Western intelligence officials, the London-based Sunday Telegraph reported that Syrian President Bashar Assad fears that the US will use the presence of the Iraqi scientists as a pretext to target Syria and he is desperate to find a new home for them.
The possibility of moving the Iraqi scientists to Iran, a close ally of Syria, was first mooted when Assad visited Teheran last July. The intelligence officials believe he is still waiting for an Iranian response.
The scientists and their families were sent to Syria before Saddam was overthrown under a combined operation mounted by Saddam's now-defunct Special Security Organization and Syrian Military Security, which is headed by Arif Shawqat, brother-in-law of Assad.
The Iraqi scientists, who are said to have taken computer disks crammed with research data on Saddam's nuclear program, were given new identities, as well as Syrian citizenship papers and false birth, education and health certificates.
Since their arrival in Syria, they have been hidden at a secret Syrian military installation where they have been conducting research on behalf of the Assad regime.
But Assad has been prompted to reconsider sheltering the Iraqis as a result of growing concern in Washington over Syria's own undeclared programs for developing weapons of mass destruction.
American intelligence officials, according to the Sunday Telegraph, are concerned that Syria is secretly working on a number of such programs, including a nuclear weapons program.
Concern about Syria mounted after the US discovered evidence that Damascus has acquired a number of gas centrifuges - probably from North Korea - which can be used to enrich uranium, the vital ingredient for making nuclear weapons.
The London-based paper reported that Assad has proposed that the Iraqi team would assist Iranian scientists to develop nuclear weapons. He is also said to have requested that, in exchange, the Iranians should share the results of their nuclear weapons research with Damascus.
Teheran has announced that it is planning to enrich 37 tons of uranium, which nuclear experts believe will be sufficient to produce fuel for five nuclear bombs.
In response, the International Atomic Energy Agency has set a November 25 deadline for Iran to respond to suspicions about its nuclear program or risk having the issue referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions. The agency also demanded that Iran halt all activities related to uranium enrichment.
Most recently, Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani announced that Iran has taken delivery of a new "strategic missile" - believed to be an improved version of the North Korean Shihab-3 - which is understood to have been successfully tested last August.
The missile, which can carry a one-ton warhead, has a range of about 1,200km and is capable of reaching Israel.
Israeli officials have been quoted as estimating that Iran will have acquired a nuclear weapon by late 2004 or 2005.
Related article on smugglings out of Iraq: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1227664/posts
I wonder what those Iraqi scientists know?
Iraqi nuclear scientists?? I say target Syria if they don't hand them over to the coalition. If they only worked on innocuous stuff, they'd have nothing to fear. Obviously, they fear the US. Iraqi nuke program, anyone?
" .........Syrian President Bashar Assad fears that the US will use the presence of the Iraqi scientists as a pretext to target Syria and he is desperate to find a new home for them."
Sorry prez........you're way too late. You are already on our "Things To Do" list.
They know they doen't want to be in Iran when Israel takes out it's nuclear and missile capability.
So9
LOL, you got THAT right!
Syria has a WMD-program related materials.
They are home for Hamas and Hezbollah.
They are at war with Israel.
I'm sure we can think of plenty of plausible pretexts unless Bashar Assad bends over for Ariel Sharon and signs a peace treaty goiving up the Golan Heights. Otherwise, it's gong to be another year of Shock and Awe in 2005!
Bingo
Thanks, Syria
Give Syria 30 seconds...ok 30 minutes to lock up these people AND all of their physical data and have them ready for our Military to send a plane for them
After the deadline passes, we know where they are.
In "a" military installation. Which one?
Gee, that we don't know.
We will have to take out all of them.
Oh heck, give them a whole hour.
Time to kick Syrias ass.
That's a great reason to reelect the grownups if I've ever heard one. Can you imagine what Assad's actions would be if the children (a.k.a., dove Democrats) were in charge?
You guessed it. Nothing. And don't forget about Libya in this equation, either.
Soccer moms, are you listening?
Me thinks Dubya knows.
More for GWB's Nov. 3 To-Do List. Providing we get a GOP win, the post-election period is going to be fascinating, as business gets taken care of, bills get paid, and garbage is taken out.
How can this be? The media and the Democrats have assured us over and over again that Saddam Hussein did not have a nuclear program. I'm confused. Surely the media and Deomocrats can't be mistaken on this point?
The U.S. might offer Assad a reprieve of thirty days, if he turns these guys over. Otherwise, we should go in and get them.
Yes, it's really hard to believe that the democrats could be so wrong. (AGAIN)
Funny the effect Bush's rising poll numbers have around the world, is it not?
Heh heh..yeah.
Come Nov 3 we rerack 'emand go hunting for the next 8 ball.
bmp
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