NYT: "Among the dozens of documents in English were Iraqi reports written in the 1990’s and in 2002 for United Nations inspectors in charge of making sure Iraq abandoned its unconventional arms programs after the Persian Gulf war. Experts say that at the time, Mr. Hussein’s scientists were on the verge of building an atom bomb, as little as a year away"
Notice the two phrases 1990s and 2002. How can Iraq be "as little as a year away" from building a bomb if they were referring to the 1990s (an entire decade)? When in the 1990s WHat year is he talking about? Unless the writer is referring to a SPECIFIC YEAR (ie 2002) the statement: "as little as a year away" makes no sense.
I am sure the writer will offer no apology for his botched joke.
They are referring to right after the Persian Gulf war ended.