Report: Iraq Asked Finland About Anthrax

guardian ^ | 2/15/03

[knak]

HELSINKI, Finland (AP) - The Iraqi Embassy in Helsinki sought information about anthrax from the foreign ministry in October, Finnish media reported Saturday.

The query - reportedly lodged about a month before the return of U.N. weapons inspectors to Baghdad - sought suitable methods ``for the early detection of anthrax,'' the Ilta-Sanomat newspaper reported.

The request also concerned ``ways of protecting against anthrax, as well as methods, procedures and equipment needed for decontamination,'' the tabloid said.

Ilta-Sanomat said that the head of the foreign ministry's political division, Markus Lyra, confirmed the report.

``We did not answer it (the request) at all, and there have been no further discussions,'' Lyra was quoted as saying. ``It is not our field.''

``One wonders, whether it was intended simply for propaganda or similar purposes,'' he added.

Foreign ministry officials were unavailable for comment Saturday.

[The Great Satan]

From yesterday's WSJ:

Another anthrax clue also deserves to be more widely known: In October 2002, the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm made an official request of the Swedish Foreign Ministry to provide "appropriate" means for "the early detection of anthrax." The request was also for "protection methods from anthrax and types of methods, procedures and equipment to be used for decontamination." Iraq made a similar request at the time to the Japanese and Finns.

[cicero's_son]

Do you know whether Sweden has previously served as the diplomatic back-channel for communications between Iraq and the US

My understanding is that Sweden has been known occasionally to serve in this capacity in other conflicts.

[Mixer]

I wonder why they were inquiring about how to protect from it. Do they think we will attack them with Anthrax? Or perhaps they want to know in case they mistakenly hurt their own with it? The latter is my best bet. I also wonder if Finland waited till now to come forward with this info or if the UK and USA intel were just holding it back?

[knak]

geez, and nobody pinged me for that?

[The Great Satan]

``One wonders, whether it was intended simply for propaganda or similar purposes,'' he added.

Just a message from the Mano Nera.

[Domestic Church]

"I wonder why they were inquiring about how to protect from it."

They had to rapidly move large quantities of it.

[pepsionice]

What Iraq wanted Finland to do...was explain how you would go about detecting the stuff. They want the technology and means to prevent UN detection in Iraq of Anthrax spores. If you can buy the technology...my guess is $10 mil or less...then you can effectively hide all of the equipment and never worry about some bumbling idiot stumbling upon it.

[Wait4Truth]

The first thing I thought while reading this is that Iraq wants to look innocent regarding Anthrax...look like they know nothing about how it works. Just my opinion, but perhaps President Bush knows that Iraq was behind our anthrax attacks, Saddam got word of this and is doing a little CYA work here. No problem, the media will now take the side of Saddam if Bush nails him on the anthrax attacks in America.

[The Great Satan]

"Insured, are you?"

[Domestic Church]

"I also wonder if Finland waited till now to come forward with this info or if the UK and USA intel were just holding it back?"

My guess is this pointed finger was held back until the UN song and dance were done.

[cicero's_son]

FYI.

[SuziQ]

The request also concerned ``ways of protecting against anthrax, as well as methods, procedures and equipment needed for decontamination,'' the tabloid said.

Iraq has had anthrax for YEARS and most everyone knows it. As someone said in an earlier post, maybe this is supposed to make Iraq look as pure as the wind driven snow. Somehow, I don't think it's gonna work, except with the French and Germans, of course.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

This is very curious!

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[The Great Satan]

As someone said in an earlier post, maybe this is supposed to make Iraq look as pure as the wind driven snow.

Uh, I don't think so. This was designed to get the word out: you are all targets.

[Miss Marple]

Personally, I think it was to try to find out if there was technology to detect anthrax in Iraq.

[TontoKowalski]

Very astute. My first thought was that they are looking for delivery methods that our troops would not be able to detect...If they know the technology used to detect antrax, maybe they could find a work-around.

But I don't know squat, other than it's curious that the Finns kept this hush-hush for FIVE MONTHS.

[The Great Satan]

Personally, I think it was to try to find out if there was technology to detect anthrax in Iraq.

Eh? Please explain.

[The Great Satan]

Do you all understand how this works?

[Miss Marple]

Methods for "early detection of anthrax" would allow the Iraqis to know if we had the methods to detect trace amounts in sanitized Iraqi sites, and also to know if we had an early warning detection system if anthrax were used on our troops or our populace.