Iraqi drone 'could drop chemicals on troops' (See Para #2 of story -- MUST READ)

London Times ^ | 8 March 2003 | James Bone

[PhiKapMom]

March 08, 2003

Iraqi drone 'could drop chemicals on troops'
From James Bone in New York

A REPORT declassified by the United Nations yesterday contained a hidden bombshell with the revelation that inspectors have recently discovered an undeclared Iraqi drone with a wingspan of 7.45m, suggesting an illegal range that could threaten Iraq’s neighbours with chemical and biological weapons.

US officials were outraged that Hans Blix, the chief UN weapons inspector, did not inform the Security Council about the drone, or remotely piloted vehicle, in his oral presentation to Foreign Ministers and tried to bury it in a 173-page single-spaced report distributed later in the day. The omission raised serious questions about Dr Blix’s objectivity.

“Recent inspections have also revealed the existence of a drone with a wingspan of 7.45m that has not been declared by Iraq,” the report said. “Officials at the inspection site stated that the drone had been test-flown. Further investigation is required to establish the actual specifications and capabilities of these RPV drones . . . (they) are restricted by the same UN rules as missiles, which limit their range to 150km (92.6 miles).

Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, told the Security Council in February that Washington had evidence that Iraq had test-flown a drone in a race-track pattern for 500km non-stop.

In another section of the declassified report, the inspectors give warning that Iraq still has spraying devices and drop tanks that could be used in dispersing chemical and biological agents from aircraft. “A large number of drop tanks of various types, both imported and locally manufactured, are available and could be modified,” it says.

The paper, obtained by The Times, details the possible chemical and biological arsenal that British and US Forces could face in an invasion of Iraq. The paper suggests that Iraq has huge stockpiles of anthrax, may be developing long-range missiles and could possess chemical and biological R400 aerial bombs and Scud missiles, and even smallpox.

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, told his fellow Security Council Foreign Ministers that the document was a“chilling read”.

General Powell resorted to reading passages from the paper out loud in the Council chamber. He pointed out that it chronicled nearly 30 times when Iraq had failed to provide credible evidence to substantiate its claims, and 17 instances when inspectors uncovered evidence that contradicted those claims. But his draft copy, dating from a meeting of the inspectors’ advisory board last week, did not contain the crucial passage about the new drone.

The decision by Dr Blix to declassify the internal report marks the first time the UN has made public its suspicions about Iraq’s banned weapons programmes, rather than what it has been able to actually confirm. “Unmovic has credible information that the total quantity of biological warfare agent in bombs, warheads and in bulk at the time of the Gulf War was 7,000 litres more than declared by Iraq. This additional agent was most likely all anthrax,” it says.

The report says there is “credible information” indicating that 21,000 litres of biological warfare agent, including some 10,000 litres of anthrax, was stored in bulk at locations around the country during the war and was never destroyed.

The paper, a collection of 29 “clusters” of questions for Iraq, offers some reassurance about Iraq’s missing botulinum toxin, which Unmovic believed is “unlikely to retain much, if any, of its potency” if it has been stockpiled since 1991.

[PhiKapMom]

I am with you 100%! I heard someone today on one of the shows say that France is no longer one of our allies and I agree -- they are not!

[woodyinscc]

WoW! You are busy tonight.

This is absolutely disgraceful, and as for firing
any one who knew and went along with this,
how about the the whole U.N. sans the U.S. and
Briton!! I hope Powell hammers on this tomorrow
morning.

[PhiKapMom]

Welcome aboard. I can vouch that this site grows on you and you find yourself coming here first to find out the latest news from around the world!

[Howlin]

I think this is a different drone than from those small ones; this one has a 25 foot wingspan and can travel to other countries.

[PhiKapMom]

I wish they were interviewing Jack Straw as well.

I came on tonight to check my email and see what the latest was. I haven't left my computer since -- first RNC and then I hear the reports about the drones!

[marajade]

Like Israel who Saddam really hates...

[gov_bean_ counter]

Bottom line: Blix did not hand six pages over of new information -- instead he buried that information that led to having 173 pages.

Who else do we know that can make documents disappear and reappear when they think no one is watching?

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Blix is the ultimate beauracrat. He's been waiting to see which way the wind is blowing on the Security Council so he could appease the eventual winning side and keep his damn job.

What a loser. Even his ex-boss from his home country says he's a nice guy but sucks up and is too soft.

He related the story about Blix and the defector that contacted him.

Blix burned the defector and when he was asked about the defector Blix stated, "I could think of a more elegant way to contact the inspection team".

That about says it all for Blix.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Blix is a stooge for the EU, principally Chiraq and Shroeder. They should all be tried for crimes against humanity. And that would be lenient, IYGMM.

[oldtimer]

Get the US out of the UN, and the UN out of the US.

Of course, that one is about 40 years old, but how about the "communist and cannibal" club.

GWB, is going to put these losers that we support with $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ in the dumpster before this is all over - if we can get some more support with Conservatives in the Senate in the future.

[wendellscout]

Thanks, appreciate it. I actually have been checking it since Wednesday or so when I heard Howie saying that his poll should be "FReeped". I logged on, saw the information available, and now I'm hooked! I've always thought we should go into Iraq, but didn't have a lot of background or education to support my opinion. Well, I've found a wealth of knowledge, and now I can support my views!

[gov_bean_ counter]

Blix is the ultimate beauracrat

This is way beyond a "beauracratic snaffu". This is criminal negligence.

Why?

[PhiKapMom]

I think you are right -- these are larger than what I remember Powell was briefing. That makes it even worse for them not to tell us about them! They must have thought the US and UK were pretty stupid to give them a 173 page final report and not expect us to find out about the drones when they were looking for what was added to go from 167 to 173. Then they bury the drone info inside the report!

Disgraceful!

[Ethyl]

I would sincerely hope the the US is not relying on the UN or the inspectors for information of this kind. Our people should have uncovered this for themselves.

Maybe they did and just couldn't bring it up because it wasn't in the published reports, but if they didn't, its a wake up call to get on their toes.


Please read Post #8, above, WE did find this out and it was reported on by FOX NEWS, the President even mentioned it in a speach. The fact that it didn't get out in the "main steam media" is the fault of the "main-stream media" and their duplicitous reporting, boardering on treasonous lies. Keeping secrets is their choice, maybe you should make FOX NEWS your choice.

[PhiKapMom]

You are right! This is like watching the clintons in action!

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for the report on Blix. The London Times reporter said that Blix was too scared to brief this information.

Then Blix should not have been leading the inspection team IMO if he was a wimp!

[kayak]

Blix lied to the Security Council on Friday. This information was not furnished to Powell or Straw until later which is now being reported on NBC, MSNBC, and Fox.

Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists. I guess there's no longer the tiniest shred of doubt about where blix has placed his loyalties.

[marajade]

"I've always thought we should go into Iraq, but didn't have a lot of background or education to support my opinion."

You know sometimes all it takes is just a strong sense of what's right and what's wrong... sounds like to me, you, like Bush are alike in that sense...

[Steven W.]

I know it's moot but there must be an outcry for Blix to resign.

[Mo1]

They will not try to use the drones to poison our troops in Iraq, they'll use them on us here in the US. Remember those reports of someone possibly shipping drones into the US some time back?

Yes I remember those reports ..