Remember the alerts of Iraqi drones that might be used to deploy chemical and biological weapons? Blix apparently has discovered one but didn't inform the security council over the find in his oral presentation. Is Blix trying to mislead us? _____________ Report: Undeclared Iraqi Plane Could Drop Chemicals A report declassified by the United Nations yesterday contained a hidden bombshell with the revelation that inspectors have recently discovered an undeclared Iraqi drone with a wingspan of 7.45 meters, suggesting an illegal range that could threaten Iraq's neighbors with chemical and biological weapons. U.S. officials were outraged that Hans Blix, the chief U.N. weapons inspector, did not inform the Security Council about the drone, or remotely piloted vehicle, in his oral presentation to Foreign Ministers and tried to bury it in a 173-page single-spaced report distributed later in the day. The omission raised serious questions about Dr Blix's objectivity. "Recent inspections have also revealed the existence of a drone with a wingspan of 7.45m that has not been declared by Iraq," the report said. "Officials at the inspection site stated that the drone had been test-flown. Further investigation is required to establish the actual specifications and capabilities of these RPV drones . . . (they) are restricted by the same UN rules as missiles, which limit their range to 150km (92.6 miles)." Colin Powell, the U.S. Secretary of State, told the Security Council in February that Washington had evidence that Iraq had test-flown a drone in a race-track pattern for 500km non-stop. In another section of the declassified report, the inspectors give warning that Iraq still has spraying devices and drop tanks that could be used in dispersing chemical and biological agents from aircraft. "A large number of drop tanks of various types, both imported and locally manufactured, are available and could be modified," it says. The paper, obtained by The Times, details the possible chemical and biological arsenal that British and U.S. Forces could face in an invasion of Iraq. The paper suggests that Iraq has huge stockpiles of anthrax, may be developing long-range missiles and could possess chemical and biological R400 aerial bombs and Scud missiles, and even smallpox. Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, told his fellow Security Council Foreign Ministers that the document was a"chilling read". General Powell resorted to reading passages from the paper out loud in the Council chamber. He pointed out that it chronicled nearly 30 times when Iraq had failed to provide credible evidence to substantiate its claims, and 17 instances when inspectors uncovered evidence that contradicted those claims. But his draft copy, dating from a meeting of the inspectors' advisory board last week, did not contain the crucial passage about the new drone. The decision by Dr. Blix to declassify the internal report marks the first time the U.N. has made public its suspicions about Iraq's banned weapons programs, rather than what it has been able to actually confirm. "UNMOVIC has credible information that the total quantity of biological warfare agent in bombs, warheads and in bulk at the time of the Gulf War was 7,000 liters more than declared by Iraq. This additional agent was most likely all anthrax," it says. The report says there is "credible information" indicating that 21,000 liters of biological warfare agent, including some 10,000 liters of anthrax, was stored in bulk at locations around the country during the war and was never destroyed. The paper, a collection of 29 "clusters" of questions for Iraq, offers some reassurance about Iraq's missing botulinum toxin, which UNMOVIC believed is "unlikely to retain much, if any, of its potency" if it has been stockpiled since 1991.
Why does a 7.45 m wingspan suggest an illegal range? or the drone can efffectively deliver chemical and biological WMD? If the racetrack pattern were a circle, the range would be 500m = 2 pi r, where r = ~80m and not a range violation. If the racetrack were a figure eight, the range would be 250m = 2 pi r, where r = ~40m and d = 80m and not a range violation. Am I am missing something here?
The article says the Iraqis flew the drone around a race-track pattern for 500km. It doesn't make any reference to how large the track pattern is. If it can be flown, albeit in a circle, for 500km, that would imply that it can fly further than 150km in a straight line. But maybe my math (500km>150km) is off. That's not to say that this is necessarily true. I'm just saying that appears what the article is claiming.
The more important issue is, of course, the fact that these drones were built in order to deliver chemical/biological weapons. One has to ask why Blix tried to bury this "revelation" in his report to the Security Council. As I mentioned yesterday, it is highly suspicious, and puts his motives into question (if they weren't already before).
The drone is radio controlled. The question is how far away can the drone be from the radio operator. If that distance is > 150m, this is a violation. If the radio operator stands in the middle of the 500m circular track, the drone is no more than 80m away from the operator.
Unless it had a little computer inside and a GPS system. Just thought I'd throw that out there! Anyone know if North Korea has some of those? Flying low to Japan is not that great a distance. And their technology seems pretty advanced for such a pot-hole of a country. (I should say a pot-hole of a government, to be fair)
Newly declassified 1997 photo found by the inspectors. Unidentified Iraqi scientist (with cigar) tests an early prototype drone on Saddam's royal lawn.
If the operator stands in the middle of the track, the track would have to be monstrous to be larger than 150km (it's km not m). I doubt that's the issue. I guess the assumption is that the radio control works on a frequency that can travel further than 150km, but that the fuel capacity or whatever is what takes the drone from legal to illegal. But again, we don't know because the article doesn't tell us. All we know is the thing flew 500km in a race-track pattern and that Powell reportedly thinks that's significant. We apparently need more information to make that determination.
You guys are so focused on the range, and are totally ignoring the real issue: these drones were designed to deliver chemical and biological weapons. They are proof f*ing positive that Iraq has at the bare minimum an intent to be able to deliver WMD. We have known of the existence of such drones for years, and when the inspectors find them, Blix tries to hide it in his oral report to the UN. No one thinks that is significant? How in the hell can anyone still seriously doubt that they have an active WMD program?
...and I think the kicker is that they had researched WMD that have no military value, but do have value as covert or terror weapons. E.g., the aflatoxin w/ the additive that makes it impossible to detect and causes cancer several years down the road or the wheat smut.
I thought Powell said that they the drones could be modified to deliver chemical and biological payload. This implies that the drones were not designed for such. BTW, who else is making this claim besides the US?
A report declassified by the United Nations yesterday contained a hidden bombshell with the revelation that inspectors have recently discovered an undeclared Iraqi drone with a wingspan of 7.45 meters, suggesting an illegal range that could threaten Iraq's neighbors with chemical and biological weapons.
Part of the problem is that wrt Iraq the US has been telling lies, frabricating evidence, and in general talking out of both sides of their mouth. This all goes to the extent of Iraq's WMD's research, precurser materials, production capability and the weapons themselves. The world believes Iraq has some WMD, but are very unsure if the WMD programs are what the US says they are.
I think it is fox news that is suggesting an illegal range and payload. The UN report quoted later stated
On no. The Attack of the Killer Clones, no I mean Drones. That does it. Now I know that Iraq is an immediate direct threat to me at my desk in Houston TX. No inspectors, sanctions, or anything can contain the clones, I mean drones. Sign me up is it too late for me to join up to defend us on the beach of Galveston or down on the Mexcian border from the Killer Drones? Page 173 of the report! Blix is not wit us so he's agin us. He is a terrorist for practical purposes. So is the UN. How can the guy have more credibility than our President Bush? What is the world coming to. Do you think the Clones have infiltrated the UN and taken control of Blix? How cannot Carter, Bush Str, the Pope, Canada's premier most of the world's populations and countries not realize that the KIller Clones, I mean drones are coming. Quick is it too late for duct tape?
OK Jeff...I hope you are reading this one. I heard the same newsflash that I am assuming everyone else heard abou the drone that could deliver bio weapons and the cluster bomb that could deliver bio-weapons... I would actually support putting the inevitable ass-stomping of Iraq on hold due to the revelation this information. That's right. I'm willing to wait a lil' bit now. If the world sees this glaring example of Iraqi evil then perhaps their formal involvement can be expedited. Having the useless & worthless UN on our side is better than not even though they are worthless and useless and talk too much and are a harmless bunch of butterflies. It is still better to have their blessing.
