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How Close is Iraq to Developing Nuclear Capability?

Aired July 31, 2002 - 14:07   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's bring in our analyst, Pat Lang, a former Pentagon official. You've been watching and listening to the testimony as I have. How close is it in your assessment right now that the Iraqis might be on the verge of developing that nuclear capability?
PAT LANG, FMR. PENTAGON OFFICIAL: Given their level of expertise, and the amount of time they've had free of inspection, I would say that four, five or six months, anything like that, you could have an initial detonation of a non-deliverable device in the desert, which would be real bad, because then as soon as he does that, you would begin to be deterred from actions against him.

BLITZER: In other words, the clock is ticking right now precisely for that formula, that situation?

LANG: I think that's right. And the witnesses have all made that case quite skillfully today, that the time running out for us, and we have to face a different geostrategic situation if the Iraqis all of a sudden do turn out to have nuclear devices.

BLITZER: If the -- one of the witnesses Anthony Cortisman, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies here in Washington, a respected think tank, he said it would by no means be a cakewalk if the president authorizes military action. The Iraqi military has been rebuilt and has some impressive capabilities.

LANG: Yes, they are a substantial third world army. And they operate at about the level, with their best units, of World War II, which is a considerable level, and you run the risk if you went in there with an insufficient force, of having some people isolated in there by small units; you might be overwhelmed by locally superior forces, something we all certainly don't want to see.

BLITZER: Pat Lang, thanks for joining us once again, and we'll continue to come back to you. The hearings are expected to resume within the next few minutes.

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