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BLIX Dossier Includes Undeclared Drones (AP has the full report)
Associated Press | 8 March 2003 | Edith Lederer

Posted on 03/08/2003 5:55:08 PM PST by PhiKapMom

BLIX DOSSIER INCLUDES UNDECLARED DRONES

Edith Lederer
AP

UNITED NATIONS (March 8) - In a 173-page dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix says Baghdad may possess about 10,000 liters of anthrax, Scud missile warheads filled with deadly biological and chemical agents, and drones capable of flying far beyond a 93-mile limit.

The report, obtained late Friday by The Associated Press, traces the history of Iraq's weapons programs and outlines the many areas where questions remain, many old but some new. Blix told the Security Council earlier in the day that he planned to cull items from the document and compile a list of key remaining disarmament tasks by the end of March that Iraq must complete.

The table of contents reflects the scope of the unanswered questions: missile technology, aerial bombs, spray devices and drone aircraft, mustard gas, sarin, chemical processing equipment, Botulinum toxin, ricin, genetic engineering and viral research - and the list goes on.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw described the document as ''a shocking indictment of the record of Saddam Hussein's deception and deceit, but above all, of the danger which he poses to the region and to the world.''

Britain and the United States, which are seeking Security Council approval for a war against Iraq, can find plenty of ammunition in the dossier to support their argument that Baghdad has failed to cooperate and fully disarm. But opponents of a rush to war counter that Iraq is starting to provide evidence - and therefore U.N. weapons inspections should continue.

Blix has previously questioned Iraq's reporting of its destruction of anthrax supplies from 1988 to 1991. He said Iraq declared that it produced 8,445 liters but cited evidence in the new report that it produced more.

''The strong presumption is that about 10,000 liters of anthrax was not destroyed and may still exist,'' he said. In addition, ''Iraq currently possesses the technology and materials, including fermenters, bacterial growth media and seed stock, to enable it to produce anthrax.''

''Many of the skilled personnel familiar with anthrax production have been transferred to civilian industries. There does not appear to be any choke points, which would prevent Iraq from producing anthrax on at least the scale of its pre-1991 level,'' Blix said.

The chief inspector also expressed concern about Iraq's program to build pilotless aircraft known as drones, citing intelligence reports that Saddam Hussein is developing vehicles with a range of 312 miles - far exceeding the 93-mile limit.

While small, Blix said, drones can be used to spray biological warfare agents such as anthrax.

Iraq hasn't revealed the development of any drones that fly automatically, though it has declared that it developed two vehicles controlled from the ground or other aircraft with a range of 62 miles, he said, adding that this must be investigated.

''Recent inspections have also revealed the existence of a drone with a wingspan of 7.45 meters (24 1/2 feet) that has not been declared by Iraq. Officials at the inspection site stated that the drone had been test flown,'' Blix said.

The chief inspector also expressed concern that Baghdad may be developing or planning missiles other than the Al Samoud 2 that may also have ranges exceeding 93 miles. Iraq has begun destroying its Al Samoud 2s.

''Indications of this come from solid propellant casting chambers Iraq has acquired through indigenous production, or from the repair of old chambers,'' he said. ''The size of these chambers would enable the manufacture of a missile system with a range much greater than 93 miles.''

Blix said Iraq must also produce evidence to prove that it has fully abandoned its program to develop a medium-range ballistic missile with a range of between 625 and 1,875 miles.

On Scud-B missiles, he said, ''the lack of documentation to support the destruction of Scud-B liquid propellant, and the fact that approximately 50 warheads were not accounted for among the remnants of unilateral destruction, suggest that these items may have been retained for a proscribed missile force.''

Iraq must also account for up to 30 chemical and biological Scud-type warheads which it claims it destroyed, he said. One way would be to provide minutes from a committee formed in 1991 to address the issue of retaining banned material and weapons, he said.

AP-NY-03-08-03 0341EST


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: blix; drone; liar; saddam; supporter; warlist
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To: Dog Gone
Having this come out later, proving that Blix is covering up for the Iraqis is the best possible turn of events.

I agree with you 100%. The cover-up always gets them!

121 posted on 03/08/2003 8:45:31 PM PST by ConservativeLawyer (More Blix Trix)
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To: PhiKapMom


Iraq has been working on a variety of UAVs for more than a decade. This is just illustrative of what a UAV would look like. This effort has included attempts to modify for unmanned flight the MiG-21 (ph) and with greater success an aircraft called the L-29 (ph). However, Iraq is now concentrating not on these airplanes, but on developing and testing smaller UAVs, such as this.

122 posted on 03/08/2003 8:47:33 PM PST by Howlin (Only UNamericans put the UN before America!)
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To: Howlin
That definitely does not have a 25 foot wingspan!
123 posted on 03/08/2003 8:51:23 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US)
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To: Kitten1; PhiKapMom
But the thing that struck me, which I'm sure others noticed, the moment Mr. Powell began citing the report, deVellipin began wringning his hands. A man sitting behind him whispered something in his ear (probably that his gesture was noticeable) and Dominique's hands went under the table. He had a look on his face that I couldn't describe. If you notice, Trixie started fake doodling on a piece of paper. You can clearly see that the pen wasn't touching the paper. Also notice El Baradei shifted in his seat to partially turn his back to Trixie.

FOX News needs to hear this. It would be a great visual if they showed it on air.

124 posted on 03/08/2003 8:51:55 PM PST by MaeWest (Reporting from behind west coast enemy lines.)
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To: MaeWest
That is so true! That would make an interesting graphic since they were hiding information.
125 posted on 03/08/2003 8:53:22 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US)
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To: PhiKapMom
Newp.
126 posted on 03/08/2003 8:53:22 PM PST by Howlin (Only UNamericans put the UN before America!)
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To: PhiKapMom
I cannot believe they did this! Didn't they think someone was going to find out. Looks like those pages may not have been added until today? I would have thought this would have broken last night if they got the papers before leaving the UN.

OMG!! THIS SOUNDS LIKE KKKLINTONS FINGER PRINTS ON ALL THIS SH**!!! REMEMBER how everytime something big broke, like the BLewinsky blue dress, they would drop the bomb on friday night after the papers had already printed their morning headlines!! So come Monday this was OLD NEWS! REMEMBER??
127 posted on 03/08/2003 9:02:09 PM PST by RoseofTexas
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To: PhiKapMom
This is a really huge story! It is stunning to hear about. Blix needs to be fired. He put our military in danger. The U.N. should now be history, especially if Annan, Putin, Chirac, Schroeder or any of the rest of them were in on this.
128 posted on 03/08/2003 9:06:52 PM PST by Wait4Truth (God Bless our President!)
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To: RoseofTexas
Good point! That was clinton strategy -- put everything out on Friday after everyone went home for the weekend.

This fits that to a tea! I wonder if our papers are going to pick up on it! This is just so maddening!
129 posted on 03/08/2003 9:09:43 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US)
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To: PhiKapMom
Actually, I think he did us a favor ... this just makes it easier for us to DUMP THEM!!
130 posted on 03/08/2003 10:24:52 PM PST by CyberAnt ( -> -> -> Oswego!!)
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To: Dog Gone
You think Blix will recieve a call from the President, giving him hours to leave our country???? One can only hope.
131 posted on 03/08/2003 11:07:36 PM PST by Terridan
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To: Area51
bumpity bump
132 posted on 03/09/2003 2:27:19 AM PST by FirstTomato ("We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends" Martin Luther King)
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To: Terridan
You think Blix will recieve a call from the President, giving him hours to leave our country????

Blix can probably be found in the UN Delegate's Dining room around noon. Eating Feuillete of Escargo. I wonder who pays for his meals?

From the Actual Lunch Menu

133 posted on 03/09/2003 2:42:06 AM PST by syriacus (To the French, all the world's their bistro + all world leaders have time to sit + shoot the breeze)
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To: PhiKapMom

134 posted on 03/09/2003 3:36:22 AM PST by MeekOneGOP (Bu-bye Saddam! / Check out my Freeper site !: http://home.attbi.com/~freeper/wsb/index.html)
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To: syriacus
God! Incredible but they better enjoy it cuz it is all coming to an end real soon...
who said, "times are a changin'"?
Thanks for the nauseating menu... I will pass it on!
Stay well, and best wishes...
Terri
135 posted on 03/09/2003 3:45:39 AM PST by Terridan
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