[lit-ideas] Iraq's WMDs
- From: Omar Kusturica <omarkusto@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2004 01:10:00 -0700 (PDT)
Many thanks to our resident expert, E. Yost, for
providing reliable information on the Syrian and
Iranian WMDs. This is obviously the same authoritative
source he used for his landmark 2002. dissertation on
Iraq's horrible weapons of mass destruction. Let us
remind ourselves what we facing back then:
http://cns.miis.edu/research/wmdme/iraq.htm
Nuclear[2] With sufficient black-market uranium or
plutonium, Iraq probably could fabricate a nuclear
weapon.
If undetected and unobstructed, could produce
weapons-grade fissile material within several years.
Engaged in clandestine procurement of special nuclear
weapon-related equipment.
Retains large and experienced pool of nuclear
scientists and technicians.
Retains nuclear weapons design, and may retain related
components and software.
Repeatedly violated its obligations under the NPT,
which Iraq ratified on 10/29/69.
Repeatedly violated its obligations under United
Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 687, which
mandates destruction of Iraq's nuclear weapon
capabilities.
Until halted by Coalition air attacks and UNSCOM
disarmament efforts, Iraq had an extensive nuclear
weapon development program that began in 1972,
involved 10,000 personnel, and had a multi-year budget
totaling approximately $10 billion.
In 1990, Iraq also launched a crash program to divert
reactor fuel under IAEA safeguards to produce nuclear
weapons.
Considered two delivery options for nuclear weapons:
either using unmodified al-Hussein ballistic missile
with 300km range, or producing Al-Hussein derivative
with 650km range.
In 1987, Iraq reportedly field tested a radiological
bomb.
Biological[3] May retain stockpile of biological
weapon (BW) munitions, including over 150 R-400 aerial
bombs, and 25 or more special chemical/biological
Al-Hussein ballistic missile warheads.
May retain biological weapon sprayers for Mirage F-1
aircraft.
May retain mobile production facility with capacity to
produce "dry" biological agents (i.e., with long shelf
life and optimized for dissemination).
Chemical[4] May retain stockpile of chemical weapon
(CW) munitions, including 25 or more special
chemical/biological al-Hussein ballistic missile
warheads, 2,000 aerial bombs, 15,000-25,000 rockets,
and 15,000 artillery shells.
Believed to possess sufficient precursor chemicals to
produce hundreds of tons of mustard gas, VX, and other
nerve agents.
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at Yahoo! HotJobs
http://hotjobs.sweepstakes.yahoo.com/careermakeover
------------------------------------------------------------------
To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off,
digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html
Other related posts:
