Report: Source of Iraq Arms Claim Emerges

Washington Times ^ | 12/7/03 | MICHAEL McDONOUGH AP

[JustPiper]

LONDON (AP) -- An Iraqi officer has identified himself as the source for a British claim about Saddam Hussein's weapons that sparked a controversy marked by the death of a British government arms expert, a newspaper reported Sunday.

The Sunday Telegraph said Lt. Col. al-Dabbagh identified himself as the source for the British government's assertion that Iraq could have deployed chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes of a decision to do so. The paper gave the officer's surname only, citing fears for his safety if he was fully identified.

Prime Minister Tony Blair's office declined to comment on the newspaper report, which was featured in early editions published late Saturday.

"We're not prepared to comment but we urge all those involved to provide the Iraq Survey Group with whatever information they believe they have," a spokeswoman for Blair's office said on customary condition of anonymity. The ISG is the coalition body searching for Saddam's alleged chemical or biological weapons.

The 45-minute claim was in a government dossier published in September 2002. A British Broadcasting Corp. report later accused the government of "sexing up" the dossier to make a more convincing case for military action. Government weapons adviser David Kelly apparently committed suicide in July after being identified as the source for the BBC report.

Kelly's death prompted a judicial inquiry that scrutinized the workings of Blair's government and its use of intelligence in the buildup to the U.S.-led war. A report from the inquiry is expected early next year.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that al-Dabbagh was the former head of an Iraqi air defense unit in the country's western desert. It said he had spied for the Iraqi National Accord, a London-based exile group, and provided reports to British intelligence from early 2002 on Saddam's plans to deploy weapons of mass destruction.

Al-Dabbagh said cases containing chemical or biological warheads were delivered to front-line units, including his own, in late 2002, the paper reported. He said they were designed to be launched by hand-held rocket-propelled grenades, and did not know what exactly the warheads contained.

The government's September dossier said that "Iraq's military forces are able to use chemical and biological weapons, with command, control and logistical arrangements in place. The Iraqi military are able to deploy these weapons within 45 minutes of a decision to do so."

The head of the MI6 spy agency, Sir Richard Dearlove, told the inquiry into Kelly's death that the 45-minute warning in the dossier came from an "established and reliable source," quoting a senior Iraqi military officer who was in a position to know the information.

The Sunday Telegraph said al-Dabbagh believed he was the source for that claim.

"I am the one responsible for providing this information," he was quoted as saying. "It is 100 percent accurate.

"Forget 45 minutes, we could have fired these within half an hour," al-Dabbagh added. He said the weapons were not used because most of the Iraqi army did not want to fight for Saddam.

The newspaper said al-Dabbagh works as an adviser to the Iraqi Governing Council and said he has received death threats from Saddam loyalists.

It reported that Iyad Allawi, the head of the Iraqi National Accord and a prominent council member, confirmed that he had passed information from al-Dabbagh on Saddam's weapons to British and American intelligence officials in the spring and summer of 2002.

[JustPiper]

Ping!

[JustPiper]

Also:

Informer affirms 'secret weapon'

[Sabertooth]

Informer affirms 'secret weapon'
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How the 45-minute claim got from Baghdad to No 10
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[aynrandfreak]

It would've been nice if he came forward before David Kelley killed himself over the issue.

[JustPiper]

LEADER IS 'IN GOOD HEALTH' - Saddam Hussein is controlling anti-Coalition attacks from a hideout west of Baghdad, a tribal leader has claimed

[dr_who_2]

Fred G. Smith, a weapons expert who resides at 127 Dimwitshire on Nerk is a Freemason and a well regarded scholar at a prominent academic institution in the River Nerk district. He drives a red 1996 Jaguar, but he prefers to walk to the grocery store every evening between 5 and 6 o' clock. His last name has been changed to protect him from hired hitmen who don't know where to find a phone book due to excessive vandalism of local telephone booths.

[JustPiper]

OFFICER NAMED AS 45-MINUTE CLAIM SOURCE - An Iraqi officer is claiming that he is the source for the Government's controversial claim that Iraq could deploy weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes

[ontos-on]

David Kelley unilaterally asserted that the claim by British intel was exaggerated. How would it be the source's fault that Kelley made a false claim about the Intel claim? I am not in England and did not follow all of htis at the time, but Kelley was the one who self-righteously reached an incorrect conclusion about itel that was not his portfolio and then chose to be a leaker of his false conclusion to the BBC. Do you dispute those facts --- or --- is that the logic which you affirm in blaming the source poor ol Mr. Kelley?

[ontos-on]

CORRECTED TEXT:

but Kelley was the one who self-righteously reached an incorrect conclusion about iNtel that was not his portfolio; and then chose to be a leaker of his false conclusion to the BBC. Do you dispute those facts --- or --- is that the logic which you want to affirm in blaming the intel source for the fate of poor ol Mr. Kelley?

[syriacus]

It should be interesting to revisit some of the discoveries that the US made during the war.

This too...Discovery of Chemical Suits Reinforces Concerns,Wednesday, March 26, 2003

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar — A U.S. general said Wednesday the discovery of 3,000 chemical suits in a central Iraqi hospital that had been used as an Iraqi base raised concern that Saddam Hussein's regime was prepared to use chemical weapons.

"What we found at the hospital reinforces our concern," said Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks. "We are well-prepared to deal with the potential use of chemical weapons."

In addition to the chemical suits, the Central Command reported earlier that Marines found and confiscated gas masks and nerve gas antidote injectors in the hospital near An Nasiriyah.

[Pro-Bush]

"Forget 45 minutes, we could have fired these within half an hour," al-Dabbagh added. He said the weapons were not used because most of the Iraqi army did not want to fight for Saddam.

Let the truth be known, Bush and Blair were on target. Thanks for the ping!

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping.

[JustPiper]

Good reminder!~ Also he said they were wearing or had the gasmasks at hand, which also many were found.

[Cap Huff]

Bump