Iraq says biological weapons facility now a foodstuffs warehouse

Arabia.com ^ | 8-20-02

[Oldeconomybuyer]

AL-TAJI, Iraq (AFP) - Iraq has denied US reports that a warehouse for foodstuffs just north of Baghdad was secretly producing biological weapons.

Iraqi authorities organised a visit for journalists accredited in Baghdad to the facility, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) northwest of the capital, to see for themselves.

Trade Minister Mohammad Mehdi Saleh explained on site that the facility in question was indeed a warehouse used by his ministry to stock foodstuffs.

The Washington Times daily reported on August 14 that a US spy satellite had photographed some 60 trucks moving about at a facility once called the Al-Taji Single Cell Protein Plant, which the Iraqis converted into a biological weapons facility that was bombed during the 1991 Gulf War.

According the Saleh, the trucks photographed by the US satellite had been loaded at the warehouse with "children's milk and food" which was then transported to distribution centres throughout Iraq.

"Since August 4, 2,500 tonnes of milk and foodstuffs for children have been transported from this warehouse," he said.

"The Americans saw the operation by satellite and confirmed having seen 64 trucks. In fact, since August 4, 187 trucks and not 64 have taken goods to Iraqi provinces," the minister added.

"If the satellite images were enlarged, the children's milk cartons transported by the trucks, which were not covered, would appear identical to the cartons that you see here."

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Baby Milk Factory

[mgc1122]

ROTFL! Yep, and I'll bet Peter Arnett is itching to get over there to get Saddam's side out on the airwaves .. again.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

	An iraqi woman arranges sugar sacks at a foodstuff warehouse of the Ministry of Trade in the Taji area, northwest of Baghdad, August 20, 2002. Iraq on Tuesday opened up the site for foreign journalists to refute U.S. threats it was producing weapons of mass destruction. REUTERS/Faleh Kheiber - Aug 20 8:01 AM ET
	An Iraqi man sits at the entrance to a foodstuffs warehouse at the Ministry of Trade in the Taji area northwest of Baghdad, August 20, 2002. Iraq on Tuesday opened up the site to international reporters to refute a U.S. report that it was producing weapons of mass destruction. REUTERS/Faleh Kheiber - Aug 20 7:59 AM ET

[chachacha]

If all the above is true. G.W. better get his s--t together. To many of these types of blunders is not helping.

[Orangedog]

Baby milk factory?! How can these barbarians get away with milking babies?! :)

Seriously though, I thought that it was laughable when the Iraqis painted "Baby Milk Factory" on the side of that building IN ENGLISH, not their native language!

[The_Victor]

"The Americans saw the operation by satellite and confirmed having seen 64 trucks. In fact, since August 4, 187 trucks and not 64 have taken goods to Iraqi provinces," the minister added.

Hence the demand for on-the-ground weapons inspectors that you will not allow in Iraq. If you have nothing to hide, then quit hiding!

[BlueLancer]

"Iraq says biological weapons facility now a foodstuffs warehouse"

And there's a sign, written in English, outside the building to prove it!

[ASA Vet]

To many of these types of blunders is not helping

The blunder, if any, was in not taking the bio plant out
before the Rags could remove the bad stuff, replace
it with food stuffs, and invite the press to come in.

The "Milk" warehouse gambit was predicted several days ago on another thread.

[maximus@Nashville]

Is it just me, or do those green bags of 'sugar' appear to be glowing?

[debg]

ah, but it's ENRICHED foodstuffs. next time, the "journalists" should do a bit of random taste sampling.

[Kaisersrsic]

I'm sure Sadam would love to host a Cool-aid party for our troops.

[Andyman]

Well, Saddam has been known to feed nerve gas to his northern brethren.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Tue Aug 20, 9:29 AM ET

Iraqi Trade Minister Mohammed Mehdi Saleh on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2002, points to information on a baby milk box at a warehouse containing baby milk and sugar near Baghdad. Iraqi officials escorted jounalists to the site in the al-Taji area that Iraq maintains is a food store. Last week, U.S. officials said their intelligence agencies detected signs Iraqis were moving equipment out of a suspected biological weapons facility at al-Taji, 25 kilometers west of Baghdad. (AP Photo/Jassim Mohammed)

[austingirl]

You were right, baby milk. LOL! Sure, we believe you Mr. Iraqui Trade Minister.

[Enemy Of The State]

yes, Ill have a cheeseburger with katsup and MUSTARD GAS!