Posted on 04/24/2006 9:45:15 AM PDT by jveritas
This document CMPC-2004-004404 contains memos dated from 1999 and 2000 about Saddam regime procurements of 81 mm in Diameter, 900 mm in Lenght HIGH STRENGTH AND HIGH QUALITY ALUMINUM TUBES. As many of you know the issue of 81 mm High Strength, High Quality Aluminum Tubes were subject for an intensive debate since 2002 because this type of tubes can be used in GAS CENTRIFUGES FOR URANIUM ENRICHMENT. Although the Iraq Survey Group (ISG) said in its final report in 2004 the following about the procurement of these tubes “ Baghdad’s interest in high-strength, high-specification aluminum tubes—dual-use items controlled under Annex 3 of the Ongoing Monitoring and Verification Plan as possible centrifuge rotors—is best explained by its efforts to produce 81-mm rockets”. However the ISG could not prove definitively that these very special tubes were not used as part of Saddam Regime attempt to build its Nuclear Programs and Projects (see link to ISG report http://www.cia.gov/cia/reports/iraq_wmd_2004/chap4.html#sect6). In fact the ISG in its report says also the following “ The limited information found by ISG that ties Iraqi nuclear entities to the tubes also appears related to the 81-mm rocket program and the ISG report also says ” Purported high-level interest in aluminum tubes by Saddam and Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister—a potential indicator of a program of national importance, such as a centrifuge program.. A 6 March 2003 letter from the Iraqi National Monitoring Directorate (NMD) to the IAEA’s Iraq Nuclear Verification Office (INVO) notes that the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) conducted material composition testing on a sample aluminum tube in early 2001 and In another translated memo “http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1620262/posts ” that talks about a secret project by the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission to re-instate the “Nuclear Reactor Simulators” using equipments from the “Old TAMUZ (OZIRAQ) Nuclear Reactor”. All this is a clear indication of Saddam intent to restart the Nuclear Programs.
I will translate the first two pages of this 11 pages document. The first two pages are the Quotation Bid regarding these Special Aluminum Tubes by a company called AL Bashair addressed to Al Rasheed General Company which is a division of the Iraqi Military Manufacturing Commission. Page 3 of the document has the Technical Specification written in English of these Aluminum tubes, Diameter, Length, Specification, Chemical Composition, Price, Manufacturing origin etc,,
Beginning of the Partial Translation of document CMPC-2004-004404
In the Name of God the Most Merciful The Most Compassionate
Al-Bashair Trading Co. LTD
Date: 2/11/1999
To: Al Rasheed General Company
Subject: Proposal
Following up to our two letters numbered T 2484 and T 2504 on 30/10 and 1/11/1999 consecutively and attached with it proposals numner/3 related to your invitation numbered (75/3/13) included is our forth proposal related to it:
Please study with the other proposals sent to by our letter above and inform us..
With Regards
Signature…
Mounir Mamdooh Awed
Acting Director
4/11/1999
Best Salute
Indicating to your overture addressed to us regarding the bid numbered (725/99) we are pleased to offer our proposal included and are shown its details of the Technical Specifications, Prices, and the required quantity by you.
Knowing that the cost of a single tube delivered to your respected company warehouses is estimated (105 dollar) one hundred and five American Dollars,
Please take in consideration the following issues:
1. The Manufacturing Origin of the tubes German/European.
2. The equipping will be achieved within a period of 8 months from the date to deposit the amount in our interest and in the order of partial shipments divided during the equipping period above, where the first shipment begins within four months from the period of equipping indicated above.
3. The quantity of tubes required for equipping is 50,000 Tubes.
We hope that our proposal will receive your approval… with the continuous corporation with you to serve the general interest… with regards
Attachments. Schedule of Technical Specifications with prices.
TUBE ALUMUNIUM ALLOY
1. SPECIFICATION: AL-ZN-MG-CU 215/ NO. 7075
2. DIMENSION OF TUBE:
Outside Diameter = 81.0 mm
Inside Diameter = 74.4 mm
Thickness = 3.3 mm
Length = 900 mm.
3. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
NB ALL TUBES ARE SUBJECTED TO CHEMICAL COATNG IONADIZATION PROCESS TO PREVENT AND SUSTAIN SCRATCHES AND CORROSIONS.
4. PRICE: FOR EACH TUBE = USD 105
5. MANUFACTURING OF ORIGIN: GERMANY OR E.E.C
A June 4, 2003 article in the Financial Times reported that "French intelligence had seized a separate shipment of tubes to the US, and tested their tolerance by spinning them to 98,000 revolutions per minute, concluding they were too sophisticated to have alternative uses." The Times also reported that Secretary of State Colin Powell was denied permission by French political authorities from using this information in his February 5, 2003 speech before the U.N. Security Council. [7]
Hey you two, I wanna introduce you to another FReeper who might be able to help. I've been racking my brain and trying to remember what his full nic was, when he just popped up on my screen. Bet I don't forget what comes after Cannoneer again : )
I never remember the correct spelling of Canneer's and Tonk's nics. I have to check my notepad to copy them every time.
"Doesn't it suppose that the rocket would be launched from inside the tube?"
From my reply # 193 the inside diameter of these tubes is about 2 7/8ths inch. If these are used to launch missiles, which is not what the article says, they would be launching some missiles that are very small around. I suspect that these tubes are to make the missiles themselves.
"If the solid rocket fuel is installed in the tube, it would be better if the fuel was bonded to the inner walls instead of being able to slide in and out because the inside was slick and free of any scratches."
I am a former sheet metal worker. I am not a military person, but that could be.
"I just was struck by a thought, are these Anodized or Ionized aluminum tubes?"
Good question. I would like to know the answer to that too.
"So why not use steel?"
I am not sure. Steel is stronger, but it is also a lot heavier. It also may be that the steel would dent easier if it was thin enough to replace aluminum. If weight and size are a problem the best choice may be aluminum. If weight is not a problem steel is usually better. A mix of the two is also a possibility. The mix is mostly what I used when building airplanes. Very little pure steel and even less pure aluminum.
I am not a weapons person, so I don't know what is needed for missiles or rockets.
I forced myself to learn to spell Tonk's : )
Talking to Hubby about this to see if he knew anything about international lumber measurements (which he didn't) I asked him if he knew anyone who did any international construction. Without skipping a beat he said,
"Dick Cheney."
Sometimes I don't know why I've let him live this long : )
bump
To where were they shipped? to Iraq? To Libya? To Iran? To Pakistan? to Syria?
Inquiring minds want to know.
bttt
There are the tubes plain as day
Is there any indication where the tubes were supposed to be sent or where they ended up at?
50,000 aluminum tubes, each around a yard long had to go somewhere.
I think some of these tubes ( 10,000 or so) were intercepted and taken by the US Navy. I think the Iraqis may have been able to smuggle the rest into Iraq, but I am not positive of this.
Especially since Saddam could have purchased 81mm rockets by case for $100 from the Russians. You don't need that quality of aluminum for 81 mm rockets.
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