Iraqi Scientists Threatened With Death if They Cooperated With U.N. Inspectors

Iraqi Intimidation
Source: Iraqi Scientists Threatened With Death if They Cooperated With U.N. Inspectors

By Christopher Isham and Brian Ross

Feb. 10 — In the last 10 days, United Nations inspectors have been given what are described as "important, new and credible leads" from a recent defector, who also told ABCNEWS that Iraqi scientists involved in the nuclear, chemical and biological weapons program were systematically intimidated.

The defector, interviewed by ABCNEWS in an undisclosed European country, is an engineer described as close to several of the weapons scientists who, he said, live in fear.
Many of the scientists are eager to cooperate with the United Nations, but the intimidation is so effective that the scientists are terrified of meeting in private with the inspectors. One scientist who met with the inspectors this week was so frightened, it took an hour for him to stop shaking, according to U.N. sources.

"Iraqi scientists and researchers are under a lot of pressure and influence by the Iraqi authorities," the Iraqi defector told ABCNEWS. "They were scared and threatened in different ways, including threatening to go after their families if they leave Iraq to meet with inspectors and going after their relatives if their families go with them and going after them even if they were in exile.

"For these reasons, the scientist or researcher becomes scared to tell the secrets, even though he knows it's a way to lift the difficult, miserable conditions the Iraqi people are living under."

According to the Iraqi, many of the scientists involved in the weapons of mass destruction program are housed with their families at a secret compound in downtown Baghdad.

In mid-October 2002, when it became clear that U.N. inspectors would be returning to Iraq, the security at the compound was upgraded substantially and the personnel elevated from low-level Iraqi police officers to members of the elite Special Security Organization, which is responsible for ensuring the loyalty of all security and military personnel, protecting the president and controlling the weapons of mass destruction launch platforms.

Scientists Detained, ‘Loyalty’ Questioned

At about the same time, a group of approximately seven to 10 scientists involved in the secret weapons of mass destruction programs were detained and taken to another secret location. These scientists were detained because their loyalties to the regime were in question.

According to the Iraqi, the scientists were not permitted to communicate with their families. "They went to their work as usual, as any other day," he said. "They were detained there and taken to unknown places. Afterwards, their families were contacted and assured that they will return shortly and that they were in good condition."

Most of the scientists were released between one to two months later. One of the scientists who was released in late November was killed in a mysterious automobile crash less than a week after he returned. The message to the other scientists was clear:

"This was a clear message from the Iraqi authorities to all scientists and researchers to stay away from the inspection teams and not to tell any secrets or give any piece of information that could harm the Iraqi government," said the Iraqi defector, "because if they do, their fate would be the same as their colleague's."

Saddam Hussein's security organizations have killed a number of opponents in arranged "accidents" Amatzia Bar'am, a professor in the Department of Middle Eastern History at the University of Haifa in Israel, told ABCNEWS. "I could provide you with 10 such cases during the last few years," he said. "If you assassinate someone like that, there is no reason for it except to warn everybody watch it, you don't want to divulge any secrets."

Held Legally Responsible

The Iraqi also revealed, for the first time, how the scientists were compelled to sign two documents. The first was a declaration that he would cooperate fully with the U.N. inspectors. The second declaration negates the first, obliging every Iraqi researcher and scientist not to cooperate with the U.N. teams and hide the information.

"If he causes any harm to the Iraqi authorities, he is considered legally responsible," said the defector. "The first pledge is public and a copy is sent to the U.N., while the second is only for some Iraqi security agencies."

The words "legally responsible" have a particular meaning in Saddam Hussein's Iraq. "The penalty: killing and torture and going after the family, even if in exile."

American intelligence sources say this defector was one of those whose information was used in Colin Powell's speech to the U.N. Security Council last week. Powell said, "Some of these sources have put their lives on the line to talk to us."

The description of the secret compound and secret pledges is consistent with what many experts say is Saddam Hussein's usual tactics.

"He has a need for legal niceties, and this is exactly what he has done in the past: getting people to sign pledges not to harm the country," said Bar'am. "They know then they face death if they do."

The Iraqi has been interviewed by U.S. intelligence officials who have found his story to be credible and have verified certain key details.

The defector's information about the intimidation of the scientists is being pursued this week in Baghdad, according to U.N. sources.