NYT, pg1: Iraq Study Finds Desire for (WMDs), but Not Capacity

[DeepModem Mom]

WEAPONS INSPECTORS
Iraq Study Finds Desire for Arms, but Not Capacity
By DOUGLAS JEHL

Published: September 17, 2004


WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 - A new report on Iraq's illicit weapons program is expected to conclude that Saddam Hussein's government had a clear intent to produce nuclear, chemical and biological weapons if United Nations sanctions were lifted, government officials said Thursday. But, like earlier reports, it finds no evidence that Iraq had begun any large-scale program for weapons production by the time of the American invasion last year, the officials said.

The most specific evidence of an illicit weapons program, the officials said, has been uncovered in clandestine labs operated by the Iraqi Intelligence Service, which could have produced small quantities of lethal chemical and biological agents, though probably for use in assassinations, not to inflict mass casualties.

A draft report of nearly 1,500 pages that is circulating within the government essentially reaffirms the findings of an interim review completed 11 months ago, the officials said. But they said it added considerable detail, particularly on the question of Iraq's intention to produce weapons if United Nations penalties were weakened or lifted, a judgment they said was based on documents signed by senior leaders and the debriefings of former Iraqi scientists and top officials, as well as other records.

The officials said the report would portray a more complicated and detailed picture, based on a far more extensive examination of suspected Iraqi weapons sites and records, as well as the debriefings. They said new information in the draft report based on on-site inspections of clandestine labs described the possibility that they were intended to provide small quantities of poisons.

A final version of the report, by Charles A. Duelfer, the top American weapons inspector in Iraq, is expected to be made public within the next several weeks....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/17/politics/17intel.html

[bluestateguy]

1. Hmmmm...

So they were thinking about maybe someday starting a weapons program that had never actually gotten off of the ground.

Good Lord.

These people are so desperate.

[clonebot]

2. geez how many more reports do we need to tell us they weren't there

my buddy came back from iraq with some cool digital photos of ordinance and missle parts scattered all over the country. but he explained that it was all left over from the iran iraq war and the gulf war. these are the items that everytime some repug hears about they claim that these are the WMD's.. but apparently they are so harmless that they can use them as soccer balls and such ;)

[shockingelk]

3. Democraticunderground.com finds ...

Democraticunderground.com finds Bush desire to win election, but not capacity

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Good one, shockingelk! nt

[unfrigginreal]

4. Read: Iraq was contained

Gee thanks NYT for telling us what might have happened if the United Nations sanctions were lifted. It comes as a real shocker that Saddam had a "Desire for Arms." That explains the imminence of the threat and the need for preemptive action. :crazy:

[shockingelk]

10. Exactly. BVut more important ...

The article is sober and accurate. People reading it will recognize the "if".

The problem with it is that it frames the case for war in the light of Iraq having "stockpiles" ... the actual argument was that Iraq was currently building more WMD and must be stopped.

I've tried to get people here interested in that observation, but most are content with swallowing the WH's framing of the issue in terms of "stockpiles" ... I've written about this here if you're interested ...

[LynnTheDem]

6. Tens of thousands of US troops desire limbs, eyes, health back.

But have no capacity.

[jimshoes]

7. Thought crime?

He was desirous of WMD's. For crying out loud, this man couldn't blow his nose without the US knowing about it. Inspectors couldn't keep this man in check?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

8. Let's see...I have the INTENT to fly like a bird...

...but I have yet to develop a large-scale program to do so.

[unfrigginreal]

9. This is what we will do to people like you

:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

Your intent to defy the lord is unacceptable.

[nibbana]

11. NO "W" Just the M D ....Mayhem and Death...

Why did the NY Times softball the headline?

[DeepModem Mom]

12. Very curious headline -- I subbed "WMDs" because headline...

would have given no real clue as to what the article was addressing --

[leesa]

15. Thank God they no longer have mayhem and death in Iraq!

We have FREED them.

Get conned often?

[yellowcanine]

13. Well, I desire lots of money but that doesn't mean I am guilty of robbery

The only way I am going to get a lot of money is if I steal it, so my desire must mean I am guilty right? Arrest me now Mr. Ashcroft.

[moondust]

14. Let's see the actual receipts

or purchase orders for WMD materials (forget the aluminum tubes). Those would do a lot more to establish someone else's intentions than do guesses based on the bureaucratic posturing of a has-been dictator still trying to impress himself and those around him.

[pinniped]

16. He had thoughts to rule the word. But Sadaam's got some nerve...

trying to beat asshole* to it.

There's only room for one diabolical madman.

[JDPriestly]

17. Bush's problem is that this information does not

establish that Iraq was an imminent threat to the U.S. in any way. We actually have huge programs for producing nuclear weapons and the capacity to produce chemical and biological weapons. Does that mean we are an imminent threat to North Korea? Would that justify their attacking us? I don't think so. This is simply not enough to justify the war on Iraq.

This is so sad.