[jdsteel]

The scientists, engineers, technicians, and assembly line workers are far more important than the physical materials. As long as Saddam kept his workforce intact, he would have been able to restart nuclear weapons development at any time.

Don't forget about the nuclear weapons program and material that Libya gave up so quickly once Saddam could not strong arm them anymore.

[quadrant]

I agree the material is important, but the skilled workers are far more important.
I read somewhere that the first nuclear devise - its not a weapon yet - is developed by scientists; the second by engineers; the third is assembled by skilled technicians; and finally the fourth by assembly line workers.