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