NEW INFO ABOUT WMD's IN IRAQ

still have not found any. gotcha, didn't I?

CIA official: New information, no WMD in Iraq


Agency's top weapons hunter reports to senatorsThe Associated Press
Updated: 3:42 p.m. ET March 30, 2004WASHINGTON - U.S. weapons hunters in Iraq have found more evidence that Saddam Hussein’s regime had civilian factories able to quickly produce biological and chemical weapons, the CIA’s top weapons inspector told senators Tuesday. But they still have not found any weapons.

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The CIA’s special adviser on the weapons hunt, Charles Duelfer, said he did not know how much longer the weapons hunt might take.

“The picture is much more complicated than I anticipated going in,” Duelfer said at a Capitol Hill press conference, nine weeks after he took over the weapons search.

In a closed session with the Senate Armed Services Committee, Duelfer said the Iraq Survey Group has found new evidence that Iraqi scientists flight tested long-range ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles that “easily exceeded” U.N. limits of 93 miles.

Regime's research
And the survey group has new information indicating the regime engaged in ongoing research to produce chemical or biological weapons on short notice, using civilian — or “dual use” — facilities.

‘The picture is much more complicated than I anticipated going in.’


— CHARLES DUELFER
CIA special adviser on Iraqi weapons


However, in declassified testimony shared with the media, Duelfer didn’t break significant ground on the weapons hunt, saying he lacked sufficient information to draw conclusions about what Saddam had.

“Imagine yourself being asked to determine the secret, behind-the-scenes intentions of our own government with respect to its most secret weapons programs after talking to a few hundred folks who may or may not have been intimately involved, with only a small fraction of documents available, and with a leadership that is not broken and willing to discuss its inner secrets,” Duelfer said in the declassified remarks.

“How much would you really understand?”

Duelfer replaces Kay
Duelfer took over the job of top civilian weapons inspector after his predecessor, David Kay, resigned in January and told Congress “we were almost all wrong” about Saddam’s weapons programs. In a flurry of public statements questioning whether weapons would ever be found, Kay renewed the debate about the very weapons of mass destruction programs that the Bush administration used to justify last year’s Iraq invasion.

On Tuesday, Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner, R-Va., and Intelligence Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, both called for patience as the search continues. “It ain’t over til it’s over,” Roberts said.

However, with the November elections looming, Democrats are questioning — some loudly — whether the administration overstated the threat Saddam posed and the evidence about his weapons of mass destruction.

Assessing Saddam's intentions
Duelfer said he has tried to determine the Saddam regime’s intentions for the activities investigators have uncovered: Were weapons hidden that were not readily available? Was there a plan for a stepped-up production capacity? Were WMD technologies being developed for the missile and UAV programs? When did the leadership want to see results?

‘We do not know whether Saddam was concealing WMD in the final years or planning to resume production once sanctions were lifted.’


— DUELFER


Duelfer said the survey group continues to look for weapons of mass destruction and regularly receives reports — “some quite intriguing and credible” — about possible concealed stashes buried or hidden across Iraq.

He said the survey group also questions former regime officials. However, many are still reluctant to talk because they fear prosecution, as well as retribution from former regime supporters. For these and other reasons, he said, the survey group is struggling to get clear, truthful information.

“We do not know whether Saddam was concealing WMD in the final years or planning to resume production once sanctions were lifted,” Duelfer said. “We do not know what he ordered his senior ministers to undertake. We do not know how the disparate activities we have identified link together.”

© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

Right - Like you could trust Kerry

 

There were WMDs in Iraq. Whether there are now is a moot question. Saddam scuttled them off to Syria or wherever.
This is all political bull****. Trying to blame any administration for 9/11 is ridiculous. We all know who did it and Bush is after them. Saddam's ouster was a necessary component of the war against terrorism. While the liberals try and make political points I am thanking God every day that Bush continues his relentless efforts to rid the world of the evil that is out there. And don't think for a moment that they are not probing for a weakness...looking for their spot.

 

you spoke too soon.

 

Osama may be running but I wouldn't consider him free, his day will come and it's probably going to be before the election.

As far the Dr. Rice thing what exactly do they have to hide. Clinton and the democrats were in control for 8 years the Bush era was in for 8 months prior to 9-11. Looks like maybe the Klinton's heve more to hide in what they did not do or pass along.

3 choices this election; Bush, 2 talking Kerry or Nader. I know it won't be unless some people wake up but it should be a Bush slam dunk.

There you go 3 opinions

 

I don't think I could stand to see Kerry as my president. The guy can't make up his mind about anything. I am willing to admit that lies might have been told and things may have been exagerrated in order to get us in Iraq, but now that we are there I feel that we need Bush to get us through it. I think electing a democrat mid-Iraq situation would be a very bad idea. I also don't believe that Kerry or any other Democrat could have handled the 9/11 incident any better than our current administration.

 

Maybe, but if Kerry where to win it - who can guess what he would do. He's just to fickle. If there were somebody better, I would be open to the idea of a Democrat being elected in this upcoming election. I liked Dean, but he was too negative. I agree that the Bush administration has made mistakes. I am just not sure Kerry could do better.