Saddam's WMD hidden in Syria, says Iraq survey chief

The Sunday Telegraph (UK) ^ | 1/25/04 | Con Coughlin

[saquin]

David Kay, the former head of the coalition's hunt for Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, yesterday claimed that part of Saddam Hussein's secret weapons programme was hidden in Syria.

In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, Dr Kay, who last week resigned as head of the Iraq Survey Group, said that he had uncovered evidence that unspecified materials had been moved to Syria shortly before last year's war to overthrow Saddam.

"We are not talking about a large stockpile of weapons," he said. "But we know from some of the interrogations of former Iraqi officials that a lot of material went to Syria before the war, including some components of Saddam's WMD programme. Precisely what went to Syria, and what has happened to it, is a major issue that needs to be resolved."

Dr Kay's comments will intensify pressure on President Bashar Assad to clarify the extent of his co-operation with Saddam's regime and details of Syria's WMD programme. Mr Assad has said that Syria was entitled to defend itself by acquiring its own biological and chemical weapons arsenal.

Syria was one of Iraq's main allies in the run-up to the war and hundreds of Iraqi officials - including members of Saddam's family - were given refuge in Damascus after the collapse of the Iraqi dictator's regime. Many of the foreign fighters responsible for conducting terrorist attacks against the coalition are believed to have entered Iraq through Syria.

A Syrian official last night said: "These allegations have been raised many times in the past by Israeli officials, which proves that they are false."

[sweetliberty]

This is news? We'd heard this early on, I think it was even before the war started.

[oceanview]

this issue is hurting Bush, it amazing that they cannot get everyone on the same page, get the CIA to release the intel they have (including spy sat photos), and just tell the truth about what they know. instead its a circular ring of denials, peppered with stories like this.

[MJY1288]

They will in June

[OldFriend]

This is good news. The media has intentionally misrepresented what Mr. Kay said about STOCKPILES of weapons of mass destruction. They changed his statment to read.......Iraq has NO weapons of mass desruction.

[GeronL]

David Kay, the former head of the coalition's hunt for Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, yesterday claimed that part of Saddam Hussein's secret weapons programme was hidden in Syria

Of course the US media reported: WMD's not in Iraq!!

[Dog Gone]

A Syrian official last night said: "These allegations have been raised many times in the past by Israeli officials, which proves that they are false."

Now THAT's convincing.

[PersonalLiberties]

ping

[LandofLincoln]

Didn't we know this a long time ago. Correct me if I am wrong, About three months before the start of the war there was a news story of a 60 truck caravan driving from Iraq to Syria. Unless I dreamt it.

[meenie]

The invisible, divisible man and the Easter Bunny did something with the WMD's. Where are those satellites that can take a picture of a liscense plate as the car rolls down the highway? We have had a satellite over Iraq constantly and aerial reconnaisence since the First Iraq War. The propaganda mill is busy justifying another adventure in Syria.

[FreeReign]

The propaganda mill is busy justifying another adventure in Syria.

meenie on Syria: It takes propaganda to justify the removal of the Syrian government.

[LS]

Lessee, so in your view, the intelligence services of the U.S., Britain, Australia, France, Germany, Russia, China, and the separate opinion of the UN were ALL wrong? Because evry one of them said he had these weapons?

Oh, and the Israelis too?

Oh, and the gassed Kurds, too? Guess they just passed out from too much partying?

And all the chem suits were just in case WE used that stuff, right?

And the Iranians. Don't forget them. They must be lying too.

You are unbelievable. I'm sure you think that there are little green men in Hangar 18.

[woofie]

What does Kay get out of it?....maybe just maybe the Bush administration has done the worst thing possible...told the truth

[finnman69]

Time for a MOAB on Mr. Small Head Assad

[StriperSniper]

I'm sure you think that there are little green men in Hangar 18.

Everybody knows they are grays. ;-)

[ambrose]

Prediction:

Assad pulls a Kaddaffi and hands the WMD over, in exchange for the Golan Heights/overall peace deal with Israel... in October...

[cyncooper]

Gee, I guess Reuters did more than a little creative editing on their report of yesterday that caused such a stir.

Today I wanted to slap all of the Fox anchors for the way they were mischaracterizing that Reuters report.

[cyncooper]

This is good news. The media has intentionally misrepresented what Mr. Kay said about STOCKPILES of weapons of mass destruction. They changed his statment to read.......Iraq has NO weapons of mass desruction.

Yes, they sure did. I wanted to scream during a couple Fox "reports" today.

[goodnesswins]

Timing, my friend, timing.

[woofie]

Im sending this to Drudge ...It should be a major story

[Leatherneck_MT]

They may not be able to release what they know. If they do they will jeapordise future intel from the source that gave them what they do have.

[enough]

bump

[meenie]

The proof is in the pudding. Where are they at? Everybody knows that Iraq had WMD'S in its past. Iraq and Iran both used them in their joint war. There were WMD's destroyed after the first Iraq war. Sadaam's son-in-law told the CIA when interviewed by them that the remainder had been destroyed after Desert Storm. All these quotes by you are past quotes which are exactly right. The only problem you have is that there was a lapse of about ten years time. Why don't you get up to speed on neartime conditions instead of dwelling in the past?

P.S. Your argument would be a lot more persuasive if WMD's had been found!

[OldFriend]

Actually heard one of the Fox babes discussing the fact that the media had misrepresented the story. That they had said NO weapons when Kay had said no STOCKPILES.

[meenie]

It will take a lot more than propaganda to remove the Syrian government. The propaganda is just to convince the public that another war is needed. Why don't we get the problems in Iraq and Afghanistan taken care of before propaganizing the necessity of going into Syria? I never did believe in doing a half-assed job before starting on another.

[oceanview]

true. but the problem is, as this drags on and on, the more likely it will be that when something is found/revealed, the media/Dems will immediately say it was planted or fabricated. And alot of people will believe that. This would actually be the perfect time to reveal it, Kerry is closing the noose on the nomination, take this issue off the table now.

[Michael Barnes]

re #5

I'm with ya, this is good news..I haven't been following recently, but to me, it's a pretty big issue for Kayto say the things have migrated to another country..

[Western Phil]

" Sadaam's son-in-law told the CIA when interviewed by them that the remainder had been destroyed after Desert Storm."

I'm sure that is wrong. UNSCOM was about to quit when Saddam's sons-in-law defected in 1995. After they spilled the beans, UNSCOM found a bunch more stuff until the Iraqis threw them out in 1998.

[tentmaker]

The proof is in the pudding. Where are they at? Everybody knows that Iraq had WMD'S in its past. Iraq and Iran both used them in their joint war. There were WMD's destroyed after the first Iraq war. Sadaam's son-in-law told the CIA when interviewed by them that the remainder had been destroyed after Desert Storm

You left out a few details...

1991/April - Iraq says they say they have no biological weapons program.

1991/August - Iraq says they conducted research activities for defensive purposes.

1992/May - Iraq admits to a biological weapons program, but claims it was only defensive.

1995/July - Iraq admits to an offensive biological weapons program, but denies weaponization.

1995/August - Iraq admits to a far more extensive biological weapons program than previously, including weaponization, but also claims that all such weapons and related items were destroyed in 1991.

SOURCE:
UNSCOM timeline from http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/Chronology/chronologyframe.htm
http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/sres95-864.htm

In 1995, after five years of denials and progressive admissions when confronted with irrefutable evidence, the Iraqis confessed to manufacturing 8,500 liters of concentrated anthrax and then claimed that it had been destroyed in 1991.

They spent four years trying to conceal the fact that a biological weapons program had ever existed, but failed to get rid of all the documenting evidence, which eventually led to their confession. Then they expect us to believe they destroyed it all and there is no documentation at all to prove it has been destroyed. It is possible that some of the anthrax may have destroyed in an attempt to convince the inspectors that it was gone, but inconceivable that all of it was destroyed, when you consider how valuable it was to Hussein and how easy to conceal it would be. How hard would it be to hide a 2-liter soda bottle in a country the size of California and how long would it take to find it?

[Note - according to weapons experts, 8,500 liters of anthrax could kill between tens of millions and hundreds of millions, depending on how it's deployed]
http://www.csis.org/mideast/reports/terror.html
http://www.geocities.com/micro2052000/warfare.htm

All three leaders of the UN inspection teams, Rolf Ukeus - UNSCOM until 1997, Richard Butler - UNSCOM from 1997 through 1999 and Hans Blix - UNMOVIC from 1999 to 2003 reported to the UN at various times that the amount of growth media that Iraq had obtained was under-reported and many attempts were made to obscure the true levels. All three reached the assumption that Iraq either may have or probably did produce as much as three to four times more anthrax than they declared.

S/1998/308 8 April 1998 letter from Richard Butler, then head of UNSCOM to the Security Council
[excerpt]
4.10.4 Iraq claims that the BW programme was obliterated in 1991 as demonstrated by the unilateral destruction of the weapons deployed, bulk agent and some documents associated with the BW programme. Iraq, however, retained the facilities, growth media, equipment and groupings of core technical personnel at Al Hakam, and continued to deny the BW programme's existence. In spite of Iraq's continued denial of the preservation of its BW programme, the Government of Iraq has yet to offer documentation of its formal renunciation. The head of the Iraqi delegation took the position that he could offer no defence to justify the concealment and deception prior to 1995. These positions and acts raise serious doubts about Iraq's assertion that the BW programme was truly obliterated in 1991.

In Jan of 2003 Hans Blix reported: There are strong indications that Iraq produced more anthrax than it declared, and that at least some of this was retained after the declared destruction date. It might still exist. Either it should be found and be destroyed under UNMOVIC supervision or else convincing evidence should be produced to show that it was, indeed, destroyed in 1991.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusnewsiraq.asp?NewsID=354&sID=6

From the unclassified portion of David Kay's report in October, you can find these two small excerpts:

All of this suggests Iraq after 1996 further compartmentalized its program and focused on maintaining smaller, covert capabilities that could be activated quickly to surge the production of BW agents.

... and then...

Discussions with Iraqi scientists uncovered agent R&D work that paired overt work with nonpathogenic organisms serving as surrogates for prohibited investigation with pathogenic agents. Examples include: B. Thurengiensis (Bt) with B. anthracis (anthrax), and medicinal plants with ricin. In a similar vein, two key former BW scientists, confirmed that Iraq under the guise of legitimate activity developed refinements of processes and products relevant to BW agents. The scientists discussed the development of improved, simplified fermentation and spray drying capabilities for the simulant Bt that would have been directly applicable to anthrax, and one scientist confirmed that the production line for Bt could be switched to produce anthrax in one week if the seed stock were available. http://www.cia.gov/cia/public_affairs/speeches/2003/david_kay_10022003.html

In plain English, this means the Iraqis were continuing to do research on refining anthrax, but had disguised it by using a surrogate that was not restricted.

We still don't know where everything went or is. We do now know that they continued to work on their anthrax development program right up until the war.

[Havoc]

Let it get a little closer to election time and release the stuff so it's fresh in the public's mind just how duplicitous the dems are. Let Bush underscore the point that had they not been held back from acting, the time might not have been allowed for Iraq to move those weapons.
Given more time, we might not have caught the Russians on the ground in Iraq (remember that?), the arms provided by the french and germans, etc.. Is it just me or does it appear looking back that the Dems ran blocker for their friends overseas in attempt to discredit the administration.
It would almost be absurd if we didn't know they've already been involved doing this once before with Reagan. Just a thought? Shall we look back at the history and talk probability?

[FreeReign]

The propaganda is just to convince the public that another war is needed.

Propaganda isn't needed to show that Assad needs to be removed.

Syria supports Hizbollah in Lebanon. They give safe haven and protection to Hizbollah in Syria.Hizbollah is responsible for killing our marines back in 1983. Shall I go on?

Syria also provides safehaven and material support for HAMAS, the Abu Musa Organization, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Command and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine... Shall I go on?

Syria is a state sponsor of terrorism -- no propaganda needed.

[thinktwice]

Mr Assad has said that Syria was entitled to defend itself by acquiring its own biological and chemical weapons arsenal.

Having no legitimate right to exist, dictatorships are entitled to nothing other than annihilation.

[FreeReign]

Everybody knows that Iraq had WMD'S in its past.

Then it was up to Saddam to prove that the dangers these weapons posed no-longer existed. In fact he was told to do this with a UN resolution.

Saddam didn't do this -- Saddam got what he deserved.

[RaceBannon]

major bump

[FreeReign]

Having no legitimate right to exist, dictatorships are entitled to nothing other than annihilation.

But...but the sovereignty of a dictator is sacred, man! < /barf >

[4integrity]

...media has intentionally misrepresented what David Kay said......

No surprise here. But, why doesn't Dr.Kay come forward and give his statement directly to the public via TV. And, why has the CIA appointed this new guy (Dulpher ?sp)when he's previously stated that he didn't think Iraq had WMD. But, since he's now an investigator, he says, he'll be open minded. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! Was there not a truly objective person who could assume this role? Does Tenet have his own agenda in appointing this person?

[doug from upland]

My choice is July 25 -- the day before the RAT convention.

[Dubya]

bump

[CyberAnt]

Yes it is .. and haven't we heard for some time that Israel has satelitte photos of huge trucks taking stuff into Syria right before the war ..?? I'd sure like to know what was on those trucks.

[Samwise]

Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction to hide in Syria. I know this because the media tells me he didn't. Bush is a bully who went into office aiming to pick a fight with a defenseless dictator. I know this because Teddy Mt. Rushmore Kennedy rolled his bloodshot eyes during the Sate of the Union address.

[MJY1288]

Works for me :-)

[Mo1]

This is good news. The media has intentionally misrepresented what Mr. Kay said about STOCKPILES of weapons of mass destruction. They changed his statment to read.......Iraq has NO weapons of mass desruction.

BINGO ...

and Gee why would that be???

The Dem primaries ????

[JohnnyZ]

A Syrian official last night said: "These allegations have been raised many times in the past by Israeli officials, which proves that they are false."

ROFLMAO!

[cyncooper]

But, why doesn't Dr.Kay come forward and give his statement directly to the public via TV.

When Kay issued the first portion of his stunning report last fall it was totally downplayed and misrepresented.

Kay did just what you suggest, to little avail. It got some coverage, but the dem spin was devised and obligingly passed along by sympathetic media and we now arrive at a stage that when the president references exactly what is in the Kay report (in his SOTU Address he referred to it), the media hints he's exaggerating.

We are up against those who will outright deny facts and misinform the public in order to bring this administration down.

[oceanview]

likely true, but politically, its working for them. and we are not countering it, just floating vague soundbites from Powell. as other have said, why isn't Kay holding a press conference?

[Dave S]

this issue is hurting Bush, it amazing that they cannot get everyone on the same page, get the CIA to release the intel they have (including spy sat photos), and just tell the truth about what they know. instead its a circular ring of denials, peppered with stories like this.

You're also making a big assumption ... that there were in fact WMD in Iraq prior to the start of the latest war. Saddam may have thought there were but seems that most of the evidence shows that they probably didnt exist. That doesnt mean that Bush was deceiving anyone. Even the UN folks thought Saddam was hiding something.

[Mo1]

I'm sure that is wrong. UNSCOM was about to quit when Saddam's sons-in-law defected in 1995. After they spilled the beans, UNSCOM found a bunch more stuff until the Iraqis threw them out in 1998.

You forgot the part where Saddam had his son inlaw killed for spilling the beans

Kind of amazing how the Media/press seems to forget this story

[Mo1]

When the time is right .. there will be one

[Mr. Mojo]

this issue is hurting Bush

Indeed it is. .....And so is the "where's bin Laden" issue. ....And so was the "where's Saddam" issue (before we dragged him out of his rathole).

I predict that both the bin Laden and WMD issues will soon cease to be issues (before mid-summer). .....and the Dems will be stuck issueless.