Bill Gertz: Russia Tied to Iraq's Missing Arms

The Washington Times ^ | October 27, 2004 | Bill Gertz

[quidnunc]

Russian special forces troops moved many of Saddam Hussein's weapons and related goods out of Iraq and into Syria in the weeks before the March 2003 U.S. military operation, The Washington Times has learned.

John A. Shaw, the deputy undersecretary of defense for international technology security, said in an interview that he believes the Russian troops, working with Iraqi intelligence, "almost certainly" removed the high-explosive material that went missing from the Al-Qaqaa facility, south of Baghdad.

"The Russians brought in, just before the war got started, a whole series of military units," Mr. Shaw said. "Their main job was to shred all evidence of any of the contractual arrangements they had with the Iraqis. The others were transportation units."

Mr. Shaw, who was in charge of cataloguing the tons of conventional arms provided to Iraq by foreign suppliers, said he recently obtained reliable information on the arms-dispersal program from two European intelligence services that have detailed knowledge of the Russian-Iraqi weapons collaboration.

Most of Saddam's most powerful arms were systematically separated from other arms like mortars, bombs and rockets, and sent to Syria and Lebanon, and possibly to Iran, he said.

The Russian involvement in helping disperse Saddam's weapons, including some 380 tons of RDX and HMX is still being investigated, Mr. Shaw said.

-snip-

[jokar]

Bump!

[beyond the sea]

Shaw is not now, nor has he ever been, under investigation by the DoD IG.

That's good news. There will be enough attempted discrediting of the Washington Times without having a 'marked' Mr. Shaw in the mix.

[nutmeg]

ping!

Check out post #6 also

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.

[Steven W.]

The only way this could be better is is the explosives were removed by the French! They were supplied by the French.

[LastDayz]

btt!

[lt.america]

Folks, remember all of those people who say they we lied about the WMD. This is going to start to panning out and alot of people are going to eat their words. This is how I have read from several sources a year ago that it worked, Russia helped to disguise the program.

[Atlantic Friend]

I have the feeling I'll get to say this a lot today but...

"Forgive Russia, ignore Germany, punish France" seems a little mixed-up right now.

[Henchman]

DEBKAfiles had the story a loooong time ago. Before the US went in, DEBKAfiles stated that weapons were seen on satellite as being moved to Syria.

I know, I will get a lot of static about DEBKA, but that's the way it was. The above is what I remember with accuracy, go there and rummage if you wish. I think they also indicate WMD and Bakkaa Valley (who can spell in sand scribble)

[the invisib1e hand]

Of interest as well is the enormous financial benefit Russia reaps anytime there's a spike in oil prices; that is, anytime there's saber rattling in the mideast.

If they stung us, they stung Iraq as well.

[the invisib1e hand]

Holy cow, it's freaking media ping-pong:

Report: Video Shows Explosives Went Missing After War