APRIL 11, 2004 : (IAEA'S EL BARADEI REPORTS THAT LARGE AMOUNTS OF NUCLEAR-RELATED EQUIPMENT & SMALL NUMBER OF MISSILE ENGINES HAD BEEN SMUGGLED OUT OF IRAQ FOR RECYCLING IN EUROPEAN SCRAPYARDS) Mohammed El Baradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reported April 11 that large amounts of nuclear-related equipment, some of it contaminated, and a small number of missile engines have been smuggled out of Iraq for recycling in European scrapyards. UN satellite photos have detected "the extensive removal of equipment and, in some instances, removal of entire buildings" from sites subject to UN monitoring, El Baradei said in a letter to Security Council members, a copy of which was obtained by the Washington Post.
El Baradei said it wasn't clear whether this was merely looting, or part of a systematic effort to destroy evidence. "In any event, these activities may have a significant impact on (IAEA's) continuity of knowledge of Iraq's remaining nuclear-related capabilities and raise concern with regards to the proliferation risk associated with dual use material and equipment disappearing to unknown destinations." - "And if the WMD are found ... Connecting the dots ," by Jack Kelley, Jewish World Review, April 20, 2004