-Caveat Lector- http://www.libertyforum.org/showflat.php? Cat=&Board=news_news&Number=483925&t=-1
Category: News & Opinion Topic: News & Current Events Synopsis: British and US reports about Iraqi attempts to smuggle uranium out of Niger were fake Source: Independent Online Published: March 8, 2003 Author: Anne Penketh For Education and Discussion Only. Not for Commercial Use. Baradei says US reports were false By Anne Penketh 08 March 2003 In their low-key way, the two UN chief weapons inspectors once again seriously undermined the credibility of American and British assertions about Iraq's attempts to rebuild an illegal arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. The most devastating blow yesterday came from Mohamed al- Baradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who asserted that British and US reports about Iraqi attempts to smuggle uranium out of Niger were fake. "Based on thorough analysis, the IAEA has concluded ... that these documents, which formed the basis for the reports of recent uranium transactions between Iraq and Niger, are in fact not authentic," he told the UN Security Council. "We have, therefore, concluded that these specific allegations are unfounded." Demolishing another American claim, Mr Baradei said extensive investigations of high-strength aluminium tubes Iraq attempted to purchase had confirmed they were not suitable for a uranium enrichment centrifuge programme. He added, in another contradiction of US assertions, that IAEA experts had concluded that none of Iraq's declared high-strength magnets could be used directly to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons. For his part, Hans Blix cast doubt on the US intelligence claims that weapons of mass destruction were being moved around Iraq by trucks and that there were mobile production units for biological weapons. Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, had made much of the mobile production units, complete with diagrams, during a presentation to the Security Council on 5 February. Mr Blix noted that the Iraqis had denied any such activities, and said that several inspections had taken place to test whether the mobile laboratories really existed. But while "food-testing mobile laboratories and mobile workshops" and containers with "seed-processing equipment" had been spotted, Mr Blix said there had been no evidence of any banned activities so far. Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutra <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
