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New Weapons Report Contradicts Prewar's 

Friday October 3, 2003
By DAFNA LINZER 

Associated Press Writer 

Thursday's report on the hunt for suspected Iraqi weapons of mass destruction contradicts some recent claims by the Bush administration. Other findings dispute prewar intelligence, or were known to U.N. inspectors before the war. 

The report, presented to Congress by David Kay, the CIA representative leading the weapons search, made clear that no nuclear, biological or chemical weapons have been found so far. While the Bush administration had argued before going to war that Iraq's arsenal posed an imminent threat, much of what Kay has discovered is that Iraq had interest in such weapons and was researching some agents. 

Here's a look at the report highlights and what was known before. 

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NUCLEAR WEAPONS: 

No nuclear weapons have been found. 

Kay said documents and materials related to nuclear programs were hidden in the homes of scientists. It was not clear whether the contents of the document included publicly available material. 

Part of a centrifuge, which an Iraqi scientist handed over to weapons inspectors, was buried 12 years ago and was not part of any renewed nuclear effort, according to U.S. officials. 

In addition, that equipment is useless on its own, experts say. A successful centrifuge program would need thousands of complete centrifuges plus a huge generation of power in order to process uranium. 

BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS: 

No biological weapons have been found. 

Kay said ``reference strains'' of biological organisms had been found in the home of a scientist. Such material cannot, however, be used to produce biological warfare agents. 

Kay said there was research on Brucella and Congo Crimean Hemmorrhagic Fever. Neither are considered traditional biological warfare agents. 

Kay said there is evidence Iraq was researching biological warfare agents such as anthrax. But there was no evidence Iraq had anthrax recently as the administration asserted previously. 

Kay said there is information ``beginning to corroborate reporting since 1996 about human testing activities using chemical and biological substances.'' He didn't say whether those substances including warfare agents. U.N. inspectors investigated the possibility of human testing in the late 1990s but found no evidence. 

CHEMICAL WEAPONS: 

No chemical weapons have been found. 

Kay provided the least amount of evidence in the chemical field although both the U.S. and British governments had argued the strongest case in this area. 

Kay said the teams have learned from unidentified sources that Iraq explored the possibility of chemical weapons production. The Bush administration said Iraq had been producing chemical weapons just before the war began in March. Kay said there was also no evidence to support ``prewar reporting that Iraqi military units were prepared to use chemical weapons against coalition forces.'' 

Kay said his teams have found ``little reliable information,'' on any chemical weapons activities after the 1991 Gulf War. 

THE MISSILES: 

No long-range missiles have been discovered. 

Kay said his teams found evidence Iraq had design plans for a missile with a range of up to 620 miles (1,000 kilometers). According to U.N. inspectors, however, they have known for years about these plans and others, including plans for a missile with a range of up to 1,860 miles (3,000 kilometers). However, the U.N. never found evidence that Iraq built such a missile or was capable of it. Kay also made no mention of having found such evidence. 

Kay said his teams have found evidence Iraq attempted to obtain North Korean technology for ballistic missiles. He didn't say there was any evidence those attempts were successful. Intelligence agencies have long been tracking potential deals between North Korea and rogue states, including Iraq. 

Kay said the Iraqis maintained a capability for manufacturing fuel for Scud missiles. However he made no mention that Iraq was actually manufacturing such fuel and he said no Scud Missiles had been found. The Bush administration had accused Iraq of hiding Scud missiles before the war. 

MOBILE LABS: 

Kay couldn't confirm that two trailers found in April and May in Iraq were mobile biological weapons laboratories as top administration officials, including Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Colin Powell, have recently reasserted. He acknowledged possible conventional uses, including to fill hydrogen weather balloons, as well for missile propellant or bioweapons, although he had been one of the strongest supporters of the original theory. 

THE DRONES: 

Kay said Iraq had not fully declared its program for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and that the drones could fly further than the U.N.-mandated limit of just over 90 miles (150 kilometers). The administration had asserted the drones were designed to disperse biological and chemical weapons. Kay said work is focusing on the ``intended use of the UAVs.'' 

Air Force intelligence argued before the war that the drones weren't designed to disperse biological or chemical weapons. Missile experts on Kay's team have said privately that evidence on the ground confirms the Air Force account. 

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003