Iraq Gave Up WMD After '91, Says Scientist

AFP via Australian Financial Review ^ | August 12, 2004 | AFP

[COEXERJ145]

Saddam Hussein gave up all of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction in the wake of the 1991 Gulf War, the scientist who headed his nuclear program, Jaffar Dhia Jaffar, said in a BBC interview on Wednesday.

"There was no capability. There was no chemical or biological or any what are called weapons of mass destruction," said Jaffar in what BBC television called his first-ever broadcast interview.

Speaking in Paris, where he now lives, Jaffar - who ran Saddam's nuclear program for 25 years - said there was "no development" of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons "at any time after 1991".

He said he knew that for a fact "because I am in touch with the people concerned".

Saddam's quest for weapons of mass destruction - and the fear that they might fall into the hands of global terrorists - was one of the prime reasons given for the US and British invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

Nearly 18 months on, no such weapons have been uncovered - a fact that both US President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have been forced to concede.

Jaffar told the BBC he remained loyal to Saddam's regime until he slipped out of Iraq via Syria two days before the fall of Baghdad which signalled the collapse of the longtime Iraqi dictator.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[piasa]

NOVEMBER 1, 1995 : (REPORT : IRAQI NUCLEAR SCIENTIST JAFFAR DHIA JAFFAR AND ASSOCIATES ARRIVE IN LIBYA TO INSTALL A NUCLEAR ENRICHMENT KILN) According to the Jerusalem Post, Iraqi nuclear scientist Ja'afar Dhia Ja'afar arrived in Libya to lead a group of experts and engineers from Iraqi military industries in installing a small nuclear enrichment kiln in the area of Sidi Abu Zarik, approximately 380 kilometers south of Tripoli. The Iraq-Libya cooperation allegedly began with a secret visit by Ra'ad Id Aldafi, from Libyan military industries, to Baghdad on August 30, 1995. The Jerusalem Post goes on to say that contracts for Iraqi scientists to work in Libya were passed off as contracts for these scientists to lecture in Libyan universities and institutions. Unnamed experts suggest that Iraqi nuclear fuel could reach Libya by sea within weeks, and that Iraqi experts in Libya could begin enriching it after installing more small or medium-sized kilns. —Tom O'Dwyer, "Libya Helps Iraq Dodge Weapons Supervision," The Jerusalem Post, 1 November 1995.

[piasa]

Another tidbit on this particular Iraqi scientist Ja'afar / Jaffar...see post above

[Calpernia]

ping

[nw_arizona_granny]

Was it a centrifuge that the Iraq scientist had buried under
his rose bushes, at his home?

I remember reading that it had been dug up, last year.

[Calpernia]

There was some piece of equipment buried under a rose bush. I forget what specific type it was. I do know there was talk of centrifuges too.

Centrifuges are discussed in this article I posted last year: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/860674/posts

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the information!

[MEGoody]

Yeah, sure. This is why this scientist is still alive. . .because he is willing to tell these lies.

[piasa]

It wasn't this scientist- it was a guy named Obeidi. But yes, there were centrifuge parts and docs found under his rose garden. And contrary to the way the press plays it, those items were in violation of all the UN resolutions, regardless of their age.

[piasa]

fyi