Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Iraq May Use Mobile Weapons Labs
Aired September 24, 2002 - 13:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We turn our attention back now to that 55-page dossier on Iraq released today by the British government.
Joining us from Washington to examine what the dossier says, and what it means, CNN National Security Correspondent, David Ensor -- David, what do you think?
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, much of what is in the British government report is not new, but there are a number of new charges against Iraq, and some new evidence assertions that have previously been made. The key point of the British report is that Iraq's programs to develop weapons of mass destruction are not dormant. The report asserts that some Iraqi chemical and biological weapons are ready for use and ready to deploy within 45 minutes of an order from Saddam Hussein or from his son, Qusay, who the report says is also authorized to give such an order.
The report says that Iraq is continuing to produce chemical and biological weapons, and that it tried to acquire uranium in Africa for use in nuclear weapons.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, PRIME MINISTER, GREAT BRITAIN: His chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons program is not a historic leftover from 1998. The inspectors aren't needed to clean-up the old remains. His weapons of mass destruction program is active, detailed, and growing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENSOR: Now in recent weeks, Israeli and U.S. officials have said that they had evidence Iraq was working to extend the range of its missiles beyond the limit of 150 kilometers set by the United Nations.
Missiles that could be used to hit, for example, U.S. forces in the Gulf region, or to hit Israel.
The British report contains this aerial surveillance photo of the Iraqi rocket engine test facility. A -- down there at the bottom, in the middle -- is a new engine test stand being constructed, according to the British report.
The report says -- quote -- that "such a facility would not be needed for systems that fall within the U.N. permitted range," and it says the Iraqis have recently taken some measures to conceal activities at this site. The British report also asserts that Iraq has mobile biological weapons labs, labs that are designed to be moved ahead of U.N. arms inspectors.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLES DUELFER, FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR: This is a very interesting element of the British presentation, because it was on the basis of that kind of information that we had defectors as far back as 1997 that we conducted some of our most controversial inspections.
We had been hearing these reports, we have been seeking these types of mobile laboratories. They are very difficult to find. What we have found is that the Iraqis have had a great deal of experience in learning how to hide things, and now they have had four years to prepare for a new set of inspections.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENSOR: These mobile labs are very hard to find, Kyra, and the point being made by Prime Minister Blair and the British government is there is no assurance that a new group of U.N. inspectors could do so any time soon.
PHILLIPS: David, one quick question. Why hasn't the U.S. come out with some type of report like this, and officials be so detailed?
ENSOR: I get the impression, from some of the officials that I talked to, that the feeling was that if the report came out from the British, it might have a little bit more credibility with some of Britain's European allies, and friends, that it would be worthwhile for the world to see that it isn't just the United States that is worried about these matters, that there is another country that is also deeply concerned, collecting intelligence, and having the evidence that Saddam Hussein is a menace.
PHILLIPS: David Ensor, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 24, 2002 - 13:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We turn our attention back now to that 55-page dossier on Iraq released today by the British government.
Joining us from Washington to examine what the dossier says, and what it means, CNN National Security Correspondent, David Ensor -- David, what do you think?
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, much of what is in the British government report is not new, but there are a number of new charges against Iraq, and some new evidence assertions that have previously been made. The key point of the British report is that Iraq's programs to develop weapons of mass destruction are not dormant. The report asserts that some Iraqi chemical and biological weapons are ready for use and ready to deploy within 45 minutes of an order from Saddam Hussein or from his son, Qusay, who the report says is also authorized to give such an order.
The report says that Iraq is continuing to produce chemical and biological weapons, and that it tried to acquire uranium in Africa for use in nuclear weapons.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, PRIME MINISTER, GREAT BRITAIN: His chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons program is not a historic leftover from 1998. The inspectors aren't needed to clean-up the old remains. His weapons of mass destruction program is active, detailed, and growing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENSOR: Now in recent weeks, Israeli and U.S. officials have said that they had evidence Iraq was working to extend the range of its missiles beyond the limit of 150 kilometers set by the United Nations.
Missiles that could be used to hit, for example, U.S. forces in the Gulf region, or to hit Israel.
The British report contains this aerial surveillance photo of the Iraqi rocket engine test facility. A -- down there at the bottom, in the middle -- is a new engine test stand being constructed, according to the British report.
The report says -- quote -- that "such a facility would not be needed for systems that fall within the U.N. permitted range," and it says the Iraqis have recently taken some measures to conceal activities at this site. The British report also asserts that Iraq has mobile biological weapons labs, labs that are designed to be moved ahead of U.N. arms inspectors.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLES DUELFER, FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR: This is a very interesting element of the British presentation, because it was on the basis of that kind of information that we had defectors as far back as 1997 that we conducted some of our most controversial inspections.
We had been hearing these reports, we have been seeking these types of mobile laboratories. They are very difficult to find. What we have found is that the Iraqis have had a great deal of experience in learning how to hide things, and now they have had four years to prepare for a new set of inspections.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENSOR: These mobile labs are very hard to find, Kyra, and the point being made by Prime Minister Blair and the British government is there is no assurance that a new group of U.N. inspectors could do so any time soon.
PHILLIPS: David, one quick question. Why hasn't the U.S. come out with some type of report like this, and officials be so detailed?
ENSOR: I get the impression, from some of the officials that I talked to, that the feeling was that if the report came out from the British, it might have a little bit more credibility with some of Britain's European allies, and friends, that it would be worthwhile for the world to see that it isn't just the United States that is worried about these matters, that there is another country that is also deeply concerned, collecting intelligence, and having the evidence that Saddam Hussein is a menace.
PHILLIPS: David Ensor, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
