U.S. acknowledges intelligence on transfer of Iraqi WMD to Syria and Lebannon

World Tribune ^ | 9/17/03

[truthandlife]

U.S. intelligence agencies are weighing numerous reports that Iraq diverted weapons of mass destruction to Syria and Lebanon to hide them from United Nations weapons inspectors and American forces in Iraq.

In testimony Sept. 16, John Bolton, undersecretary of state for arms control, referred to reports that Iraqi WMD had been transferred to Syria. "We have seen these reports, reviewed them carefully, and see them as cause for concern," he said.

"Thus far we have been unable to confirm that such transfers occurred," he said in congressional testimony. "We are continuing with the full breadth of resources at our command to seek conclusive evidence that any such transfer has taken place."

Bolton's testimony before a House International Relations subcommittee was reported in the Sept. 17 edition of The Washington Times.

Bolton also discussed North Korean assistance to Syria's development of medium-range missiles.

"Damascus is pursuing both solid- and liquid-propellant missile programs and relies extensively on foreign assistance in these endeavors," he said.

Mr. Bolton told the subcommittee that his testimony had been approved by the U.S. intelligence and policy communities, The Times report said.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld acknowledged there had been "snippets of information over time" about weapons transfers from Iraq to Syria.

"We know they buried MiG airplanes," Mr. Rumsfeld told reporters. "We know they buried a lot of things. And we know in the prior war they flew their planes into Iran, for example. I do not have hard evidence that I could say that they have done that."

[berserker]

snippets of information

Unlike the WMD fiasco in Iraq, it would be nice to have some real evidence. If these weapons are in Syria or Lebanon, how about some satilite photos of missiles? Or on the ground? We've been burned by the type of intellegence this is based on. Hopefully, unless it gets backed up soon, it will not lead to a new conflict, we have enough to do in Iraq.

[berserker]

snippets of information

Unlike the WMD fiasco in Iraq, it would be nice to have some real evidence. If these weapons are in Syria or Lebanon, how about some satilite photos of missiles? Or on the ground? We've been burned by the type of intellegence this is based on. Hopefully, unless it gets backed up soon, it will not lead to a new conflict, we have enough to do in Iraq.

[50sDad]

Tick, tick, tick...

[Coop]

Unlike the WMD fiasco in Iraq

What fiasco? There's plenty of evidence for even the most casual observer. But some absolutely refuse to be convinced. Kinda like those folks that still think the Impeached Rapist is a man of integrity. LOL

[Consort]

Don't worry about the WMD or you will be playing into Saddam's ploy. Let it go.

[Huck]

There's plenty of evidence for even the most casual observer.

Coop, with due respect, and knowing that you are aware of the disillusionment I have expressed elsewhere, can you kindly give the high level bullet points on the plenty of evidence? I am at minimum a casual observer, a supporter of the war, a supporter of the President, and I don't know of any evidence of WMD. There was a gas attack a dozen years ago. Besides that. Any recent finds? Instead of attacking, how about helping out by providing some information? You don't have to, but I am asking you nicely if you could. Thanks.

[conserv13]

Thus far we have been unable to confirm that such transfers occurred

We know they buried MiG airplanes," Mr. Rumsfeld told reporters. "We know they buried a lot of things. And we know in the prior war they flew their planes into Iran, for example. I do not have hard evidence that I could say that they have done that."

Well, which is it? I support the administration on Iraq, even though I think intelligence was shoddy and they could have done a much better job. Still better to be safe than sorry? There is no doubt that Syria is an anti-US terrorist state, but I think the administration needs more 'proof' this time around.

[Coop]

Instead of attacking

Tell you what. You show evidence that I attacked you, and I'll be happy to provide some evidence of WMDs. Since you asked so nicely. :-)

[Huck]

Point well taken. I did not word that properly. What I meant to say was that while my expressions of doubt have in general been met with sarcasm, resentment and some insults, as I think you may have observed, I would much prefer information. You are not obliged to try to convince insignificant me of anything, but I would appreciate it if you would, as that would be a welcome change from the response I have gotten elsewhere from some others. Not all have attacked, but some have. It's the nature of these forums, I suppose. Sorry for being unclear.

[cookcounty]

".......I'll be happy to provide some evidence...

I'm gonna wait right here at my desk..I know, with all the data, it can take a little time to get it all posted. That's OK. we'l just quietly wait for a while. relax.

[KantianBurke]

Bueller? Bueller?

[Coop]

I have no doubts this will not be enough for many, but it should convince those with open minds.

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20030809.shtml

Excerpt:Kay has told his superiors he has found substantial evidence of biological weapons in Iraq, plus considerable missile development.

CIA Holds Position on Mobile Labs
Excerpt:The CIA stands by its assessment that complex mobile laboratories discovered in Iraq were designed and built to produce biological weapons, a senior CIA official told CNN on Saturday.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/06/07/cia.mobile.labs/index.html

And, although they're not technically WMDs, let's not forget right before the war started the illegal missiles discovered. :-)

I wish I could remember the source, but it was a U.S. official when asked about WMD. He said if WMD were hot coffee, then no, we have not found the ground roast coffee. However, we have located the cup, spoon, sugar, creamer, filter, coffee pot, danish, and instructions for making the coffee.

Look at it this way. In order to believe WMDs do not exist, you have to believe Saddam Hussein was telling the truth. LOL!

[af_vet_1981]

If you agree, as most people do, that the United Nations did indeed document a fairly large stockpile of chemical weapons, then it was incumbent upon the Iraqi regime to provide proof of their destruction. They were compelled to provide documentation as to what became of these weapons. They did no such thing. They stonewalled. We explained that this refusal would be considered a serious breach of the treaty that pulled the US military off their back ten years ago. The rest is ornamentation.

Well stated and to the point. If a policeman is hunting a fugitive reported by agencies to be armed and dangerous, he will treat said perp as armed and dangerous. I suspect the weapons were transferred. I don't believe the Baathists would throw away WMDs lightly and swagger about them for years.

[r9etb]

What you're saying is, there's a strong circumstantial case for Iraqi WMD programs. We may not have discovered actual WMDs yet (or then again, we might have...), but the circumstantial case makes it probably 90+ percent certain that those programs were in existence.

BTW, it's helpful to recall something that came up when our guys took the Baghdad Airport. Remember that huge tunnel complex they found there, and the reports of all manner of other tunnel complexes around Iraq? If there are WMDs, I think we can be reasonably sure they'd be hidden in one of those tunnels.

And, for that matter, so might Saddam be hidden in a tunnel complex.

[KantianBurke]

And all that explains this how might I ask?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/982684/posts

[oceanview]

supposedly, Tikrit had some huge "underground city" as described by john loftus, but like those huge cave complexes at tora bora, we never heard anything about it. loftus also claims the CIA has sat photos of tractor trailer trucks going into syria weeks before the war.

[Redleg Duke]

Well, look at the bright side, we hit Syria, no WMD, we hit Iran, no WMD, we hit North Korea, no WMD, we hit Saudi Arabia, no WMD, we hit France, no WMD, we hit Belgium, no WMD, we hit Germany, no WMD...do you see where I am going? It's a Win-Win all around!

[Redleg Duke]

Well, look at the bright side, we hit Syria, no WMD, we hit Iran, no WMD, we hit North Korea, no WMD, we hit Saudi Arabia, no WMD, we hit France, no WMD, we hit Belgium, no WMD, we hit Germany, no WMD...do you see where I am going? It's a Win-Win all around!