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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: Miss Marple
OK...I don't have the TV tonight. Were the pages missing and then added back? Or are there still 6 pages missing?

Do you remember yesterday at the SC and at the end they started passing out papers to everyone at the SC

Any bets they were the 6 missing pages?

41 posted on 03/08/2003 6:27:05 PM PST by Mo1 (RALLY FOR AMERICA - VALLEY FORGE,PA MARCH 16, 2003 1:00 PM)
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To: Mo1
It was the French..
42 posted on 03/08/2003 6:27:11 PM PST by Dog (Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway. ~John Wayne)
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To: knak
This is unbelieveable! He went out of his way to say Saddam was really starting to comply. Not one word about the drones and all because he said he was prioritizing items and didn't include them in the draft report.

IMO, they were a lot more important than the "toothpick missiles" they are destroying.
43 posted on 03/08/2003 6:27:17 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US)
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To: knak
Sorry, I did not get the guys name, but earlier this week or maybe it was last week, an ex Iraqi stated on one of the cable news shows that Blix was in Saddam's pocket.
44 posted on 03/08/2003 6:27:52 PM PST by TexKat
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To: PhiKapMom
I have no doubt in my mind that Blix is being paid off by someone (probably france) to make things look a certain way. Either that or he wants to keep working and make more money off this.. if war starts he'd likely be out of a job... unless they want to let him go play in N. Korea
45 posted on 03/08/2003 6:28:01 PM PST by honeygrl
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To: All
Any Freepers have sources inside the AP? This needs to be published in full for folks to see online.
46 posted on 03/08/2003 6:28:29 PM PST by rwfromkansas (Soli Deo Gloria!)
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To: Miss Marple
The six pages were put in the report after it had already been given to Powell and Straw. That meant that not only did Blix not "mention" the drones in his report but they "purposely" (my words) made sure that there were not in the draft report for Powell and Straw to see.

Wanna bet some inspector that is in Iraq spilled the beans or those extra pages never would have been added?
47 posted on 03/08/2003 6:29:23 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US)
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To: TexKat
I heard that same report! I think it was an Iraqi scientist now in exile!
48 posted on 03/08/2003 6:30:39 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US)
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To: Dog
Good Grief .. why do I get the feeling the French are up to their sticking eyeballs with Saddam

They are going waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of their way to block going in
49 posted on 03/08/2003 6:30:50 PM PST by Mo1 (RALLY FOR AMERICA - VALLEY FORGE,PA MARCH 16, 2003 1:00 PM)
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To: Howlin
You're right. I specifically remember Jack Straw saying that he had painstakingly read all 167 pages. Now, there are 6 more, including the report about the recently discovered drone.

It wasn't important enough to mention, much less get into the main report, in Blix's mind. What a joke.

The truth is that it conflicted with his real theme that Iraq was now engaged in real disarmament.

50 posted on 03/08/2003 6:31:36 PM PST by Dog Gone
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To: knak
Do anyone of you remember Powell referring to the Iraqi drones in his Feb 5th statement. Fox mentioned this also a few minutes ago.
51 posted on 03/08/2003 6:31:45 PM PST by TexKat
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To: TexKat
If I recall it was mentioned they thought Saddam had a drone

But it wasn't mention that Blix found them

52 posted on 03/08/2003 6:33:51 PM PST by Mo1 (RALLY FOR AMERICA - VALLEY FORGE,PA MARCH 16, 2003 1:00 PM)
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To: Mo1
The guy from MSNBC was less than impressed with what Blix had to say.

Think Powell should go to the United Nations on Tuesday, demand Blix resignation, and tell the Security Council that the Coalition of the Willing will not be needing their approval or support from now on to fight the War on Terrorism and get up and walk out.

I can always dream!

MSNBC reporting on drones! This drone was what Powell said our Intelligence people had found out about and Blix dissed it. It was the Smoking Gun he forgot to tell everyone about! James Bone said Blix got scared as this was the Smoking Gun. US officials are clearly upset -- English officials are highly upset. This is undeclared drone -- the SMOKING GUN. London is going to call Blix on this next week!
53 posted on 03/08/2003 6:35:22 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US)
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To: Dog Gone
To: Dog

To sum it up:

Blix and his sidekick for nukes whitewashed Saddam and talked about cooperation. They both said they should "probably" interview inspectors outside Iraq. Bottom Line: Worthless reports.

Then when Powell and Straw talked, they went into detail what was in the 167 page report Blix turned over which said quite clearly that Saddam was not disarming.

The French weasel lied in the SC and Straw called him on it by name which was fantastic.

Powell has already spoken and said that Blix did not answer the one question that President Bush wanted answered -- Is Saddam disarming.

Russia and Germany stand with France as does Syria and Mexico (?), not sure about Chili!

1364 posted on 03/07/2003 1:27 PM EST by PhiKapMom (Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US)



Look at the time on that! And that was a summation, if I recall correctly!

54 posted on 03/08/2003 6:36:16 PM PST by Howlin (Only UNamericans put the UN before America!)
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To: PhiKapMom
What about the drone anthrax camels?
55 posted on 03/08/2003 6:36:40 PM PST by orfisher
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To: Dog Gone
London paper is reporting the UK is calling the report on the drones "The Smoking Gun" and said Blix was scared to report it to the Council.
56 posted on 03/08/2003 6:36:42 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US)
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To: PhiKapMom
NBC also saying this is why the UN Security Council is being called back to UN unexpectedly on Monday - it's not a vote, as UK noted, but so Blix & the weasels can be read the riot act for trying to hide a smoking gun.
57 posted on 03/08/2003 6:37:04 PM PST by Steven W.
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To: TexKat
Our intelligence said that Iraq had this drone and Powell told the Security Council about it from our Intelligence reports.

Blix NEVER reported they found the drones but instead dissed our intelligence reports if you remember!
58 posted on 03/08/2003 6:37:53 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US)
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To: Mo1
Brit reporter from the London Times was just on....he said Blix waited until the meeting was over with before dropping this bombshell.

Reporter said.....Blix was scared that if he reported this...the meeting would have changed...

Also the Brits and US plan on calling him on it....according to the same reporter..

59 posted on 03/08/2003 6:38:10 PM PST by Dog (Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway. ~John Wayne)
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To: PhiKapMom
They should have known better than name an Inspector from Sweeden. They didn't even take sides against Hitler from all accounts.

Sweeden sold steel to the Nazis throughout the war.

60 posted on 03/08/2003 6:38:33 PM PST by Mike Darancette
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