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Blix disputes Iraq's anthrax claims
reuters ^ | 3/6/03

Posted on 03/06/2003 5:33:42 PM PST by knak

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations disputes Iraq's claim to have destroyed 21,000 litres of biological warfare agents, including anthrax, 12 years ago, according to a draft of a report obtained by Reuters.

Iraq had declared 8,445 litres (2,230 gallons) anthrax but the report estimates that 21,000 litres (5,447 gallons) of germ agents stored in bulk during the 1991 Gulf War included about 10,000 litres (2,641 gallons) of anthrax.

The report, a draft of which was obtained by Reuters, gives 29 "clusters" or groups of weapons programs and a "to do" list for Iraq in order to satisfy U.N. Security Council demands that Baghdad account for its weapons of mass destruction programs.

The 167-page report was drawn up by the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, headed by Hans Blix and will be distributed to ministers at a key meeting on Friday. It is separate from an oral report he will present.

It compiles every weapons program, past and present, and says what Iraq has done and what it needs to do, thereby giving ammunition to those Security Council members who say inspection are getting somewhere and need to continue and those who say the report shows how Iraq is not fulfilling U.N. demands.

Blix questioned Iraqi statements that it had stored all bulk biological warfare agents during the 1991 Gulf War at the Al Hakam plant and destroyed those unused after the war.

"There is credible information available to UNMOVIC that indicates that the bulk agent, including anthrax, was in fact deployed during the 1991 Gulf War," the report said. "The question then arises as to what happened to it after the war."

"Based on this information, UNMOVIC estimates that about 21,000 litres (5,547 gallons) of biological warfare agent was stored in bulk at locations remote from Al Hakam. About half of this, about 10,000 litres (2,641 gallons) was anthrax," Blix wrote in the report.

"It therefore seems highly probable that the destruction of the bulk agent, including anthrax, stated by Iraq to be at Al Hakam in July-August 1991 did not occur," the report said."

Blix said Iraq needed to provide documentation or other evidence to support its account.

MORE MISSILES THAN THOUGHT

The new report also said Iraq may be producing more banned missiles in addition to the Al Samoud 2 rockets it is now destroying and had declared last year to inspectors.

"Other missiles systems with ranges in excess of 150 km (93 miles) may possibly be under development or planned," the report said.

"Indications of this come from solid propellant casting chambers Iraq has acquired, through recent import, indigenous production or from the repair or old chambers," said the report.

Blix had ordered the Al Samouds destroyed.

The report had been eagerly awaited by nations opposed to war, who believe inspectors are working and should continue for months. Canada, on the other hand, has proposed the "outstanding issues" be turned into "benchmarks" with deadlines for Iraq to meet by March 28.

But for the United States and Britain, however, the report shows how many weapons issues Iraq has not yet clarified, despite Blix's comments to reporters on Wednesday that Iraq was beginning to actively cooperate with his inspectors.

He told a news conference on Wednesday that the destruction of the al Samouds "is the most spectacular and the most important and tangible" evidence of real disarmament.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: warlist
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1 posted on 03/06/2003 5:33:43 PM PST by knak
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To: knak
Well then! This is the last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last last straw!
2 posted on 03/06/2003 5:37:19 PM PST by Goodlife
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To: *war_list
http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list
3 posted on 03/06/2003 5:46:20 PM PST by Libertarianize the GOP (Ideas have consequences)
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To: Goodlife; Sabertooth
Blix gives me a headache.
4 posted on 03/06/2003 5:47:37 PM PST by Shermy
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To: knak
Blix ,He's got his head so far up his.....
5 posted on 03/06/2003 5:49:21 PM PST by HP8753
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To: All
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6 posted on 03/06/2003 5:49:52 PM PST by Bob J (Join the FR Network! Educate, Motivate, Activate!)
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To: Shermy
Blix gives me a headache

Me too

7 posted on 03/06/2003 6:05:38 PM PST by Mo1 (Free Miguel Estrada !!!)
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To: HP8753
Blix has had the heady feeling of an ersatz head of state with his mission and he feels it slipping away. Now it's time for the little weasel to get on the right side of the fight to be able to get another plum assignment somewhere down the road.

Good-bye Blix. Good-bye you little person.

8 posted on 03/06/2003 6:08:15 PM PST by Thebaddog (woof)
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To: Goodlife
well, from the sounds of President Gw. This evening...he better start disputing his claims on a plane leaving Iraq
9 posted on 03/06/2003 6:08:17 PM PST by Enemy Of The State (To be prepared for war, is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.)
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To: knak
Blix
10 posted on 03/06/2003 6:12:03 PM PST by Shermy
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To: Shermy
ditto...Blix!
11 posted on 03/06/2003 6:14:50 PM PST by knak (kelly in alaska)
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To: Enemy Of The State
Bush repeatedly spoke about Iraq and Saddam in the past tense tonight. I don't know if anyone else noticed that, because I'm afraid to tackle the live thread with 18 zillion responses so far.

But, it was clear to me that while Bush was continuing to hold out the olive branch, there's no doubt in his mind that it will be rebuffed. We'll wait for the UN vote, for various reasons. But we will move ahead regardless of what Blix, the French, or anyone else says.

12 posted on 03/06/2003 6:19:00 PM PST by Dog Gone
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To: Goodlife
And this time we REALLY mean it.
13 posted on 03/06/2003 6:19:36 PM PST by Howlin (It's another good day to be a Republican!)
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To: Dog Gone
lol...holding out the olive branch while holding the .45 behind his back.
14 posted on 03/06/2003 6:26:48 PM PST by Enemy Of The State (To be prepared for war, is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.)
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To: Thebaddog
Blix and his merry band of inspectors have only one thing in mind. Job Protection......theirs!
15 posted on 03/06/2003 6:26:55 PM PST by OldFriend
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To: knak
Blix is for kids.
16 posted on 03/06/2003 6:33:54 PM PST by exit82
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To: OldFriend
This is an encouraging report in that it gives the Axis of Weasels a cover if they are having second thoughts about voting no in the UN next week.

I hope they vote no, but I don't think they will. It would take guts to vote no in the face of US determination to proceed, and I don't think they have any.

17 posted on 03/06/2003 6:33:58 PM PST by Dog Gone
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To: OldFriend
Hey, Old Friend! See you on the next posts.
18 posted on 03/06/2003 6:38:09 PM PST by Thebaddog (woof)
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To: exit82
I expect the word "blix" will be used as a verb in future dictionaries...as in.... blix me once...shame on you....blix me twice...shame on me.....or... Damn!..I've been blixed!
19 posted on 03/06/2003 6:47:38 PM PST by M-cubed
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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