Iraq could be nine years from nuclear capability: Powell

Yahoo News - France ^ | 2002 Sunday September 8, 8:12 PM | Editorial Staff

[vannrox]

Sunday September 8, 20:12 PM

Iraq could be nine years from nuclear capability: Powell

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said that Iraq is intent on acquiring nuclear weapons but could take up to nine years to achieve its aim.

"With respect to nuclear, we know that at the time of the (1991) Gulf War... they (Iraq) were further along than we had thought. And so you can debate whether it is one year, five years, six years or nine years (before they have the capability)," Powell told BBC television to be aired on Sunday.

"The important point is that they are still committed to pursuing that technology. And if they're committed to pursuing that technology, then obviously they're committed to trying to have a nuclear weapon," added the secretary of state.

His comments came as US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair held intense talks near Washington over how to deal with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, whom they accuse of developing biological and chemical weapons and of trying to acquire nuclear arms.

Powell, considered a lone moderate in the US administration, claimed Bush was examining all options over Iraq -- "political, diplomatic, military".

"The president has not decided to undertake military action. And the president is examining all of his options, and when he has completed that examination it will be as a result of consultation with friends, consultation within his administration.

"The president will take the case to the public and to the international community," Powell told the Breakfast with Frost programme.

His comments were echoed by Condoleezza Rice, Bush's national security adviser.

In an interview for The Sunday Times, Rice said the US administration was not planning to act in isolation.

"This administration is not one that just believes it ought to act on its own," she said.

"There will be times when we have policy disagreements with our friends, but by no means is the United States simply running off on its own."

Powell underlined the importance of allowing UN weapons inspectors to re-enter Iraq - from where they have been barred since exiting on the eve of US-British air raids in December 1998.

Powell added that Iraq was "much weaker" militarily than during the Gulf War.

"I would guesstimate that the Iraqi army is perhaps at one-third or a little better than one-third of its capability of 12 years ago," he said.

[vannrox]

Of course, one must remember that only ten years ago they were three months from Nuclear Capability.

[Roscoe]

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said that Iraq is intent on acquiring nuclear weapons but could take up to nine years to achieve its aim.

Let's just wait for the first nuclear explosion to be certain. /sarcasm

[InvisibleChurch]

it's ok with me if we put them a hundred years behind schedul

e

[The Vast Right Wing]

Nice misleading title, it could just as easily read: "Iraq could be 1 year away form nukes"

[AmericaUnited]

We should help Saddam be the proud owner of a few "used" nukes, and deliver them for free.

[adam stevens]

This is plenty of evidence that we need to go in and crush Saddam!

[WorldWatcher1]

Actually it's not a misleading title, it's just plain wrong. He never said that was his opinion.

[PianoMan]

That choice of headline defies belief. I'm sure Howell Raines will pick it up.

[fight_truth_decay]

http://www.isis-online.org/publications/iraq/infogather.html

[FreedomFriend]

WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE, ADMINISTRATION?

[claptrap]

We dont need no stinking evidence, sir. We are the most powerful nation on earth, no one lives here without our consent!

[FreedomFriend]

Of course there needs to be evidence. Why would we attack Iraq if there is no evidence? Right?

Hey, I'm not saying there is or is not evidence, only that this better be the real deal.

[SwordofTruth]

We are the most powerful nation on earth, no one lives here without our consent!

Illegal aliens live here without our consent.