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âSolid caseâ building for Iraq weapons, search leader says
The U.S. is building "a solid case" that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction programs, said a leader of the search team in Iraq. "We are getting the active cooperation of Iraqis who were involved in that program" and "solid evidence is being produced," said David Kay, a former United Nations inspector whom the Central Intelligence Agency tapped to be its representative on the Iraq Survey Group. Kay said the team wouldnât release "partial information" on its search, even as he confirmed that no weapons of mass destruction have been found. The search has been underway less than two months.No release of info in dribs and drabs, going to have one massive show and tell when heâs done. The Bush administration is under pressure to show evidence of what was its primary rationale for war. Democrats, including some who are vying to oppose President George W. Bush in the 2004 election, say the threat from weapons of mass destruction may have been exaggerated or based on flawed intelligence. Weaving their own rope, putting it around their necks and getting up on the chair. The only question now is when does George kick the chair out from under them. Kay spoke with reporters in the U.S. Capitol in Washington after giving a three-hour private briefing to the Senate Armed Services Committee. "America and the world must exercise patience," Republican Senator John Warner of Virginia, the panelâs chairman, said. The search team is committed to producing "sound facts and information" and wonât make "any dramatic public announcements at this time," he said. "Weâre looking to see if we can get time during the Democratic convention." Kayâs briefing to Congress was his first since joining the Iraq Survey Group. He was accompanied by the groupâs director, Army Major General Keith Dayton. Dayton echoed Kayâs positive assessment. "Every week, it is phenomenal what we are finding," he said. "I am much more optimistic and confident that we are going to come to a good resolution of this in good time." Itâs not like weâre hiding the fact that we expect to find a WMD program, but the Donks just keep marching toward the cliff. Administration officials insist these weapons existed and evidence of them will be found. Warner and Kansas Republican Senator Pat Roberts, a armed servicesâ panel member whoâs also chairman of the Intelligence Committee, urged patience. "This is a step-by-step process," Roberts said. Hussein spent "20 years and 10,000 Iraqis and millions of dollars on a program of denial and deception. Weâve had six weeks." Kay said the team "will not come forward with evidence until we have three criteria:" multiple sources from Iraqis, documents and physical proof. Kay labeled "completely inaccurate" a Washington Post report today that Iraqi scientists who have been questioned by U.S. officials continue to deny that Hussein was developing weapons of mass destruction. So they are talking, bet theyâll open up even more when we set Sammyâs head on the table in front of them. Posted by: Steve 2003-07-31 |
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