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CNN Live Saturday
Some Experts Dispute Claims Trailers Found in Iraq Were Part of Bioweapons Program
Aired June 07, 2003 - 16:05 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the hunt for Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction. The "New York Times" is reporting that some American and British intelligence analysts are disputing claims that trailers found in Iraq were intended for bioweapons production. CNN's Chris Plante is at the Pentagon with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Under increasing pressure to provide solid proof of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs eight weeks after the fall of Baghdad, the Bush administration finds itself again under attack for the way in which intelligence information related to the weapons has been handled.
In a "New York Times" article, U.S. and British intelligence officials and experts questioned the veracity of Bush administration's claims that two mobile laboratories were built by Iraq to produce deadly biological agents. "The Times" says there's disagreement among analysts as to whether the vehicles are, in fact, what the U.S. says they are.
Former U.N. weapons inspector David Kay who has seen one of the trailers and the reports on the second tells CNN the most likely use was for biological weapons, and that virtually any other explanation for the labs, quote, "didn't pass the laugh test."
And questions about the existence of chemical weapons appear to have been raised by a Defense Intelligence Agency document from September 2002, stating "there is no reliable information on whether Iraq is producing and stockpiling chemical weapons."
The admiral in charge of the DIA said Friday he never had doubts that both chemical and biological programs existed. He nevertheless conceded the intelligence lacked clarity.
VICE ADM. LOWELL JACOBY, DIA: So what we're saying is that as of 2002, in September, we could not reliably pin down for somebody who is doing contingency planning specific facilities, locations, or production that was under way.
PLANTE: But, experts say, it's common for intelligence to lack clarity.
ROBERT ALVAREZ, INST. FOR POLICY STUDIES: Intelligence basically is not what you see in movies. It isn't James Bond. It isn't like they know everything that's going on at all times. Intelligence is, in effect, an art. And it involves really trying to delve into the areas that you don't know and trying to make some judgments.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PLANTE: Fredricka, as long as no smoking gun is available for the administration to present to the public, certainly pressure will continue from certain quarters. Even as we speak, additional inspectors are headed toward Iraq to fan out across the country in an effort to provide additional evidence. Now, administration officials here and in Great Britain are reasonably well convinced that the mobile vehicles are what they say they are and believe that may eventually constitute a smoking gun by itself, but they're still looking for more -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: So, Chris, those inspectors heading that way, those are more U.N. inspectors?
PLANTE: Well, they're U.N. inspectors and they're also members of a task force that the U.S. is fielding on the ground there, roughly 1,000 experts in the various fields, chemical, biological and nuclear, and they, too, are fanning out across the country. They're involved in interrogating regime officials from Saddam Hussein's regime in the hopes that they'll be able to come up with more evidence than they have so far -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Interesting. All right, Chris Plante from the Pentagon.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Part of Bioweapons Program>
Aired June 7, 2003 - 16:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the hunt for Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction. The "New York Times" is reporting that some American and British intelligence analysts are disputing claims that trailers found in Iraq were intended for bioweapons production. CNN's Chris Plante is at the Pentagon with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Under increasing pressure to provide solid proof of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs eight weeks after the fall of Baghdad, the Bush administration finds itself again under attack for the way in which intelligence information related to the weapons has been handled.
In a "New York Times" article, U.S. and British intelligence officials and experts questioned the veracity of Bush administration's claims that two mobile laboratories were built by Iraq to produce deadly biological agents. "The Times" says there's disagreement among analysts as to whether the vehicles are, in fact, what the U.S. says they are.
Former U.N. weapons inspector David Kay who has seen one of the trailers and the reports on the second tells CNN the most likely use was for biological weapons, and that virtually any other explanation for the labs, quote, "didn't pass the laugh test."
And questions about the existence of chemical weapons appear to have been raised by a Defense Intelligence Agency document from September 2002, stating "there is no reliable information on whether Iraq is producing and stockpiling chemical weapons."
The admiral in charge of the DIA said Friday he never had doubts that both chemical and biological programs existed. He nevertheless conceded the intelligence lacked clarity.
VICE ADM. LOWELL JACOBY, DIA: So what we're saying is that as of 2002, in September, we could not reliably pin down for somebody who is doing contingency planning specific facilities, locations, or production that was under way.
PLANTE: But, experts say, it's common for intelligence to lack clarity.
ROBERT ALVAREZ, INST. FOR POLICY STUDIES: Intelligence basically is not what you see in movies. It isn't James Bond. It isn't like they know everything that's going on at all times. Intelligence is, in effect, an art. And it involves really trying to delve into the areas that you don't know and trying to make some judgments.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PLANTE: Fredricka, as long as no smoking gun is available for the administration to present to the public, certainly pressure will continue from certain quarters. Even as we speak, additional inspectors are headed toward Iraq to fan out across the country in an effort to provide additional evidence. Now, administration officials here and in Great Britain are reasonably well convinced that the mobile vehicles are what they say they are and believe that may eventually constitute a smoking gun by itself, but they're still looking for more -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: So, Chris, those inspectors heading that way, those are more U.N. inspectors?
PLANTE: Well, they're U.N. inspectors and they're also members of a task force that the U.S. is fielding on the ground there, roughly 1,000 experts in the various fields, chemical, biological and nuclear, and they, too, are fanning out across the country. They're involved in interrogating regime officials from Saddam Hussein's regime in the hopes that they'll be able to come up with more evidence than they have so far -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Interesting. All right, Chris Plante from the Pentagon.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Part of Bioweapons Program>
