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.

[sneakers]

I say they should just nix Blix!

[Lady In Blue]

Great thread.Thanks. I've got a suggestion, to show support for President Bush and our troops,how about wearing either a small flag or red,white and blue ribbons with a small picture of President bush on it? I just thought about that today and I took out some red,white and blue ribbons and made a bow,then attached a small picture of the President on it.Maybe you all have thought to do the same too.Just a thought.

[Dolphy]

I hope everyone truly grasps the size of Blix's deception. I live in Western Michigan in a relatively conservative area. The local newspaper (second largest city in the state) filled its front page yesterday with Blix's report of Iraq's cooperation. He has somehow become the independent, objective voice, that trumps the political and personal agendas of the President and Saddam. Nobody wants war, it is human nature to look at who supports us, who confirms us, who validates us. Blix and the UN have deliberately sought to deceive and what's more, to sway public opinion and compromise our national security. They have done it repeatedly. Blix's sidekick did the same thing yesterday, dismissing all of our concerns and intelligence.

[PhiKapMom]

Our paper did the same thing which reminds me I need to send them this article which tells Blix LIED!!!!

[Howlin]

Ijust heard a rerun of Powell's speech; he definitely said 167 pages at the U.N. on Friday.

[marajade]

"Our people should have uncovered this for themselves."

They have and presented it to the UN and then Blix comes out and says we're lying...

Well I guess in this case, we weren't...

[gov_bean_ counter]

I posted this before. It may be over the top, but I'm trying to make some sense of all this mess...

Things we know (or at least we think we know)...and things we can extrapolate.

Previous weapons inspectors were bribed (or blackmailed). We saw one potential target making a complete joke of himself on Fox nightly. When he was kicked off Fox, he went overseas.

It is not outside the realm of possibility that has happened again. (Oh by the way, Saddam has drones that can deliver WMD, but we don't think it is any big deal)

Regarding the Dems...Hussein has threatened NATO members and France with exposure as a contributor to their weapons program if they don't hold the line against US and others intervention.

Given what we know Clinton and Co were willing to give away to China, North Korea and Russia, it is quite possible to believe he sold us out to Baghdad as well. Perhaps they have been holding onto a communications intercept involving Bill. Who knows? What ever it is, there is more involved than politics. In short the Dems (collectively or individually) may also have been quietly hit with one of those extortion threats. Why else would they risk so much trying so hard to stop this action? Fred Barnes said this could destroy the Democrat Party. What could be worth that risk?

Much does not add up. Many bring suspicion upon themselves by their behavior. I fear at the end of the day we will discover that the US has been betrayed by some at home who at one time swore an oath to defend this nation.

[Mo1]

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.

My head is spinning with all this news but wasn't there an article that said Saddam has 300 of these drones?

[PhiKapMom]

That's exactly what I was sure he said and so did Straw. Then Blix doesn't even have the nerve to turn over the six extra pages but incorporates them inside the report so they have to search for them.

They need to get Blix on TV at the Security Council and asked him, Annan, and whoever else why we were not told. Blix and his sidekick buddy said the US intelligence was pretty useless but it looks like it was not.

Doesn't it make you wonder what else they are not telling to protect Saddam and help the French?

[Interesting Times]

The omission raised serious questions about Dr Blix’s objectivity.

To the contrary, it has fully answered such questions.

[deport]

"Our people should have uncovered this for themselves."

---

Don't look Ethyl... too late... she already got a shot. [the streak]

[wendellscout]

Thank you! I am by no means a presidential hopeful, but I did vote for him, and felt that he would do some good for this country. It's like you say, the "strong sense of what's right and what's wrong."

And, after following the headlines, and what Iraq and Blix are doing, it just seems like common sense. As it has been said before, no one likes war, but there is a time and a place for everything!

[Ben Hecks]

Welcome to FR! This forum is an incredible resource. If you click on your screen name, you will get a profile page where you can select your state flag and, if you so desire, post your personal profile. Each state has a page where messages regarding local issues are posted. Ask if you have questions....these are the greatest people in the world.

[marajade]

Be nice...

[Miss Marple]

I don't think your idea is so far-fetched. Notice how Clinton has conveniently reversed his position on Iraq from 1998, along with most of the democrats. They know that this is easily provable by looking up their former statements. Why come out so loudly and in print with this reversal?

If they simply disliked Bush but supported the policy, they could keep fairly quiet. If they didn't like the current policy and had changed their minds, they would be explaining WHY they changed their minds. Instead, they are acting as nuts as Scott Ritter, whicih leads me to believe they are as compromised as he is.

[PhiKapMom]

Very good point! Now we know the truth about Blix when what we had before was speculation by Freepers.

[Howlin]

Did you all see Chris Matthews tonight? He and Pat Caddell were almost foaming at the mouth, saying that we fabricated the nuclear information and that this is equivalent to the Gulf of Tonkin thing!

Amazing.

Mo, I don't remember.........I swear!

[marajade]

"Notice how Clinton has conveniently reversed his position on Iraq from 1998, along with most of the democrats."

Which makes you wonder why Hillary is still with Bush doesn't it?

[Ethyl]

You streching it some ......

Show us where President Bush knew of the drone that was just found by the inspectors but buried within the report and also not in the Powell draft....... Come on now and fess up..... show us... Can you? Will You.... bet the answer is no

Did you not read Post 8 above???????????????? Why are you posting in here if you don't know what you are talking about?