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Iraq Denies Drone Could Deliver Banned Weapons
Reuters ^
| March 12th., 2003
| Dominic Evans
Posted on 3/12/2003, 6:29:31 PM by acnielsen guy

Iraqi workers stand in front of what Iraq calls a 'prototype' of a drone, a remotely piloted aircraft, perched on sawhorses in a military compound at the Ibn Firnas State Company in Al Taji north of Baghdad, March 12, 2003. Iraq displayed the pilotless plane, which is under investigation by U.N. weapons inspectors, trying to refute U.S. claims that it could be a 'smoking gun' violation of Baghdad's disarmament obligations. Photo by Reuters
By Dominic Evans
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq displayed on Wednesday a pilotless plane under investigation by U.N. weapons inspectors, trying to refute U.S. claims that it could be a "smoking gun" violation of Baghdad's disarmament obligations.
Reporters were taken to the Ibn Firnas Company, 20 miles north of Baghdad, where Iraqi officials showed what they said was a prototype drone for aerial reconnaissance, photography and communications jamming.
The U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) said last week it had found a previously undeclared drone and was investigating whether it could deliver chemical and biological weapons or fly beyond a 93-mile permitted range.
"We were astonished to hear this plane was discovered by the inspectors. (It) was declared by Iraq, and nothing is hidden," Brigadier-General Ibrahim Hussein told reporters at the site.
"It is a research project, which has not moved into the production stage," he said, adding it flew only three km in a test flight.
Hussein also denied that the drone, a simple-looking device with a propeller and motor at its front and back and "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) emblazoned on its side, could carry chemical or biological weapons payloads.
"It has no such capability whatsoever. We have not even thought about this at all," Hussein said.
"This issue has been circulated by the colonial media which want to make problems between Iraq and UNMOVIC. We are fully implementing resolution 1441," he said, referring to a November U.N. demand that Iraq disarm or face "serious consequences."
The United States and Britain say President Saddam Hussein has violated resolutions dating back 12 years that he scrap Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs.
They have massed 250,000 troops in the Gulf and are seeking U.N. support for military action. The allies face stiff opposition from France, Russia and China but have said they already have sufficient justification for war.
U.N. arms inspectors said last week the drone had a wingspan of 24 feet, 5 inches, suggesting an illegal range that could threaten Iraq's neighbors with chemical and biological weapons.
U.S. officials said the drone could amount to a "smoking gun," or trigger for war.
But an Iraqi official at the Ibn Firnas site said a typing error meant the wingspan was first declared as just 14 feet. The official, who declined to give his name, said Iraq had rectified the mistake in a letter to UNMOVIC on February 18.
"None of the inspectors (had) noticed the difference," he said."
TOPICS: Announcements; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: drone; iraq; smokinggun; warlist; weapons
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U.S. claims that it could be a 'smoking gun' violation of Baghdad's disarmament obligations or a trigger for war.
Duct tape and plastic now Tin foil.
To: acnielsen guy
Deny...Deny...Deny........Tick...Tick...Tick
2
posted on
3/12/2003, 6:33:04 PM
by
goodnesswins
(Thank the Military for your freedom and security....and thank a Rich person for jobs.)
To: acnielsen guy
Didn't the inspectors find this drone back in December? Why did Blix let Iraq keep it? How much modifying could Iraq have done in the past two months or so, to make it appear harmless? Why am I bothering to ask these questions?
To: acnielsen guy
As I recall, Iraq has repeatedly denied having any weapons of Mass Destruction, and yet the inspectors have found them!
To: acnielsen guy
That's not the same RPV that I saw a picture of over the weekend...
To: *war_list
To: acnielsen guy
We have not even thought about this at allOh, he's becoming a regular joker...
7
posted on
3/12/2003, 6:44:12 PM
by
mhking
(Fasten your seatbelts....We're goin' in!)
To: savedbygrace
Apparently the payload for this plane is ten kilos, that is about the weight of a surveillance camera.
I am sure they have some sharp pencils that could poke people’s eyes out.
To: RoughDobermann
This was put out by Reuters at Wed March 12, 2003 09:13 AM ET
To: savedbygrace
" Why am I bothering to ask these questions?"
ROFL!!! Great line! You cracked me up!
I vote you become one of the inspectors. Lord knows most of us here on FR could do a better job of it.
To: acnielsen guy
This was put out by Reuters at Wed March 12, 2003 09:13 AM ETYes, but IIRC, Fox News showed a different RPV over the weekend that was much more advnaced than the thing pictured above. That looks like nothing more that a large park flyer...
To: acnielsen guy
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq.html
Iraquis Reject Deadly Drone Claim by U.S.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 8:12 a.m. ET
AL-TAJI, Iraq (AP) -- A remotely piloted aircraft that the United States has warned could spread chemical weapons appears to be made of balsa wood and duct tape, with two small propellors attached to what look like the engines of a weed whacker.
Iraqi officials took journalists to the Ibn Firnas State Company just north of Baghdad on Wednesday, where the drone's project director accused Secretary of State Colin Powell of misleading the U.N. Security Council and the public.
``He's making a big mistake,'' said Brig. Imad Abdul Latif. ``He knows very well that this aircraft is not used for what he said.''
In Washington's search for a ``smoking gun'' that would prove Iraq is not disarming, Powell has insisted the drone, which has a wingspan of 24.5 feet, could be fitted to dispense chemical and biological weapons. He has said it ``should be of concern to everybody.''
The drone's white fuselage was emblazoned Wednesday with the words ``God is great'' and the code ``Quds-10.'' Its balsa wood wings were held together with duct tape. Officials said they referred to the remotely piloted vehicle as the RPV-30A.
Latif said the plane is controlled by the naked eye from the ground. Asked whether its range is above the 93-mile limit imposed by the United Nations, he said it couldn't be controlled from more than five miles.
Latif said the exact range will be determined when the drone passes to the next testing stage.
(more)
To: acnielsen guy
That's not the drone we're looking for.
Judging from the guys standing in front of it, that drone has a wingspan of maybe 12 feet. The reported spray-capable drone has a wingspan closer to 24 feet -- twice as big.
Yet another case of Iraqi misdirection. These guys could give stage magicians lessons.
13
posted on
3/12/2003, 6:54:25 PM
by
algol
To: algol
Exactly what is a "spray-capable drone"? Seriously.
To: eaglebeak
eaglebeak: Exactly what is a "spray-capable drone"? Seriously.
Ask Saddam.
It's an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which has the capability of releasing chemical or biological agents which Saddam claims he does not have. See also France's passive support of the possession by the Saddam Regime of such weaponry, or the Blix Waffle's oopsie when he failed to comment on the discovery of the craft and program.
15
posted on
3/12/2003, 7:08:47 PM
by
Chummy
To: eaglebeak
To: Chummy
Saddam builds Revell model planes.....
17
posted on
3/12/2003, 7:16:01 PM
by
ken5050
To: eaglebeak
Exactly what is a "spray-capable drone"? Seriously Don´t ask sensible questions on this forum, just believe everything your read or hear. Are you with us or against us?
To: Chummy
Well then, here's you hi-tech UAV, friend. It looks more like a radio controlled airplane to me, but hey, even a homing pigeon COULD BE outfitted to spray chemicals.
This is a joke.
To: acnielsen guy

So if this is the "PROTOTYPE" what is the Camouflage painted one I've seen on FNC, THE FINAL PRODUCT?
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