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| Axis of Evil |
| New Building at Iraqi Nuclear Sites |
| 2002-09-06 |
| A team of weapons inspectors, studying satellite photography, have identified several nuclear-related sites in Iraq where new construction or other unexplained changes have occurred since the last international inspections nearly four years ago, a United Nations official said today. Pay no attention to the contents of those photos. Tariq said there's nothing to worry about, and we know he'd never lie to us... This would seem to be a bit of pressure from the U.N. to let the inspectors back in so the Merkins don't go causing a scene and liberating people... Experts in New York and Vienna have continued to scrutinize aerial photographs and pore over intelligence reports, even after United Nations inspectors pulled out of Iraq in December 1998 in advance of bombing by the United States and Britain. Officials representing the team of nuclear inspectors in Vienna and a separate team on chemical and biological weapons based in New York said United Nations inspectors are equipped, trained and ready to go to Iraq and could begin their work within weeks if Baghdad gave permission. But they said it would take about a year to complete work to determine whether Iraq was developing prohibited weapons, and then only if Iraq cooperated fully. Which they wouldn't, since they didn't the last time... A team of about 15 experts at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna noted the new structures and other alterations in photographs shot by a commercial satellite, said Jacques Baute, the French physicist who is the team leader of the nuclear inspectors. The shots were compared to pictures and information from the sites gathered by inspectors the last time they were in Iraq. He declined to identify exact locations. "We are very curious to see what is under the roof," Mr. Baute said, referring to the new buildings. "There are some activities that could be part of prohibited activities, but we have nothing now that allows us to draw a conclusion. Wait a couple or three months and ask somebody from the 101st Airborne. They'll probably be happy to tell you. Thanks to Steve for the headzup! |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #1 They are probably more "baby milk" factories. |
| Posted by: PJ 2002-09-06 14:21:22 |