AFF/ROGUE STATES/IRAQ

IRAQ HAS REBUILT ELABORATE WMD PRODUCTION FACILITIES

IRAQ HAS REBUILT MANY OF ITS WMD PRODUCTION FACILITIES

RUDIGER MONIAC JDW Correspondent March 7, 2001 Jane's Defence Weekly SECTION: HEADLINES; Vol. 35; No. 10 HEADLINE: Iraq repairs WMD production sites //VT2002acsln

Iraq has reconstructed a significant number of production sites for its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in recent months and made considerable progress in those programmes, the German Federal Intelligence Agency (BND) reported late last month. BND officials noted, for example, that the number of Iraqi projects for producing chemical weapon (CW) precursors has increased significantly over the past two years. Baghdad has been able to clandestinely import that production equipment. The German estimates match those in a US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) report released late last month that says "Iraq appears to be installing or repairing dual-use equipment at CW-related facilities". Moreover, the CIA said that "Iraq may have hidden an additional 6,000 CW munitions", as well as "a small, covert force of Scud-type missiles".

IRAQ HAS REBUILT CRITICAL MISSILE PRODUCTION FACILITIES

Jane's Missiles And Rockets March 1, 2001 HEADLINE: Iraq has rebuilt critical missile plants, says CIA //VT2002acsln

Iraq "has rebuilt several critical missile production complexes", US Director of Central Intelligence George J Tenet told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence during his annual report on threats to the USA. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is concerned that Iraq may attempt to develop weapons of mass destruction "both for credibility and because every other strong regime in the region either has it or is pursuing it". Since Iraq is continuing its missile-development work, the CIA believes it could "develop an ICBM capability sometime in the next decade assuming it received foreign assistance."

IRAQ HAS REBUILT CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS FACTORIES

Anton La Guardia and Ben Fenton, January 24, 2001, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH(LONDON),SECTION: Pg. 18 HEADLINE: Saddam 'has rebuilt his chemical war plants' //VT2002acsln

THE Foreign Office said yesterday that it shared American fears that Saddam Hussein has rebuilt factories capable of producing chemical weapons.

The claim came amid signs that the new US administration is considering a tougher policy towards Baghdad.

With Baghdad scoring almost daily successes against its international isolation, President Bush is coming under pressure to deal with Saddam's weapons of mass destruction and fulfil his campaign promise to "take 'em out".

Mr Bush has been presented with intelligence evidence that Saddam has rebuilt factories which could already be producing chemical and biological weapons.

IRAQ HAS EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR BIOWEAPONS ATTACK

Evidence gathered by UNSCOM (the United Nations Special Commission on Iraq) reveals that Iraq had bought equipment useful for the production of biological weapons. There was a spray dryer - essential for drying out bacteria so that they can be started and then, when the time comes, dispersed efficiently. There were also four specialised filling machines, required for packing germ warfare agents into weapons or containers. Iraq claims to have destroyed its biological arsenal. Few believe this to be true.

IRAQ CAN HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN 3-5 YEARS AND IS EXPANDING ITS BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM

RUDIGER MONIAC JDW Correspondent March 7, 2001 Jane's Defence Weekly SECTION: HEADLINES; Vol. 35; No. 10 HEADLINE: Iraq repairs WMD production sites //VT2002acsln

BND officials also estimate that Iraq could develop a nuclear weapon

within three to five years and said that Baghdad has increased its

attempts to procure materials and technology for biological weapons.