More Evidence on Iraq

First, let me start with a few developments. (this is about a week or so old as of Feb 10, 2003)

• More chemical warheads found. They are the same type of warheads found weeks ago. Iraq claims they forgot about them.
• Iraq still refuses to allow U2 flights. They claim they cannot keep the flights safe while allied jets are patrolling the no- fly zones. This doesn't make any sense, because they would be UN U2 flights and UN jets patrolling the no- fly zone.
• Iraq is still intimidating scientists. They are threatening to kill the families of any scientist who cooperates with the UN weapons inspectors.

Notes from Colin Powell's Speech to the UN

the following are some notes I took while watching Secretary Powell's speech to the UN on February 4, 2003

• Nov 26, 2002 tape of intercepted phone call between members of Saddam's republican guard. They talked about evacuating weapons they weren't supposed to have.
• Second tape played came from Jan of 2002. Possible forbidden ammo. Iraqi officials talked about getting rid of this ammo and destroying all evidence of it, and to destroy the message about destroying evidence.
• Powell said Iraq has kept a "policy of evasion and deception." Comments by Hans Blix, the head of UN weapons inspections in Iraq, seem to agree with this.
• Powell claims Iraq has high level committee to watch over the UN inspectors. (source- human intelligence)
• One of Saddam Hussein's sons is part of this group.
• The son is one of the primary contacts to Hans Blix.
• Evidence that Iraqi officials directed others to destroy all evidence of weapons of mass destruction- all documents related to such weapons.
• Hussein's son ordered all weapons and documents removed from presidential palaces.
• over 2, 000 documents found in a private home of a scientist. These documents were related to nuclear weapons programs.
• Many hard drives of computers in Iraq were replaced to hide info. on weapons. (source- human intelligence)
• Missile brigade distributed warheads to many different areas. They were to be moved around to different places every few weeks.
• as of Nov. 14, 2002- 4 chemical bunkers were active. Spy satellite photos show decontamination vehicles near bunkers. These vehicles are used in case there is a chemical spill or some of it is released into the air. There are also security members guarding the area in the photos. Soon after, when the UN came to inspect the sites, all of this stuff was gone. Many have said Iraq is moving stuff out the back door when the UN inspectors are on their way to the sites.
• Intelligence shows that Hussein moved gear from over 30 sites.
• Saddam ordered all scientists who cooperated with UN inspectors to be considered as spies and charged as such.
• various false death certificates were issued for scientists in Iraq. This was done to hide the identity of a number of scientists. If they were thought to be dead, no one could interview them.
• Many scientists were ordered to stay home from work when inspectors came, so none of them could be interviewed. Weapons experts were placed on house arrest at guest houses owned by Hussein.
• Operative paragraph 4 of UN resolution 1441 says any false statements or omissions by Iraq shall constitute yet another material breach (the UN has said that Iraq is ALREADY in material breach as it is)
• Powell claims Iraq has enough chemicals for 16, 000 rockets.
• France says Iraq probably still has chemical weapons which are banned, yet they believe they don't have the means to carry the weapons. BUT- many chemical weapons can be taken out of country and simply carried into area and released (or mailed, as was the case with anthrax in 2001.)

Powell talked about much more, but I stopped taking notes after a while. I just wanted to get a number of facts down to post here. You can read the full text of Powell's speech here.