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Saddam's palace searched for arms
The Daily Telegraph ^ | December 3, 2002 | The Daily Telegraph

Posted on 12/03/2002 12:15:11 AM PST by MadIvan

One of Saddam Hussein's presidential palaces has been searched by United Nations weapons inspectors during an unannounced visit.

They were making an early test of new powers to inspect for weapons of mass destruction anywhere and at any time.

The Iraqis have until Sunday to disclose details of their chemical, biological and nuclear programmes, but they insist that the country is free of weapons of mass destruction.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: inspection; iraq; saddam; wmd
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Do you think they gave Saddam enough time to dust for houseguests by searching in rusty old sheds?

Regards, Ivan

1 posted on 12/03/2002 12:15:11 AM PST by MadIvan
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To: Delmarksman; Sparta; Toirdhealbheach Beucail; TopQuark; TexKat; Iowa Granny; vbmoneyspender; ...
Bump!
2 posted on 12/03/2002 12:15:30 AM PST by MadIvan
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To: MadIvan
How did the inspection go and were they allowed complete access?
It said they searched, but did not mention if there were restrictions to the search.
3 posted on 12/03/2002 12:20:17 AM PST by A CA Guy
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To: MadIvan
They were making an early test of new powers to inspect for weapons of mass destruction anywhere and at any time.

AND?????

What happen? .. did Saddem welcome them in and offer them some tea ??

4 posted on 12/03/2002 12:21:12 AM PST by Mo1
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To: A CA Guy
I am not an arms expert but I question the wisdom of going to old sites first, rather than going straight for the Presidential palaces, which were obviously places that Saddam did not want them to go.

So far as restrictions, it doesn't say. Yet.

Regards, Ivan

5 posted on 12/03/2002 12:21:35 AM PST by MadIvan
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To: Mo1; All
Here's more:

Inspectors visit first presidential palace
BBC News

United Nations weapons inspectors have begun their first visit to one of President Saddam Hussein's palaces since relaunching their mission in Iraq last week.

The team arrived on Tuesday morning at the Sijood palace in the Karkh district of Baghdad, one of eight sprawling presidential sites that are high on the list of suspected hiding places for banned weaponry.

The BBC's Ben Brown in Baghdad says the inspectors waited for 10 minutes outside the compound, where there was shouting, arguing and confusion - but eventually the huge iron gates swung open.

On Monday, US President George W Bush said he had not been encouraged by Iraq's reaction to the latest efforts to force it to comply with UN resolutions.

Members of the previous arms inspection regime were barred from entering presidential sites without advance warning and a diplomatic escort, before inspectors were eventually withdrawn in 1998.

Our correspondent says Tuesday's inspection is a symbolic act, showing that the weapons inspectors mean business this time around.

Sanctions breach

On Monday, UN inspectors said Iraq had admitted trying to illegally import aluminium tubing to help build weapons.

But the Iraqis say they tried to obtain the piping for use in conventional arms, and not nuclear weapons as the United States and Britain allege.

A BBC correspondent in Washington says it appears to be the first time since weapons inspections resumed that Iraq has admitted attempting to break arms sanctions.

But according to the weapons inspectors, the Iraqis insisted it was actually meant to be used in multi-barrelled rocket launchers.

The Iraqis also said that despite several attempts, they never actually succeeded in importing any of the tubing.

But even its attempted import would be a breach of UN sanctions.

After completing five days of work, UN weapons inspectors have apparently found no evidence of the weapons of mass destruction programme that the US says Iraq has.

Warning

US Deputy Secretary of Defence Paul Wolfowitz told the BBC that although war with Iraq was not inevitable, the final chapter of an 11-year effort to disarm Iraq had been reached.

Mr Bush, for his part, challenged Baghdad to provide a "credible and complete" list of its nuclear, biological and chemical weapons by Sunday.

Only by doing this will Iraq comply with the first deadline set out in a recent UN resolution that gives the country a final chance to disarm.

"Any act of delay, deception or defiance will prove that Saddam Hussein has not adopted the path of compliance, and has rejected the path of peace," Mr Bush said.

The president has threatened to lead a "coalition of the willing" to disarm Iraq if Baghdad fails to give up its weapons.

The US president - who spoke at the Pentagon during his signing of a defence bill providing billions of dollars of extra funding for his war on terrorism - was reluctant to declare the first inspections a success.

"In the inspections process, the United States will be making one judgment: Has Saddam Hussein changed his behaviour of the last 11 years? Has he decided to co-operate willingly and comply completely or has he not?" he said.

"So far, the signs are not encouraging."

The inspections are a farce, the UN is complicit in all this.

Regards, Ivan

6 posted on 12/03/2002 12:25:56 AM PST by MadIvan
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To: MadIvan
After completing five days of work, UN weapons inspectors have apparently found no evidence of the weapons of mass destruction programme that the US says Iraq has.

Thanks MadIvan

7 posted on 12/03/2002 12:31:38 AM PST by Mo1
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To: Mo1
Blix is totally useless. You really have to wonder sometimes.

Regards, Ivan

8 posted on 12/03/2002 12:33:52 AM PST by MadIvan
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To: MadIvan
I want to know something else. Where are all the secret detecting devices that everyone said can read what is below the ground?
Are they being used yet or are they afraid of confrontation this early in the game?
9 posted on 12/03/2002 12:36:11 AM PST by A CA Guy
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To: MadIvan
After completing five days of work, UN weapons inspectors have apparently found no evidence of the weapons of mass destruction programme that the US says Iraq has.

That part caught my attention .. might also explain why the President was a tad upset today by telling the inspectors to stop playing hide and seek with Iraq

I also couldn't help notice some of the pictures I saw of the inspectors .. all of them are carrying note pads .. but none of them were carrying any kind of equipment to detect any WMD

10 posted on 12/03/2002 12:38:29 AM PST by Mo1
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To: A CA Guy
Where are all the secret detecting devices that everyone said can read what is below the ground?

I'm wondering that myself .. unless those notepads are more then they seem to be

11 posted on 12/03/2002 12:40:13 AM PST by Mo1
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To: Mo1
I'm sure there are machines that can detect the density of earth a distance down for sure and that perhaps would suggest the presence of a bunker or stockpile.

But as I said, where are these little marvels of science?
12 posted on 12/03/2002 12:43:23 AM PST by A CA Guy
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To: MadIvan
And it only took them an hour and a half! Boy, are those guys efficient!
13 posted on 12/03/2002 3:52:03 AM PST by mewzilla
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To: MadIvan
I'm starting to worry that Bush has backed himself into a corner with these inspections. Whether or not they find anything, Saddam still needs to be removed.

No matter how "intrusive" the inspections are, they cannot find everything. Most of the country is a damn wasteland, lots of places to build underground bunkers, etc. Are the inspectors going to be there forever? Having them there does not change Saddam's *intention* to have WMD.

It only takes one leak in the net for Saddam to funnel HE Uranium, or the various CB agents over the border to Al Queda, and that may well be enough for another even bigger Sept. 11.

Also , these inspectors can do nothing about Saddam funneling *cash* to Al Queda, Hezzbollah , and your local Palestinian indepedant terrorist contractors.

I'm reminded what the Israelis told us about airport security. They said the Americans looks for weapons, whereas the Israelis look for *terrorists*. Now, who has been more effective re airport security? The WMD in Iraq is not the problem, it is Saddam the terrorist.

Bush et al must know this fact. I just wonder how they will explain the continuing need for removing Saddam to the American public, even though the inspectors will find nothing.






14 posted on 12/03/2002 5:59:03 AM PST by mikenola
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To: MadIvan
Blix is totally useless.

He's worse than useless. I think that war could have been averted, the better of the alternatives. But it takes someone who will not tolerate any games on Saddam's part. His so-called "pacifist" beliefs are the key factor that will lead us to war. He is the one man who could have prevented what is increasingly looking inevitable. Whenever I see or hear him, I am reminded why I left the Democratic "do-good" party and joined with the Republicans. I still care about the "people" issues that the dems care about; I just realize that practical policies of personal responsibility is necessary to bring solutions to these goals. Blix never learned that fuzzy thinking, when you're in a position of responsbility, can kill. This man is dangerous.

15 posted on 12/03/2002 6:23:27 AM PST by twigs
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To: mikenola
I'm starting to worry that Bush has backed himself into a corner with these inspections. Whether or not they find anything, Saddam still needs to be removed.

The Iraqis KNEW that we would want to look at Saddamned's palaces when the inspections started again. We won't find anything there. I'm really starting to have SERIOUS doubts about these "inspectors". Did you all read the article at WND about one of these inspectors? Why did the UN pick whacko's for this job?

16 posted on 12/03/2002 6:28:57 AM PST by Reborn
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To: MadIvan
It says they spent a whole hour and a half there...

I think the UN is a sham. All the sabre rattling by W and Blair in the last few days increased the heat, so they did this 'inspection' where they got to show the world how nice and cooperative Iraq is being by letting them in a palace for a whole hour and a half.

I think that is barely enough time to take in the landscaping on a place that big.


17 posted on 12/03/2002 6:34:29 AM PST by Mr. K
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To: mikenola
I'm starting to worry that Bush has backed himself into a corner with these inspections.

Charles Krauthammer, when he appears on FNC with the beltway boys, has been warning about this for awhile. Cause for concern, no doubt.

18 posted on 12/03/2002 6:41:27 AM PST by twigs
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To: MadIvan
Findings thus far.....

Enough Viagra found to erect a Titan rocket.
19 posted on 12/03/2002 6:48:38 AM PST by Rockitz
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To: Mr. K
If they argued and shouted for 10 minutes before they were admitted to the palace, doesn't that constitute an act of delay on the part of the Iraqis? When's the bombing start?
20 posted on 12/03/2002 8:01:40 AM PST by mvpel
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