Blix 'hid smoking gun' from Britain and US

[subgenius]

The British and US ambassadors plan to demand that Hans Blix reveals more details of a huge undeclared Iraqi unmanned aircraft, the discovery of which he failed to mention in his oral report to Security Council foreign ministers on Friday. Its existence was only disclosed in a declassified 173-page document circulated by the inspectors at the end of the meeting — an apparent attempt by Dr Blix to hide the revelation to avoid triggering a war.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-605557,00.html

SOLDIER'S CHILLING WARNING

An Iraqi defector has told Sky News that Saddam Hussein will use chemical weapons if the country is invaded.


His warning comes amid revelations Saddam Hussein may be planning to use pilotless drone planes to spray British and US troops with anthrax and sarin gas if they attack.

In an exclusive interview, the officer with Saddam's elite Republican Guard, said the use of chemical weapons by Iraq was "100% guaranteed".
...

The suspected plot by Saddam to drop chemical weapons on attacking troops emerged following chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix's 173-page report to the UN Security Council.

The report listed details of missing weapons which Iraq had not accounted for.

They include 50 Scud B warheads and 6,500 bombs laced with chemical weapons, VX nerve agents and anthrax.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-12265723,00.html

[Reginald]

Points well raised!!

Its quite outrageous.

However as I have said before, we expect too much of Blix. Not as a weapons inspector but as a human being. I believe he is (understandably) affraid to say the words that will start a war.

He should collate the data, make it available to all parties and then present his report to the security council in person, to allow for some cross examination.

I heard on UK TV news today that this drone was discovered early last week. More than enough time to be included in his presentation, (He happily added in the begining of the destruction of the missiles after the draft report went in).

The omission of this discovery, IMHO, clearly shows his reluctance to do what is (perhaps unrealistically) required of him, and if this is unrealistic then there is little hope for inspections in the future.

[Kodiak]

This was also missed until recently... (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&postid=374250#post374250)

From the web article:
"March 10 — U.N. inspectors have uncovered a new variety of Iraqi rocket that was apparently configured to strew bomblets filled with chemical and biological agents..."

[Segnosaur]

Originally posted by Kodiak
"March 10 — U.N. inspectors have uncovered a new variety of Iraqi rocket that was apparently configured to strew bomblets filled with chemical and biological agents..."
The problem is the name... "bomblets" sounds too cute and innocent.

[Victor Danilchenko]

And this of course is the "proof in the pudding" that inspections do indeed work, and that the hawks' unilateralism was a bad policy all along.

In my personal opinion, war is a terrible thing to be avoided, but can be justified under certain circumstances. however, the administration's say-so and tenuous speculations and somesuch, are not such sufficient justification.

[corplinx]

Originally posted by Victor Danilchenko
And this of course is the "proof in the pudding" that inspections do indeed work, and that the hawks' unilateralism was a bad policy all along.


Rubbish Victor, the simple fact is that we can't inspect Saddam until the end of time. It's time for him to go.

I think what this proves is what some of Blix's old peers have said about him. That he is a good diplomat but unfit for this sort of thing.

[Segnosaur]

What I want to know is how Sean Penn could have missed this stuff.

[Kodiak]

Originally posted by Victor Danilchenko
And this of course is the "proof in the pudding" that inspections do indeed work, and that the hawks' unilateralism was a bad policy all along.

That's a red herring.

Resolution 1441 and the proposed US/UK "March 17th" deadline resolution are not calling the inspections inoperable or a failure. Inspections would work if Iraq complied. Iraq has failed, and is failing still, to comply with a UN resolution voted for unanimously by the security council. The trickle of NBC weapons that the inspectors have found has been the result of allied intelligence combined with luck. Iraq has constantly resisted the efforts of the inspectors for more than 8 years, either by kicking the inspectors out, restricting their movements, or by playing the "shell game".

What you call "unilateralism", I call consequences for violating a unanimous UN mandate.

[synaesthesia]

Originally posted by Segnosaur

The problem is the name... "bomblets" sounds too cute and innocent.

Why in the hell should we go to war over a cute little bomblet hu? Who was ever hurt by the darlings?

[Drooper]

Originally posted by synaesthesia


Why in the hell should we go to war over a cute little bomblet hu? Who was ever hurt by the darlings?

What sort of bomelettes are they? ham and cheese? Mushroom maybe? I don't see the sense going to war over food...err... oh, a Bomblet you say?

never mind

[crocodile deathroll]

That is just a very large toy remote controlled plane nothing other than a poor man's guided missile. If any thing that big combersome best can easily be picked up on radar. It would be stealthier to use something much smaller to deliver something like anthrax.
If some Islamic nations in a Holy Gihad were really desparate to deliver weapons of mass destruction they would be more likely deliver it kamikazi in a small plane or even an old second hand cabin cruiser boat.

[richardm]

Umm. What do you think a remote controlled plane like that might be used for? It's hardly likely to be just a toy, wouldn't you say?

[Drooper]

Originally posted by richardm
Umm. What do you think a remote controlled plane like that might be used for? It's hardly likely to be just a toy, wouldn't you say?

like that harmless remote controlled plane the CIA used to assassinate those Al-Qaeda suspects some months ago?

[richardm]

.. That's the one I was thinking of, Drooper!

[Reginald]

Originally posted by crocodile deathroll
That is just a very large toy remote controlled plane nothing other than a poor man's guided missile. If any thing that big combersome best can easily be picked up on radar. It would be stealthier to use something much smaller to deliver something like anthrax.
If some Islamic nations in a Holy Gihad were really desparate to deliver weapons of mass destruction they would be more likely deliver it kamikazi in a small plane or even an old second hand cabin cruiser boat.

It can fly low. Under radar, something an unsophisticated missile cannot do.

As for the kamikazi idea, sure, but why limit your self to one method of delivery when you can have lots?

and a box cutter is a poor mans combat knife, dont let the cost of something hide its capability.

[Reginald]

Oh look, in resolution 1441 section 3.....

3.______ Decides that, in order to begin to comply with its disarmament obligations, in addition to submitting the required biannual declarations, the Government of Iraq shall provide to UNMOVIC, the IAEA, and the Council, not later than 30 days from the date of this resolution, a currently accurate, full, and complete declaration of all aspects of its programmes to develop chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and other delivery systems such as unmanned aerial vehicles and dispersal systems designed for use on aircraft, including any holdings and precise locations of such weapons, components, sub-components, stocks of agents, and related material and equipment, the locations and work of its research, development and production facilities, as well as all other chemical, biological, and nuclear programmes, including any which it claims are for purposes not related to weapon production or material;

Not much ambiguity there then.

[Kodiak]

Originally posted by Reginald
Oh look, in resolution 1441 section 3.....

3.______ Decides that, in order to begin to comply with its disarmament obligations, in addition to submitting the required biannual declarations, the Government of Iraq shall provide to UNMOVIC, the IAEA, and the Council, not later than 30 days from the date of this resolution, a currently accurate, full, and complete declaration of all aspects of its programmes to develop chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and other delivery systems such as unmanned aerial vehicles and dispersal systems designed for use on aircraft, including any holdings and precise locations of such weapons, components, sub-components, stocks of agents, and related material and equipment, the locations and work of its research, development and production facilities, as well as all other chemical, biological, and nuclear programmes, including any which it claims are for purposes not related to weapon production or material;

Not much ambiguity there then.

And lets not forget...

3.______ Decides that, in order to begin to comply with its disarmament obligations, in addition to submitting the required biannual declarations, the Government of Iraq shall provide to UNMOVIC, the IAEA, and the Council, not later than 30 days from the date of this resolution, a currently accurate, full, and complete declaration of all aspects of its programmes to develop chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and other delivery systems such as unmanned aerial vehicles and dispersal systems designed for use on aircraft, including any holdings and precise locations of such weapons, components, sub-components, stocks of agents, and related material and equipment, the locations and work of its research, development and production facilities, as well as all other chemical, biological, and nuclear programmes, including any which it claims are for purposes not related to weapon production or material;

[aerocontrols]

Move along, move along...

No smoking guns to see here.