BLIX Dossier Includes Undeclared Drones (AP has the full report)

Associated Press | 8 March 2003 | Edith Lederer

[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

[Howlin]

I think this is a different drone than the one Powell showed on the 5th.

That one sure didn't have a 25 foot wingspan.

[Dog]

Yes we discussed that 167 page report......but we didn't know at the time .....Blix would pull at Rosemary Wood....:-)

[Howlin]

Yes, I remember now, but where did we first hear about that secret report, do you remember?

[Howlin]

LOL....stop.......don't make me laugh now....are you trying to ruin my frenzy!

[Mo1]

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

He was scared???

How about the 300,000 brave men and women from our military that are over there

I am just so $*$&&^#*#$ glad that Blix was thinking of someone BESIDES HIMSELF!

[marajade]

Bush has got the courage of a mountain... I had respect for him before but after reading this article it is now tenfold...

[PhiKapMom]

Blix gave this "Secret" report at the time almost a week early and it was 167 pages. Now he says it was only a draft. We even commented he gave the draft report early before he was even briefing. Thought it odd.

[Dog]

What the London Times is reporting .....Blix withheld the 4 to 6 pages that mentioned the drones.....until after the meeting was over..

In other words he covered up the fact......and is now saying he gave out a draft copy to the members of the UNSC.

[PhiKapMom]

It sure didn't look to have that large of wingspan from the pictures I remember seeing! Guess I could go back and check his transcript from 5 Feb.

[Miss Marple]

You are right. We were talking about the 167 page report the night before the SC meeting, because we were speculating that Bush had seen it and that was why he was pre-empting Blix's presentation. The discussion at the time was that the report was pretty damaging...but we did not know that the drones had been discovered and would be "accidentally" ommitted.

I can't remember the source for the story, though.

[TexKat]

I cannot believe they did this! Didn't they think someone was going to find out.

Haven't you notice lately PhiKapMom, they have no respect for the US. These guys have to be taught to give us a little respect.

R E S P E CT find out what it means to me.

R E S P E C T sock it to um, sock it to um

take care of business.

[PhiKapMom]

I share your same thoughts! This is just mind boggling to me that Blix left this out and thought he could get away with it -- he was putting our troops in danger by now telling us immediately if you ask me.

As far as I am concerned he should be tried for aiding and abetting the enemy or whatever he could be charged with!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Blix is untrustworthy!

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[marajade]

How did they miss six extra pages? Was it two documents or something?

[PhiKapMom]

I didn't trust him before this this goes farther than I thought he would. Our intelligence said these drones existed and when found the United States should have been notified immediately as we have so many troops on the Iraqi border in Kuwait.

Not Blix -- he didn't even consider it a priority for his briefing!

[Howlin]

I'll let PKM explain it to you (and me, again!) It's very confusing!

[PhiKapMom]

According to the report on MSNBC the six pages were left out of the original draft document as Blix was prioritizing what should be put in the document.

I would have to ask what else may be missing?

[Dog]

I am going to drop out here...ping me to anything you a ll see or hear.

[marajade]

"According to the report on MSNBC the six pages were left out of the original draft document as Blix was prioritizing what should be put in the document."

Is it his job to prioritize?

[Kitten1]

I knew something was strange during Mr. Powell's presentation. He did mention that he was speaking from Trixie's 167-page report of unresolved issues on Iraq.

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.

It's a good thing I taped the speeches from Secretaries Powell and Straw. After this news, I'm off to watch them again.

Forgive my attention to detail but being married to a man in federal law enforcement seems to have rubbed off.