1999, 2000 Iraqi memos: Procurement of 50000 Aluminum Tubes That Can Be Used For URANIUM ENRICHMENT.

Pentagon/FMSO website for Iraq Pre-war documents ^ | April 24 2006 | jveritas

[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

[Skooz]

bump

[DuncanWaring]

Don't be silly. Everyone knows aluminum tubes are essential in the production of baby formula.

[Calpernia]

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

[jveritas]

Moreover 900 mm long tube seems long for a Howitzer 81 mm caliber but I will differ this to military experts on FR.

[Lekker 1]

Bush Lied ..these were used for bicycles

I was thinking three-foot long fence posts that you could crush with your hands.

[jveritas]

No direct information but I doubt very much that they were going to be used to manufacture 50,000 81 mm Howitzer, not ammunition for Howitzer but the Howitzer launcher itself. Do you know about any army who possesses 50,000 81 mm Howitzer Launchers?

[P-40]

these were used for bicycles

That's what I was thinking. Perhaps Saddam was getting into cycling and was going to make some...Cannondales.

[jveritas]

That is very interesting information.

[edpc]

What is in this info that would lead someone to believe that they were to be used for centrifuging and not as rocket parts?

It's not necessarily here, but if you combine the tubes, 500 tons of uranium at Tuwaitha, Mahdi Obeidi's book The Bomb in my Garden, and A.Q. Khan's proliferation of nuclear know-how across the Middle East, it's a short trip to realization.

[jveritas]

I like this graphic :)

[michaelt]

What if the 81mm also refers to the inner diameter of the tube that is used to launch the rocket?

[Allegra]

Headache to who? :)

The media. The liberals. The Ba'athists. ;-)

[nutmeg]

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.

[b4its2late]

But, but, but...... I thought there were no WMD's in Iraq?

Thanks for your hard work!

[nutmeg]

You are doing OUTSTANDING work, jveritas! Thank you once again.

[jveritas]

That is what I thought :)

[Zeppo]

Yes, if they are implying that the tubes were intended to serve as rocket housings rather than launch tubes.

It is my understanding (but I can not quote a source off the top of my head) that no other components were found by the ISG to have been part of a procurement designed to produce either 81mm rockets, or tubes to launch rockets, and that therefore it is nothing more than idle speculation to claim that the tubes were intended for use in rocket or artillery launch applications...

[jveritas]

You are weclome nutmeg.

[BMC1]

More for the MSM to ignore

[jveritas]

Anytime.