Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Mr Mephisto
Erm... How do they know there is WMD in it if it hasn't been opened?
And surely, if this truly were the case, we would have heard this trumpeted at proof. This is the first I've ever heard that WMD's were indeed discovered.
And finally, no one is arguing over the fact that WMD's did exist (we all know they did), but whether there was an active programme and whether Iraq was a real threat to the US.
Mr Mephisto |
They're under seal from an international agency from right after the cease-fire, they have the manifests of what's in there, but because of the way it was stored, they're more than slightly concerned about how to get it all out safely.
FYI, their inventory was supposed to be destroyed according to the cease-fire, but apparently they didn't get around to it.
this is the full text of page 78 of Section 3 of the Duelfer Report, available at
http://www.foia.cia.gov/duelfer/Iraqs_WMD_Vol3.pdf
Pay special attention to the bold, italicized part that's separated.
Quote:
Exploitations of Al Muthanna
ISG conducted multiple exploitations of the
Al Muthanna site to determine whether old chemical
weapons, equipment, or toxic chemicals had been
looted or tampered with since the last UN visit to
the site. ISG is unable to unambiguously determine
the complete fate of old munitions, materials, and
chemicals produced and stored there. The matter is
further complicated by the looting and razing done
by the Iraqis.
An exploitation of the facility reconfirmed previous
imagery analysis that the site remained inoperable
from bombings and UNSCOM compliance, including
destruction of equipment and resources, and no
signifi cant production capabilities existed. Facilities
and bunkers revealed no evidence of production
since UNSCOM departed.
The teams found no new structures or any construction
activities except for those declared by Iraq to
UNSCOM. The facilities appeared to be abandoned
prior to OIF.
Several pieces of equipment that were once used
for CW production were found bearing no UN
tags, and the ISG was unable to assess whether the
equipment had been reused since 1994 or intended
for a future production processes and abandoned.
The tag system used by the UN was known to not
be robust, and given the absence of inspectors
between 1998 and 2002, Iraq would have had little
incentive to maintain the tags in good condition.
The extent of the looting and unaccounted for excavations
of bombed facilities makes it impossible
to determine what, if any, equipment was removed
after 1994, either for legitimate industrial use or a
renovated CW production process.
ISG exploitations indicate that the storage area still
remains a threat despite testing. Chemical storage
containers fi lled with unknown hazardous chemicals
are showing signs of rusting-through and leaking.
Key bunkers and facilities are currently scheduled
to be sealed or resealed.
Stockpiles of chemical munitions are still stored
there. The most dangerous ones have been declared
to the UN and are sealed in bunkers. Although
declared, the bunkers contents have yet to be con-
firmed. These areas of the compound pose a hazard
to civilians and potential blackmarketers.
Numerous bunkers, including eleven cruciform
shaped bunkers were exploited. Some of the bunkers
were empty. Some of the bunkers contained
large quantities of unfi lled chemical munitions,
conventional munitions, one-ton shipping containers,
old disabled production equipment (presumed
disabled under UNSCOM supervision), and other
hazardous industrial chemicals. The bunkers were
dual-use in storing both conventional and chemical
munitions. Figure 12 is a typical side-view of a
cruciform shaped bunker.
The contents of two of the cruciform bunkers
bombed during Desert Storm showed severe
damage. Due to the hazards associated with this
location, the UN decided to seal the bunkers.
UNSCOM viewed the contents of the two bunkers;
however an accurate inventory was not possible due
to the hazards associated with that environment.
UNSCOM relied upon Iraqi accountability of the
bunkers contents and assessed the amount of munitions
declared to be realistic.
Military fi eld testing equipment showed positive
for possible CW agent in the cruciform bunkers
that contained munitions and a storage bunker that
contained bulk chemical storage containers. Note:
this is not unusual given the munitions once stored
there and the conditions in which they were stored
post 1994.
An exploitation team observed the old UNSCOM
CW destruction area that contained large (some
in excess of 75 meter) sloping trenches once used
in the CW destruction process. Damaged chemical
storage drums were visible at the bottom of some of
the trenches.
|