Posted on 09/24/2003 5:27:19 PM PDT by blam
CIA plays down hopes of finding Saddam's WMD
By George Jones, Political Editor, and Alec Russell in Washington
(Filed: 25/09/2003)
In its first public comments on the search for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, the CIA conceded last night that a long-awaited report on the hunt would reach "no firm conclusions".
The comments appeared to underline diminishing hopes in Washington and Whitehall that WMD would be found.
After several months in Iraq following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, David Kay, a former United Nations weapons inspector and the civilian head of the 1,400-strong Iraq Survey Group, is expected to submit his interim report next week.
With President George W Bush and his officials sounding less confident about the search for WMD in recent weeks, and talking more of weapons programmes than working systems, the CIA statement appeared to be an attempt to reduce expectations before the report's publication.
"Dr Kay is still receiving information from the field. It will be just the first progress report and we expect that it will reach no firm conclusions, nor will it rule anything in or out," a CIA spokesman, Bill Harlow, said.
In London the BBC quoted an anonymous source in the US administration saying the inspectors' report would conclude that the group had found no evidence of WMD.
Andrew Neil, the presenter of BBC television's Daily Politics, said the report would say the group's inspectors had not unearthed even minute amounts of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons material. But the report would publish computer programmes, files, pictures and paperwork showing that Saddam's regime was attempting to develop a WMD programme. It would also claim that Saddam mounted a huge programme to deceive the UN weapons inspectors and hinder their work in the run up to the conflict.
That accords with what Dr Kay told the US Congress in July, when he also promised "surprises" for those who doubted the existence of Saddam's weapons programmes.
A No 10 spokesman said: "People should wait. The reports today are speculation about an unfinished draft of an interim report that has not even been presented yet. And when it comes it will be an interim report, the ISG's work will go on.
"The UK has played a significant role in the work of the ISG, including providing its deputy director, and our clear expectation is that this interim report will not reach firm conclusions about Iraq's possession of WMD."
But the emergence of the claim, a year to the day after the publication of the Government's dossier outlining the case for war, underlines the Prime Minister's continuing inability to shake off the issue.
Neil admitted that he had not seen the draft report, and was reporting what a "single source" had said its findings were likely to be.
The report was still to be finalised and could undergo some changes. But the "source" had been told the content of some key passages.
Failure to find a chemical or biological weapons in Iraq would be an embarrassing setback for Tony Blair, who argued that the war was necessary to disarm Saddam of an armoury of chemical and biological weapons, some of which could be deployed at 45 minutes notice.
It would also be inconvenient for Mr Bush, but the American public appears more accepting of the idea that the overthrow of Saddam was beneficial in itself, irrespective of the WMD debate.
Immediately after Saddam was toppled Mr Blair said he was confident that the weapons would be found. Since then the Government's line has softened, and Mr Blair has said he believes that "evidence" will be produced that Saddam was developing WMD programmes and tried to conceal them.
In July, Mr Blair urged his critics to wait until the survey group had produced its report. "There has always been something bizarre about the notion that Saddam never had any weapons of mass destruction," he said.
According to the BBC, the report will allege that Saddam's programme of deception involved fake facilities and infrastructure to deceive and hinder the UN weapons inspectors.
The group may well conclude that Iraq had an elaborate and secret effort to maintain elements of its weapons programmes in suspended animation ready to be revived once the opportunity came.
But the Tories used the reports to launch a fresh assault on Mr Blair.
Michael Ancram, the Tory foreign affairs spokesman, said that if the BBC report was accurate, it would be a damaging blow to the Prime Minister's credibility.
Guess he hasn't seen Dr. Rice on O'Reilly tonight.
Prairie
In September 2002, the US Government reported that Iraq was seeking to purchase chemical weapons agent precursors and applicable production equipment, and is making an effort to hide activities at the Fallujah plant, which was one of Iraq’s chemical weapons production facilities before the Gulf War. At Fallujah and three other plants, Iraq now has chlorine production capacity far higher than any civilian need for water treatment, and the evidence indicates that some of its chlorine imports are being diverted for military purposes.
Which reminds me. Any ideas why Saddam buried his MIG-29's in the sand? After that, they're as useless as if we had blown them up.
-------------------------
The WMD talk was hype to manipulate the public.
Ok, so the public,ie, the UN, Bush I, Clinton, and everybody else up to April 2003 was just 'manipulated' by hype?? Is there a shortage of tin foil where you live?
Which reminds me. Any ideas why Saddam buried his MIG-29's in the sand? After that, they're as useless as if we had blown them up.
They didn't have any space left on those three (3) MYSTERY SHIPS...?
/sarcasm
Saddam Abused His Last Chance, Clinton -clear and present danger to safety of people everywhere 1998
Clinton: "Saddam Hussein must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or the world with nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons," Clinton said. The Iraqi dictator has used these weapons against his neighbors and his own people, he said, and "left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will use these terrible weapons again."
What the democrats want you to forget
Clinton: Clinton detailed Hussein's lies and evasions since the end of the Gulf War. Under the agreement ending the war, Hussein had 15 days to report about his nuclear, chemical and biological arsenal. "Iraq has repeatedly made false declarations about the weapons that it had left in its possession after the Gulf War," Clinton said.
U.N. inspectors have found proof time and again that Iraq lied about its nuclear program, Clinton said. The Iraqis simply amended their declaration to incorporate the discoveries.
"[Iraq] has submitted six different biological warfare declarations, each of which has been rejected by [the U.N. Special Commission]," he said.
Iraq is a Regional Threat, capable of as much as 200 tons of VX nerve agent (1999 Clinton report)
Clinton, Gore rally domestic support for strike at Iraq, "unholy axis" (1998 Must read)
Clinton admitted that the potential military strikes, which have met with widespread international opposition, would not destroy Iraq's capacity to create weapons of mass destruction, they would, "seriously reduce his [Saddam Hussein's] capacity to threaten his neighbors." Clinton said the strikes would leave Saddam Hussein "worse off" than he is now.
US Vice-President Al Gore said the US is "working around the clock to pursue a possible diplomatic solution to the crisis," but warned "When it comes to protecting our vital national interests, Americans will stand as one."
------------------------
Nope. Just a shortage of evidence for Nuclear weapon development in Iraq.
You really ought to keep up with current events.
The lack of cooperation from the Saddam regime would be puzzling if that were the case. Perhaps you can explain why Iraq wished to keep economic sanctions in place against them when they were entirely innocent.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.