New intelligence from defectors has confirmed U.S. estimates on Iraq's progress in developing weapons of mass destruction using materials shipped through Syria.
The information determined that Saddam had abandoned former WMD facilities for new
underground facilities and mobile vans.
A key development, officials said, is that Baghdad has managed to
weaponize chemical and biological warheads on Iraq's missile arsenal.
For months, the CIA sought to confirm the
assertions of the Iraqi defectors, which in some cases appeared suspect,
that the regime of President Saddam Hussein had acquired the components and
infrastructure through Syria.
But over the last three months, officials said, new information was
received that confirmed much of what the defectors had said, Middle East Newsline reported.
Officials said the reports of Iraqi successes in WMD development came
from a range of defectors.
Over the weekend, Saddam continued meetings with his military advisers. The official Iraqi news agency said Saddam met Military Industry Minister
Abdul Tawab Huweish and senior officials.
U.S. officials said the intelligence community has determined that Iraq
has achieved success in restoring some of its WMD infrastructure. The
officials said the determination is based on intelligence received over the
last few months that points to developments in Iraqi biological and chemical
weapons programs.
Joint Chiefs of Staff
chairman Gen. Richard Myers said the United States
long
suspected that Iraq was using the departure of United Nations weapons
inspectors in 1998 to revive WMD programs.
"What we are certain of [is] that he
still has a great interest in chemical and biological weapons; in fact,
conducts research and development into those systems, that he still
weaponizes those capabilities, that he's very interested in nuclear
capabilities. And, like I say, we're very certain of that, and a lot of that
comes from current intelligence."
Myers said in a television interview on Friday that new intelligence
confirmed and provided many details regarding the capabilities of the Iraqi
regime in biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. He would not elaborate.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Iraq has received technologies
and equipment for its military programs through its land borders. He would
not elaborate.
"People figure clever ways to get around them with dual-use
technologies," Rumsfeld told a briefing on Friday. "People do it illegally
across borders, and these are porous borders."
Rumsfeld said Iraq has obtained sufficient parts and expertise to
improve its air defense network through revenues from oil sales. He said the
United States, despite numerous strikes, has not significantly damaged Iraqi
air defense assets, much of which have been converted into mobile systems.
"He's got mobile anti-aircraft capabilities, and when he shoots at us,
we shoot back," Rumsfeld said. "He hasn't hit us, fortuitously. But by the
same token, we've not done a great deal of damage to his air defenses or any
of his other capabilities."
