Urgent Warning on Iraqi Cache Issued in 1995

New York Sun ^ | 10/27/04 | ELI LAKE

[conservative in nyc]

Nine years ago, U.N. weapons inspectors urgently called on the International Atomic Energy Agency to demolish powerful plastic explosives in a facility that Iraq's interim government said this month was looted due to poor security.

The chief American weapons inspector, Charles Duelfer, told The New York Sun yesterday that in 1995, when he was a member of the U.N. inspections team in Iraq, he urged the United Nations' atomic watchdog to remove tons of explosives that have since been declared missing.

Mr. Duelfer said he was rebuffed at the time by the Vienna-based agency because its officials were not convinced the presence of the HMX, RDX, and PETN explosives was directly related to Saddam Hussein's programs to amass weapons of mass destruction.

Instead of accepting recommendations to destroy the stocks, Mr. Duelfer said, the atomic-energy agency opted to continue to monitor them.

By e-mail, Mr. Duelfer wrote the Sun, "The policy was if acquired for the WMD program and used for it, it should be subject for destruction. The HMX was just that. Nevertheless the IAEA decided to let Iraq keep the stuff, like they needed more explosives."

[conservative in nyc]

Well isn't that special? I wonder how much Saddam bribed the IAEA and U.N. to look the other way and not destroy the explosives.

[Peach]

Well, well, well.

Looks like the IAEA is trying to blame US for something they were supposed to do.

[Deb]

The Bush people should get Deufler booked on every news, talking head and cable show in the next three days.

[Nice50BMG]

The UN is responsible for EVERYTHING bad in Iraq. Not George W. Bush.

[ProudVet77]

I've heard that UN inspectors come cheap.
One other thing I've wondered about, a few of our guys came down with symptoms of chemical weapons exposure in that facility. Later it was said that it was from pesticides stored there. Why would you store "pesticides" in a military weapons depot?
This little fib goes beyond party lines.

[Fresh Wind]

Make that "Saddam and the UN are responsible for EVERYTHING bad in Iraq. Not George W. Bush."

[ProudVet77]

Let's not forget BJ, the oil for food scam was on his watch.

[LifeTrek]

ping

[OXENinFLA]

PING...

[Mo1]

Can you say ... Oil For Food Scandal ???

[rang1995]

WMD,NO WMD,WMD,NO WMD,WMD,NO WMD,WMD,NO WMD,WMD,NO WMD,

Remember don't give to unicef on 10/31 it end up with the terrorists(proven in some cases in the past)

Remember democrats,Vote!!on 11/3

[WarEagle]

I wonder how much Saddam bribed the IAEA and U.N. to look the other way...

Hans Blix rides again.

[vollmond]

Hans Blix rides again.

I'm at work, so I can't post the obligatory "Hans Brix" quote. Maybe when I get home ...