Iraqi scientist conducted research that led to bioweapons, U.S. says
WASHINGTON, May 12 — Dr. Rihab Taha, the Iraqi scientist credited with starting her nation’s biological weapons program, has surrendered, military and intelligence officials told NBC News on Monday. Taha, who has become known as “Dr. Germ,” turned herself in to American forces in Baghdad after a week of negotiations, they said.
HER SURRENDER on Sunday came a week after another leading Iraqi scientist, Dr. Huda Ammash, was taken into U.S. custody. However, Ammash — dubbed “Mrs. Anthrax” in the Western media — has so far failed to provide anything useful on Saddam Hussein’s weapons program, officials told NBC.
More than a month after the downfall of Saddam’s regime, evidence of his alleged biological, chemical and nuclear program has been elusive. However, U.S. military teams searching for biological and chemical weapons have reported discovering three trailers believed to be mobile biological weapons laboratories capable of producing deadly germs for weapons, NBC News reported.
Taha is credited with starting Iraq’s biological weapons research while Ammash is believed to have converted her research into the program. Taha was dubbed “Dr. Germ” by U.N. weapons inspectors after she was given the task by Saddam of creating an extensive and expensive stockpile of what the Pentagon described as “bug bombs.” She was married to Gen. Amer Rashid al-Ubaidi, who was the chief Iraqi negotiators with U.N. inspectors. They have a 6-year-old daughter.
“There is no question that she was the driving force behind the Iraqi biological weapons program,” said Dr. Gordon Oehler, who ran the CIA’s Non-Proliferation Center during the 1990’s. “Until she came along, the program had neither the leadership nor the technical expertise.” Separately, U.S. officials told NBC that the former head of the Iraqi armed forces was also in custody. Ibrahim Ahmad Abd Al-Sattar Muhammad al-Tikriti was denoted as the jack of spades in the deck of cards distributed by American officials to help find the 55 most wanted regime figures.
Ghazi Hammud Captured May 7
Hammud was the Baath Party regional chairman in the Kut district in eastern Iraq. He was No. 32 on the list.
Huda Ammash Surrendered May 4
One of the top scientists in Iraq's biological weapons program, Dr. Huda Ammash, surrendered to U.S. forces in Baghdad. American educated, she is a Baath Party regional commander, the chairman of Saddam's Party Youth and the chairman of the Trade Bureau. She is No. 53 on the list.
Abdel Tawab Mullah Huweish Captured May 2
Saddam’s deputy prime minister was also director of the Military Industrialization Organization, the agency responsible for Iraq’s programs for weapons of mass destruction in the 1980s. He was No. 16 on the list.
Taha Muhie-eldin Marouf Captured May 2
One of Saddam’s vice presidents for nearly 30 years, he was also the administration’s highest-ranking Kurd. He did nothing to stop Saddam’s violent attacks on the Kurds. Marouf was also a member of the Revolutionary Command Council. He was No. 42 on the list.
Walid Hamed Tawfiq al-Tikriti Captured April 29
The governor of the Basra province surrendered to the Iraqi National Congress in Baghdad. He was No. 44 on the U.S. list.
Amer Mohammed Rashid Surrendered April 28
Iraq’s oil minister surrendered to coalition forces. He ran the county’s military industries until becoming oil minister in 1995. He is married to Rihab Taha, also known as "Dr. Germ," who worked with Iraq’s biological weapons. He was No. 47 on the U.S. list.
Hossam Mohammed Amin Captured April 26
The head of the National Monitoring Directorate was in charge of Iraq’s relationship with U.N. weapons inspectors and was caught at Ramadi, west of Baghdad on the road to Jordan and Syria. He was No. 49 on the U.S. list.
Tariq Aziz Surrendered April 24
Aziz was Iraq’s deputy prime minister and one of the better-known figures in the Iraqi administration. During the 1991 Gulf War, Aziz was foreign minister and acted as Iraq’s spokesman, often appearing in the Western media. Born and raised in Mosul in northern Iraq, he was the only Christian in Saddam’s inner circle. He was No. 43 on the U.S. list.
Muhammad Mahdi al-Salih Captured April 23
The Iraqi minister of trade warned the United States before the war that if it attacked it would suffer heavy losses. He was No. 48 on the U.S. list.
Muzahim Sa'b Hassan al-Tikriti Captured April 23
The commander of Iraq’s Air Defense Force was captured by U.S. forces. He was No. 10 on the U.S. list.
Zuhayr Talib Abd al-Sattar al-Naqib Surrendered April 23
The head of Iraq's military intelligence surrendered to U.S. troops in Baghdad. He was No. 21 on the U.S. list.
Muhammad Hamza al-Zubaydi Captured April 21
This regional commander for Saddam and former Iraqi deputy prime minister was captured by the Free Iraqi Forces and handed over to U.S. custody. He was responsible for the violent suppression of Iraq’s Shiite population when it rebelled against Saddam after the 1991 Gulf War and throughout the 1990s continued to stifle Shiite opposition. He was No. 18 on the U.S. list.
Jamal Mustafa Abdallah Sultan al-Tikriti Surrendered April 21
Jamal returned from Syria to surrender to the Iraqi National Congress and was handed over to U.S. forces. Jamal served as Saddam’s private secretary and deputy chief of tribal affairs until the fall of the government. He was Saddam’s only surviving son-in-law. He was No. 40 on the U.S. list.
Abd al-Khaliq Abd al-Gafar Captured April 19
The minister of higher education and scientific research was taken into custody by coalition troops. He was No. 54 on the U.S. list.
Hikmat Mizban Ibrahim al-Azzawi Captured April 19
Iraq's finance minister and deputy prime minister was captured by Iraqi police and turned over to U.S. authorities. He has also served as commerce minister and head of the Iraqi Central Bank. He was No. 45 on the U.S. list.
Samir Abd al-Aziz al-Najim Captured April 17
The former oil minister and chief of staff for Saddam was captured by Kurds in northern Iraq and handed over to U.S. forces. Most recently he was Baath Party regional command chairman for East Baghdad. He is wanted partly for his knowledge of the party’s structure. He was No. 24 on the U.S. list.
Barzan Ibrahim Hasan al-Tikriti Captured April 17
Saddam Hussein’s half-brother was captured by U.S. special operations forces in Baghdad. Barzan ran Iraq’s intelligence service from 1979 to 1983 and was Iraq’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva from 1988 to 1997. His reluctant return to Iraq and push to be named Saddam’s successor instead of Saddam’s sons resulted in doubts of his loyalty to the regime. The suspicion passed, however, and he stayed in Saddam’s good graces. He was No. 52 on the U.S. list.
Watban Ibrahim Hasan al-Tikriti Captured April 13
Saddam Hussein’s half-brother was Iraq’s interior minister for four years until 1995 and is reportedly responsible for the torture and killings of prisoners in Iraqi jails. He was captured in northern Iraq as he fled to Syria. He was No. 51 on the U.S. list.
Amer al-Saadi Surrendered April 12
Saddam Hussein’s top scientific adviser surrendered to U.S. forces from his house in Baghdad. He was one of the first Iraqi leaders to be taken alive and insisted that Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction and that its nuclear program ended in 1991. He was No. 55 on the U.S. list.
MOSUL DISCOVERY
Meanwhile, U.S. officials said the mobile laboratories were found at a bombed-out rocket and missile factory near Mosul in northern Iraq. One of the trailers was missing its canvas cover, wheels and plumbing — most likely taken by looters — but the essential parts, including a compressor and dryer needed to produce weapons grade anthrax, were intact.
