Report: Iraq Asked Finland About Anthrax

guardian ^ | 2/15/03

[knak]

HELSINKI, Finland (AP) - The Iraqi Embassy in Helsinki sought information about anthrax from the foreign ministry in October, Finnish media reported Saturday.

The query - reportedly lodged about a month before the return of U.N. weapons inspectors to Baghdad - sought suitable methods ``for the early detection of anthrax,'' the Ilta-Sanomat newspaper reported.

The request also concerned ``ways of protecting against anthrax, as well as methods, procedures and equipment needed for decontamination,'' the tabloid said.

Ilta-Sanomat said that the head of the foreign ministry's political division, Markus Lyra, confirmed the report.

``We did not answer it (the request) at all, and there have been no further discussions,'' Lyra was quoted as saying. ``It is not our field.''

``One wonders, whether it was intended simply for propaganda or similar purposes,'' he added.

Foreign ministry officials were unavailable for comment Saturday.

[conservativecorner]

Now why would they do that? (HEAVY SARCASM)

[The Great Satan]

They want the technology and means to prevent UN detection in Iraq of Anthrax spores.

Look at this picture for a second:

See that thing in Colin Powell's hand? It's called a "vial." It's a glass "bottle" with a device on top called a "cap." The anthrax goes "inside" the "bottle." On the "outside" of the "bottle," there is no anthrax. Do you see how this "concealment" scheme works?

[cicero's_son]

If they really wanted to find out whether we had early detection technology for the purposes you suggest, do you think their approach would be simply to *ask* Finland, Sweden, and Japan?

Much as I'd like to disagree with TGS, I think his explanation is more plausible.

[Samwise]

I will never forget one particular moment during Bush's address to the U.N. He hung on the word "anthrax" and looked steely eyed at the Iraqui ambassadors. When he did that, I read in his face that he knows something we don't.

[jpl]

I'm beginning to understand better and better each day. Thank God I'm vaccinated.

[The Great Satan]

Of course. This is what it's always been about. Click on my profile for a backgrounder.

[Allan]

geez, and nobody pinged me for that?

You were pinged. Check again.

[Samwise]

I'm going to have to read that book.

[Mitchell]

The Iraqi Embassy in Helsinki sought information about anthrax from the foreign ministry in October, Finnish media reported Saturday.

This is just like the Japanese statement of a couple of weeks ago that Japan had supposedly lost or misplaced some plutonium. You can't take these statements at face value. The Japanese statement was directed at North Korea, and it was a reminder to North Korea that the Japanese not only have plutonium, they have so much plutonium that they may have accounting errors bigger than North Korea's entire stockpile.

With Iraq, it's the same story. They're reminding the world what they have, just in case somebody might have forgotten.

[The Great Satan]

Marquis of Queensbury Rules do not apply here. Anyone who thinks otherwise is living in a dream world.

[The Great Satan]

Correct.

[Domestic Church]

"...you are all targets."

I wonder if Saddam sent videos.

[Domestic Church]

I think it was at least both, to find out what sort of detection technology existed and to point the target finger in an oblique manner.

[Miss Marple]

They asked FINLAND. They didn't ask the UK, or the UN, or the USA, or Germany. They asked FINLAND, off in the northeast of Europe, who hasn't had two words to say about any of this crisis. In addition, this information is late getting to us.

Yes, I think that they would ask about this as a way to get information. Either they are given the information, which helps them, or they are denied it, in which case they play the innocents.

Tariq Aziz has made some really ridiculous comments over the last few months. Why would they suddenly become sophisticated? Remember "Baby Milk Factory?"

[ConservativeLawyer]

This is what it's always been about.

If we know the Anthrax came from Iraq, why are we still holding that card so close to the vest? From the buildup in the Gulf, it appears we are ready to do something about it.

[riri]

The build up in the Gulf is about two things.

1. It is to keep Saddam from getting ballsy and stepping back into Kuwait or making any gambling sort of moves.

2. It is to bring down morale of his troops and incourage defectors and uprisings.

[riri]

incourage=encourage. sorry.

[merak]

If that ain't a smoking gun, there's no such thing in the world.

[Sacajaweau]

One simply does not know what is propaganda and what is not. It's part of "War".

[patriciaruth]

I recall the Iraqis doing this inquiry last year, some time ago.

All the conjectures above are meritorious as to why they inquired.