NationStates Jolt Archive

CIA: Saddam intended to make arms if sanctions ended

From Suzanne Malveaux and David Ensor
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In a final report to be made public Wednesday, investigators will conclude that Saddam Hussein didn't possess stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction at the time of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Based in part on interviews with Saddam, the report from the CIA-led Iraq Survey Group also will conclude that he wanted to acquire weapons of mass destruction because he believed they kept the United States from going all the way to Baghdad during the first Gulf War.

Saddam also believed they stopped an Iranian ground offensive during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, the senior administration officials said.

The report also will find that Iraq made strenuous efforts to evade U.N. sanctions and pursued an aggressive strategy to try to get them lifted, which included subverting the U.N. oil-for-food program, the senior administration officials said -- adding that the report will name names of individuals and countries that illegally did business with Saddam.

Other U.S. officials confirmed to CNN Tuesday that the report from the Iraq Survey Group will cite evidence that Iraq's intelligence agency used clandestine labs to manufacture small quantities of biological weapons in recent years, although probably for use in assassinations, rather than mass casualty attacks.

An official with knowledge of the report declined to specify what kind of biological weapons were involved. The information was first reported Tuesday by the New York Times.

The Iraq Survey Group's final report, which will run between 1,200 to 1,500 pages, will be presented to Congress Wednesday by Charles Duelfer, who has been leading the effort to search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq since January, when his predecessor, David Kay, resigned.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan argued Tuesday that the report's findings support the military action taken by President Bush, even though stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction have not been found.

"I think the report will continue to show that [Saddam] was a gathering threat that needed to be taken seriously, that it was a matter of time before he was going to begin pursuing those weapons of mass destruction," McClellan said.

But the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., said that before the war "we were told about mushroom clouds and stockpiles. Stockpiles. If we are told about traces (of weapons) and intentions, that's not what we were told before the war."

Harman, who said she has not seen the report, said she expects the "new evidence" on Iraqi WMD programs to be about "traces of weapons from 1985" and not anything dramatically new.

Senior administration officials who have seen the report said it will conclude that Saddam Hussein was pursuing an aggressive strategy to subvert the oil-for-food program and get out from under U.N. sanctions through illegal financing and procurement schemes.

Once U.N. sanctions were lifted, Saddam intended to reconstitute his WMD programs, the report will conclude, according to the senior administration officials. To that end, the Iraqi dictator bought illegal materials to better position the regime to restart those programs, the report will say.

According to the senior administration officials, the report will also find that Saddam directed his Foreign Ministry to put in place a strategy to end sanctions, aimed at U.N. Security Council members and international public opinion.

As part of those efforts, the report will find that Saddam personally approved the recipients of an oil voucher distribution system, which was designed to influence other nations and individuals to lift the U.N. sanctions and help him import prohibited material, the senior administration officials said.

The report will include names of individuals and countries that did business with the Iraqi regime through the oil-for-food program, both legally and illegally. The senior administration officials would not provide names of those businesses but did say that American, French, Russian and Polish businesses are mentioned.

CNN's Ed Henry contributed to this report.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/06/iraq.wmd.report/index.html

What a surprise....

One after another, the justifications for the war crumble to dust. And with them crumbles the credibility of the USA and the potus. When will the world be able to once again trust what the US say? I assume that it will take a few decades to repair the image of the US, which can only happen, if more considerate presidents have the reigns in that country.

Funny that you did not highlight these....

The report also will find that Iraq made strenuous efforts to evade U.N. sanctions and pursued an aggressive strategy to try to get them lifted, which included subverting the U.N. oil-for-food program, the senior administration officials said -- adding that the report will name names of individuals and countries that illegally did business with Saddam.

Other U.S. officials confirmed to CNN Tuesday that the report from the Iraq Survey Group will cite evidence that Iraq's intelligence agency used clandestine labs to manufacture small quantities of biological weapons in recent years, although probably for use in assassinations, rather than mass casualty attacks.

This one is my favorite line....

The report will include names of individuals and countries that did business with the Iraqi regime through the oil-for-food program, both legally and illegally.

When German and French companies are listed it will be quite funny....

When German and French companies are listed it will be quite funny....
Or US firms. Even funnier.
http://www.gulfwarvets.com/aiding.htm

Doesn't surprise me. Next something about a french or german petrol firm will come up

White House spokesman Scott McClellan argued Tuesday that the report's findings support the military action taken by President Bush, even though stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction have not been found.
"I think the report will continue to show that [Saddam] was a gathering threat that needed to be taken seriously, that it was a matter of time before he was going to begin pursuing those weapons of mass destruction," McClellan said.


From the BBC - pretty much identical to the CNN, but with this:
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the report would show that Saddam Hussein posed a more serious threat than had previously been imagined.
Speaking in Baghdad, Mr Straw said "the threat from Saddam Hussein in terms of his intentions" was "even starker than we have seen before".
Saddam Hussein would have built up his WMDs had he been left in power, Mr Straw addedhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3718150.stm

So now the reason is that he would have built WMDs given the chance, not that he had any then. And that's 'Starker' than before? I thought 'before', Saddam HAD WMDs (remember the smoking gun becomes a mushroom cloud?). But intention is a serious threat now and justification for invading.
How many reasons have they given for invading it now?

But of course. As a deterrent against US aggression, WMD are a useful tool. But since a while, the US have the godly power to see in people's heads and find out what they may do in the future, based on faulty propaganda. It is funny how the US - especially the US media - can quote each other, making something bigger and bigger and then in the end still fail to admit that they were wrong. Iraq is a big quagmire that will haunt the US for the next few decades until it can care for itself again.

How many people in here realize the justification for going to Kosovo ("hundreds of thousands" of dead bodies, as stated by then Defense Secretary Cohen) also "crumbled to the dust?"

But of course. As a deterrent against US aggression, WMD are a useful tool. But since a while, the US have the godly power to see in people's heads and find out what they may do in the future, based on faulty propaganda.
So which country will Bush use his superpowers of mind-reading and future-divination on? I'm betting Fiji. Given a few hundred years, I'm certain they'll finally decide to stop exporting coconut milk and look to build a few nukes. Best take them out now before they even consider it. ;)

I am sure there is a pregnant woman somewhere in North Korea with an unborn baby who could possible have the potential to become future ruler of NK and use WMD on the US or try to get them (if they dont have any yet). This pregnant woman clearly needs to be killed. I suggest the US wage war against North Korea to find and kill this woman and her unborn baby.

How many people in here realize the justification for going to Kosovo ("hundreds of thousands" of dead bodies, as stated by then Defense Secretary Cohen) also "crumbled to the dust?"
It seemed clear to me at the time that the Kosovo action was at the request of Algeria, a candidate for membership. They wanted to put a stop to the millions of refugees pouring over their border from the conflict zone. I never bought into the humanity reasons given at the time.

It seemed clear to me at the time that the Kosovo action was at the request of Algeria, a candidate for membership. They wanted to put a stop to the millions of refugees pouring over their border from the conflict zone. I never bought into the humanity reasons given at the time.

I think you mean Albania and as the majority of the people in Kosovo are of Albanian heritage they had a reason to complain about the "ethnic cleansing" being done there.