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Syria-Lebanon
Report: U.S suspects Iraqi WMD in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley
2003-08-25
via Drudge
U.S. intelligence suspects Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction have finally been located. Unfortunately, getting to them will be nearly impossible for the United States and its allies, because the containers with the strategic materials are not in Iraq. Instead they are located in Lebanon’s heavily-fortified Bekaa Valley, swarming with Iranian and Syrian forces, and Hezbollah and ex-Iraqi agents, Geostrategy-Direct.com will report in tomorrow’s new weekly edition. U.S. intelligence first identified a stream of tractor-trailer trucks moving from Iraq to Syria to Lebaon in January 2003. The significance of this sighting did not register on the CIA at the time.
I have a hard time believing that...
U.S. intelligence sources believe the area contains extended-range Scud-based missiles and parts for chemical and biological warheads. Mutually-lucrative Iraqi-Syrian arms transactions are nothing new. Firas Tlas, son of Syrian Defense Minister Mustafa Tlas, has been the key to Syria’s rogue alliance with Iraq. He and Assad made hundreds of millions of dollars selling weapons, oil and drugs to and from Iraq, according to the May 13, 2003 edition of Geostrategy-Direct.com. The CIA now believes a multi-million dollar deal between Iraq and Syria provided for the hiding and safekeeping of Saddam’s strategic weapons. Not surprisingly, U.S. inquiries in Beirut and Syria are being met with little substantive response, U.S. officials said.
How about we drive on over from Iraq and check it out?
Posted by:Frank G

#13  In an interview with Newsweek in January, Ariel Sharon, said that he had information that Iraq's WMD's were moved into Syria, but they don't know where they went from there.
Posted by: set   2003-8-25 10:24:46 PM  

#12  We carried it in December, based on a Haaretz report. The explosion in the Janta camp was reported December 30th, based on an al-Bawaba report, with followup from Debka.

It's damned hard to imagine CIA missing it. I'd guess somebody's been following it, and that there won't be any moves until it's thoroughly and tightly nailed down -- if it's valid data.
Posted by: Fred   2003-8-25 10:14:00 PM  

#11  Sounds too good to be true, I hope it is true but I doubt it. If this really is the same location Debka reported about in May then we would have been all over it by now. Bush wouldn't sit around taking all this abuse about the lack of WMD if he could prove they existed. I hope I'm completely wrong.
Posted by: g wiz   2003-8-25 9:21:52 PM  

#10  Whoa! Not the "heavily-fortified Bekaa Valley, swarming with Iranian and Syrian forces, and Hizbullah and ex-Iraqi agents"! That is indeed daunting.

We will die in a sea of fire with grilled stomachs and our families will lament the mountains of body bags in this Mother of All Battles as we are pushed back into the sea to die in the desert.

Then, after lunch, Damascus, anyone?
Posted by: Mark IV   2003-8-25 7:53:39 PM  

#9  If the weapons are used, I predict that Syria will censure the U.S. for forcing Sadaam's regime to move the weapons out of reliable hands.
Posted by: Steve D   2003-8-25 6:20:53 PM  

#8  Yep, time flies when you're whacking Iraq
Posted by: Frank G   2003-8-25 5:53:55 PM  

#7  Earlier, I think. I remember reading something about it when I was home for Christmas. I think they thought it was missiles -- and there was a big explosion in Hezbollah-controlled territory to which many ambulances were sent. Perhaps unloading.
Posted by: Sharon in NYC   2003-8-25 5:38:56 PM  

#6  MW's right - Debka nailed it in May
Posted by: Frank G   2003-8-25 4:09:13 PM  

#5  "The significance of this sighting did not register on the CIA at the time."?

Come on spooks... we're paying you to do a little bit of outside the box thinking.

This is almost a Homer Simpson "D'oh" moment.
Posted by: Jim K   2003-8-25 4:06:01 PM  

#4  Debka broke this news before the war began. Although Debka's batting average is far from perfect, they seem to have nailed this one dead solid perfect.
Posted by: MW   2003-8-25 3:51:29 PM  

#3  Leaving this stuff in place is not an option. It is time Assad & company discover that there is aprice to pay for this kind of crap. Plus remember is Hezbollah has access to these weapons, then Iran is privy to the treasure trove as well.
Posted by: Douglas De Bono   2003-8-25 3:36:06 PM  

#2  depending on the prevailing wind direction I think demolition in place would be my favorite option...heellllooooo Damascus!
Posted by: Frank G   2003-8-25 3:21:06 PM  

#1  How about we get the Israeli's to jump across the border, smash Hezzbullah and capture the WMD. Perhaps with a few embedded reporters along for the ride.
Posted by: Yank   2003-8-25 3:19:38 PM  

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