Hop in my Humvee, it's as big as a whale
And it's about to set SAILLL!
I got me a Boeing, it seats about eighty
So hurry up! And bring your incendiaries!
Posted on 12/27/2002 12:52:38 PM PST by Dallas
UN weapons inspectors have said a key Iraqi scientist gave them details of a military programme that could be a "possible prelude to a clandestine nuclear programme".
UN spokesman Hiro Ueki said the information was obtained when International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) interviewed a "metallurgist from a high visibility state company".
The statement came after Mr Ueki said the inspectors were also preparing to question scientist for the first time outside the country.
But the BBC's Caroline Hawley says Mr Ueki later told the BBC that this now looked less imminent, refusing to give a reason for the delay.
On Friday, UN inspectors also visited three sites in Iraq, including a brewery, in search of weapons of mass destruction.
Baghdad has continued to insist that it has no programme to develop banned nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.
'Possible prelude'
In his daily report on inspections, Mr Ueki said that the scientist "provided technical details of a military programme".
"This programme has attracted considerable attention as a possible prelude to a clandestine nuclear programme," he said.
"The answers will be of great use in completing the IAEA assessment."
The scientist was not identified by the inspectors, but the Iraqi Foreign Ministry named him as Dr Kazem Jamil, who worked at the al-Raya plant that produced aluminium for use in the manufacture short-range rockets.
Dr Jamil was only the second Iraqi expert interviewed by the inspectors. The first one declined to be questioned in private and insisted on an Iraqi witness.
But UN attempts to begin questioning Iraqi scientists outside Iraq - in accordance with a UN resolution - appear to have run into difficulty.
Mr Ueki did not comment on the reason of the delay, saying the details will be given on a press conference on Saturday.
Our correspondent says Baghdad fiercely opposes such moves, despite a strong pressure from the US.
On Thursday, Iraq's chief liaison officer with the UN inspectors, General Hossam Mohammad Amin, said the teams had visited 188 sites but had found no evidence of weapons of mass destruction.
Meanwhile - as both sides continue to prepare for a possible conflict - the head of the UN's refugee agency told the BBC that the international community should do everything to prevent a war.
The Iraqi Government has already begun helping its citizens stockpile food in case of a US-led attack and Washington is continuing its military build-up in the area.
I tend to think this is a material breach
It is. The insistance that Iraq not interfere in any way whatsoever with the requests for out of country interviews, complete with the evacuation of the entire family of the interview subject, was made very specific in the resolution. Blix may have a list of key scientists gleaned from an inspector. As it's a good bet that Iraq won't put them on the "available" list this will force the inspectors to demand someone not listed (I'm being optomistic here). The inspectors will insist and meet armed intimidation. This will be the trigger to remove the inspectors. Everything's meticulously timed, IMHO.
When you say "Scud" you've said it all....
Try Scud Dry.
They are all probably being dipped in vats of acid as we speak.
I hope the reporter is enjoying his "scoop"!
Maybe we'll start the attack on Ballentine's day
After seeing what happened to Dr. Jamil's family, no one wants to cooperate. Of course, Dr. Jamil will remain in perfect health, as will his last surviving relative, until the inspections are over.
Hop in my Humvee, it's as big as a whale
And it's about to set SAILLL!
I got me a Boeing, it seats about eighty
So hurry up! And bring your incendiaries!
Maybe they'd prefer Arc light....
I'm not sure that Saddam drinks, but he's still gonna get bombed....
And the reason for 25,000 U.S. Troops Headed To Gulf and U.S. Carrier Truman Leaves Marseille for Possible War on Iraq (maybe others are involved as wellU.S. to take N. Korea before U.N. !!).
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