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| Axis of Evil |
| US Claims Photos Of Iraqis Clearing Inspection Sites |
| 2002-12-24 |
| U.S. intelligence has photographic evidence of Iraq hastily clearing and cleaning suspected weapons sites, raising suspicion the activity is intended to avoid detection of prohibited arms by United Nations inspectors. The satellite imagery is part of what the United States will present to U.N. inspectors this week in an effort to help them track down banned weapons. Now my surprise meter's busted. Dammit. U.S. officials acknowledge the intelligence is circumstantial but not irrefutable proof that Iraq continues to develop weapons in defiance of U.N. resolutions. "We have good evidence of sanitation activities at various sites: carting away scrap, cleaning up and so forth," said a U.S. intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity. They're not even subtle about it... Sharing of satellite imagery with the United Nations marks the latest round of jousting between the administration and the inspection team. The administration wants a faster, more aggressive pace to the inspections. U.N. officials counter that they need help from U.S. and other intelligence agencies to determine where to go to look for prohibited weapons. The CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency and other branches of U.S. intelligence are pooling information that could be shared with the weapons inspectors. All this is just marking time... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |