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| Britain |
| Iraqi Officer Says He Is Source on ’45 minute’ claim |
| 2003-12-07 |
| An Iraqi officer has identified himself as the source for a British claim about Saddam Hussein’s weapons that sparked a controversy marked by the death of a British government arms expert. The Sunday Telegraph said Lt. Col. al-Dabbagh identified himself as the source for the British government’s assertion that Iraq could have deployed chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes of a decision to do so. The paper gave the officer’s surname only, citing fears for his safety if he was fully identified. "Accck! Mahmoud! I have a target for you! And you’d better not miss this time!" "But my aim with that grenade was perfect last time, effendi!" [SLAP!] "Idiot! Don’t give me that! You’re a Pakistani, you can’t throw a grenade!" Prime Minister Tony Blair’s office declined to comment on the newspaper report, which was featured in early editions published late Saturday. ``We’re not prepared to comment but we urge all those involved to provide the Iraq Survey Group with whatever information they believe they have,’’ a spokeswoman for Blair’s office said on customary condition of anonymity. The ISG is the coalition body searching for Saddam’s alleged chemical or biological weapons. The 45-minute claim was in a government dossier published in September 2002. A British Broadcasting Corp. report later "Great news, effendi! We have new warhead for the RPG. It delivers wonderous Sarin gas!" "Interesting, Mahmoud. What’s the effective dispersed radius of the gas?" "About a hundred meters, effendi." "What’s the effective aimed range of the RPG by our elite Republican Guard soldiers?" "About a hundred meters, effendi." "I see. I will have you try it first." The government’s September dossier said that ``Iraq’s military forces are able to use chemical and biological weapons, with command, control and logistical arrangements in place. The Iraqi military are able to deploy these weapons within 45 minutes of a decision to do so.’’ The head of the MI6 spy agency, Sir Richard Dearlove, told the inquiry into Kelly’s death that the 45-minute warning in the dossier came from an ``established and reliable source,’’ quoting a senior Iraqi military officer who was in a position to know the information. The Sunday Telegraph said al-Dabbagh believed he was the source for that claim. ``I am the one responsible for providing this information,’’ he was quoted as saying. ``It is 100 percent accurate. ``Forget 45 minutes, we could have fired these within half an hour,’’ al-Dabbagh added. He said the weapons were not used because most of the Iraqi army did not want to fight for Saddam. Guy must be credible, that’s the second thing he’s got right. The newspaper said al-Dabbagh works as an adviser to the Iraqi Governing Council and said he has received death threats from Saddam loyalists. It reported that Iyad Allawi, the head of the Iraqi National Accord and a prominent council member, confirmed that he had passed information from al-Dabbagh on Saddam’s weapons to British and American intelligence officials in the spring and summer of 2002. Wonder if the Democrats will concede this one to Bush? [crickets chirping] |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #8 windage might be a concern - not for long. |
| Posted by: snellenr 2003-12-7 10:35:19 PM |
| #7 accuracy isn't as important with Sarin. - windage might be a concern. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-12-7 9:52:44 PM |
| #6 Although the accurate range of an RPG may be 100 meters, I imagine the warhead can fly a lot further... and accuracy isn't as important with Sarin. |
| Posted by: snellenr 2003-12-7 4:38:18 PM |
| #5 A Sarin RPG round would probably make a better terrorist weapon than a battle field one. Yes, and the focus of Saddam's WMD program tended to be terrorist and genocidal uses, not battlefield. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2003-12-7 3:06:21 PM |
| #4 Like I said, makes some sense but I would think that they would have been used by now. Like on that rocket attack on the Al Rasheed hotel. But If they did have them and if they still have them, they only need a few stooges to cause a big mess. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2003-12-7 12:36:58 PM |
| #3 A Sarin RPG round would probably make a better terrorist weapon than a battle field one. I don't remeber too many regular Iraqi infantry units that got within 100M of an coalition infantry unit. The Iraqi army doesn't strike me as the type of outfit that would pre-deploy sarin at the squad level. The rounds would be more likely to be used against the local Baath Party HQ. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-12-7 12:22:40 PM |
| #2 What are you talking about Lucky? Many attacks have been conducted with RPG's, so it makes sense. It would also explains why they have so many. The ones for the WMD were converted since the current attackers don't have the training to handle it(WMD). Not to mention this backs up the overall claim that Sammy had the WMD's in the first place. Why wouldn't the ones to fire the WMD know about them? They don't know WHERE they are, granted, but why would they need to know that? They would have it delivered to them by designated people. Most likely Sadaam Fedayeen. This also points out the type of conclusions and outright bias that the BBC has against the WoT. And since the officer who helped gather data for the war has stepped forward, how much longer before those with knowledge of the actual WMD's step forward? I am just itching to ululate over discovery. |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-12-7 3:34:02 AM |
| #1 Well it all makes some sense, but I don't think they had that weapon. But the blokes know more than anybody I suppose. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2003-12-7 1:45:47 AM |