Iraqi mobile labs nothing to do with germ warfare, report finds

The Observer (U.K.) ^ | 06/15/03 | Peter Beaumont, Antony Barnett and Gaby Hinsliff

[Pokey78]

An official British investigation into two trailers found in northern Iraq has concluded they are not mobile germ warfare labs, as was claimed by Tony Blair and President George Bush, but were for the production of hydrogen to fill artillery balloons, as the Iraqis have continued to insist. The conclusion by biological weapons experts working for the British Government is an embarrassment for the Prime Minister, who has claimed that the discovery of the labs proved that Iraq retained weapons of mass destruction and justified the case for going to war against Saddam Hussein.

Instead, a British scientist and biological weapons expert, who has examined the trailers in Iraq, told The Observer last week: 'They are not mobile germ warfare laboratories. You could not use them for making biological weapons. They do not even look like them. They are exactly what the Iraqis said they were - facilities for the production of hydrogen gas to fill balloons.'

The conclusion of the investigation ordered by the British Government - and revealed by The Observer last week - is hugely embarrassing for Blair, who had used the discovery of the alleged mobile labs as part of his efforts to silence criticism over the failure of Britain and the US to find any weapons of mass destruction since the invasion of Iraq.

The row is expected to be re-ignited this week with Robin Cook and Clare Short, the two Cabinet Ministers who resigned over the war, both due to give evidence to a House of Commons inquiry into whether intelligence was manipulated in the run-up to the war. It will be the first time that both have been grilled by their peers on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee over what the Cabinet was told in the run-up to the war.

MPs will be keen to explore Cook's explanation when he resigned that, while he believed Iraq did have some WMD capability, he did not believe it was weaponised.

The Prime Minister and his director of strategy and communications, Alastair Campbell, are expected to decline invitations to appear. While MPs could attempt to force them, this is now thought unlikely to happen.

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, is expected to give evidence the week after.

The revelation that the mobile labs were to produce hydrogen for artillery balloons will also cause discomfort for the British authorities because the Iraqi army's original system was sold to it by the British company, Marconi Command & Control.

[Swordmaker]

haven't the Iraqi's learned about tank trucks?

The logic behind this is entirely lacking. Producing hydrogen in sufficient quantities to fill baloons is not easy and not something that could or should be done with a mobile facility. It would be much more economical and sane to produce the hydrogen in a stationary plant, transport it under pressure, and fill the baloons.

[TheCrusader]

This report sounds like hot air to me.

[gridlock]

Exactly how does one use a fermenter to produce hydrogen?

[boycott]

Everyone knows that the mobile labs were "baby milk factories." ~~~(G)

[lowbridge]

An official British investigation into two trailers found in northern Iraq has concluded they are not mobile germ warfare labs, as was claimed by Tony Blair and President George Bush, but were for the production of hydrogen to fill artillery balloons,

Are they available for parties?

[Jackson Brown]

""Instead, a British scientist and biological weapons expert, who has examined the trailers in Iraq, told The Observer last week: 'They are not mobile germ warfare laboratories. You could not use them for making biological weapons. They do not even look like them. They are exactly what the Iraqis said they were - facilities for the production of hydrogen gas to fill balloons."""

One of these days, one of these left wing rags will give the NAMES -- and who/what they represent -- of who they claim they are quoting...just once!

There are a lot of leftist activist "scientists" -- and -- there are a certainly a lot of self styled "bioweapon experts" who have a leftwing agenda and target the west.

JB

[gcruse]

You should read the new age book "Crack in the Cosmic Egg."  Basically, it says that science, physics, etc are the way they are because we wished it to be so.  Of course, alchemy completely defies that supposition, but the book says that nonetheless.  Maybe you can learn to wish everything away that contradicts your worldview.

[Quicksilver]

Okay, humour me. Make some hydrogen and fill some balloons.

[winner3000]

My reaction to the article is: so...?

The burden of proof was on Saddam to prove that he had destroyed the WMD's that he had himself said he had prior to the first Gulf War. He didn't. Regime change became necessary. Case closed!

[templar]

There are a lot of leftist activist "scientists" -- and -- there are a certainly a lot of self styled "bioweapon experts" who have a leftwing agenda and target the west.

I would think that both American and British security would restrict access to these captured items to legitimate examiners, and not to the general public. Either the report is false or the "biological weapons expert" is legitimate.

[gcruse]

I wouldn't dream of arguing with a closed case.

[E=MC²]

IF they were for the innocuous task of producing hydrogen, funny how the Iraqis felt compelled to disable them.

[stevem99]

These units are supposed to be used in wartime, it doesn't seem especially practical to be driving tanker trucks from a factory (that could be hundreds of miles away) into war zones where artillery companies are stationed.

Anyway, what does the US do? Do they even use weather ballons for artillery?

[Cachelot]

An official British investigation into two trailers found in northern Iraq has concluded they are not mobile germ warfare labs

As more and more of the truth about the goals and performance of the British in Iraq surface, expect more strange output from British intelligence, politicians and media.

[Destro]

You would think so but the British manufacture and export said mobile hydrogen generators - several sold to Iraq--now can they be converted? That is the question. Did Iraq hide its stuff in plain site via duel use items?

[Cachelot]

The logic behind this is entirely lacking

Yes :). Any hydrogen to be used in balloons would have been in standard gas bottles, and besides that, they would probably have used helium anyway. No sense in dragging something as volatile as hydrogen into a battle zone.

There's also the little matter of the trucks being differently furnished. Please don't tell me that the Iraqi would have been running two or more trailers in tandem just to fill balloons.

[stevem99]

Then why does the British military use hydrogen for its artillery ballons? I can't tell from the description whether the BMETS system produces hydrogen but it clearly uses it.

http://www.atra.mod.uk/RSA/RSA_Training/Training_Courses/Strike_Surface_to_Su/BMETS_Operator_Detai/index.htm

[Mark17]

Everyone knows that the mobile labs were "baby milk factories." ~~~(G)

I thought we already blew up all their baby milk factories?

[Cachelot]

Then why does the British military use hydrogen for its artillery ballons?

That is seriously weird. You'd think helium would be the way to go for stuff like this. But the BMETS thing talks about hydrogen bottles, although it also mentions Meterological Hydrogen Generators. Those generators appear to be available from Britain, Japan and the US, at least. However, I don't think these are units filling multiple trailers each.