Interesting news article my national security prof sent me

[Azwed]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_1189000/1189182.stm

The article is about a German intelligence belief that Iraq could have nuclear weapons in three years.

Here is the full text
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Iraq 'could build N-bomb'

Iraq could produce nuclear weapons within three years, according to a German intelligence assessment.
The report also says the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) has evidence that Baghdad is working to develop its short-range rockets.



Germany believes Saddam Hussein is restoring Iraq's weapons capabilities

The BND also believes Iraq still possesses the capacity to resume the production of biological weapons at short notice.

Details of the information contained in the report was published in various German newspapers following a briefing to journalists by BND officials.

"It is clear that we have suspicions about Iraq," a BND official told Reuters news agency.

Ceasefire agreement

The intellegence agency believes that Iraq has resumed efforts to build chemical and biological weapons since UN inspectors left the country in 1998.

But it says that Baghdad currently possesses only 10-20% of the conventional weapons it had during the Gulf War.

Under the ceasefire agreement which ended the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq was obliged to end its chemical and biological weapons capacity.

The United Nations team appointed to monitor Baghdad's compliance with the agreement left Iraq in 1998 after the government ceased co-operation with the weapons inspectors.

The BND says it has evidence to suggest the following:

Iraq has resumed its nuclear programme and may be capable of producing an atomic bomb in three years. Work has been observed at the Al Qaim site, believed to be the centre of Baghdad's nuclear programme.
Iraq is currently developing its Al Samoud and Ababil 100/Al Fatah short-range rockets, which can deliver a 300kg payload 150km (95 miles). Medium-range rockets capable of carrying a warhead 3,000km (1,900 miles) could be built by 2005 - far enough to reach Europe.
Iraq is also believed to be capable of manufacturing solid rocket fuel.
A Delhi-based company, blacklisted by the German Government because of its alleged role in weapons proliferation, has acted as a buyer on Iraq's behalf. Deliveries have been made via Malaysia and Dubai.
Since the UN inspectors left, the number of Iraqi sites involved in chemicals production has increased from 20 to 80. Of that total, the BND believes a quarter to be involved in making weapons.
Widespread procurement activity has been observed abroad and production of biological weapons could be resumed at short notice. It is possible that production may already have begun.
There has been no response to the report from Iraq.

But US Secretary of State Colin Powell referred to it during his tour of the Mid-east.

He told a news conference in Jerusalem that it underlined the need to contain Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"We have to make sure he is denied the opportunity to continue moving in this direction," Mr Powell said.
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[bored1]

The Iraqis would have had nukes by now if the Israelis hadnt bombed the reactor they were building in 1981,It set their program back years.I doubt they ever stopped producing chemical or biological weapons,Just played the shell game while the UN inspectors were nosing around..These people are pure evil and should be stopped now by whatever means possible. The world watched while Germany and Japan armed themselves in the 30s and did nothing.History does repeat itself..........

 

[Azwed]

When our troops went in after the gulf war Iraq was only a few years away from a bomb. Probably less then 5 years and all of our intelligence assets said they were 10 years plus away.

They were getting a little over a kilo of U-235 a year from about a thousand little super centrofuges.


Oh and you know who sold them that Test reactor?


The French.

My god could they be any more stupid.

 

[bored1]

When our troops went in after the gulf war Iraq was only a few years away from a bomb. Probably less then 5 years and all of our intelligence assets said they were 10 years plus away.

They were getting a little over a kilo of U-235 a year from about a thousand little super centrofuges.


Oh and you know who sold them that Test reactor?


The French.

My god could they be any more stupid.

I thought it was the French who sold them the reactor,But wasnt positive.I find it amazing that Europe still wants normal relations with these clowns,Some countries just dont get it.

 

[Azwed]

The UK and Germany don't want normalized relations at least not untill there is a new regime there. The French are just off by themselves in oooohh la la land.

 

[bored1]

Didnt the EU call for normalized relations with Iraq? Or at least the lifting of sanctions? And hasnt Germany done some trading with them? I recall reading that somewhere<cant remember where>

 

[Azwed]

Lifting of sanctions perhaps I am not sure, but since they don't really seem to be all that effective that might be a good idea. Sadam just uses them to rile up his own people agianst us.

I think Germany may have done some agricultrural type trading with them but I am not sure.

 

[bored1]

Eitherway its a bad situation......He will have no problem using nuclear weapons if he aquirers them......Then the Israelis would retaliate in kind as I believe they already possess them. The man has got to go and soon..........................