The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

572. In a section on “Recent Intelligence”, the dossier stated:

“Subsequently intelligence has become available from reliable sources which

complements and adds to previous intelligence and confirms the JIC assessment

that Iraq has chemical and biological weapons. The intelligence also shows that the

Iraqi leadership has been discussing a number of issues related to these weapons.

This intelligence covers:

• Confirmation that chemical and biological weapons play an important

role in Iraqi military thinking: intelligence shows that Saddam attaches

great importance to the possession of chemical and biological weapons

which he regards as being the basis for Iraqi regional power. He believes

that respect for Iraq rests on its possession of these weapons and the

missiles capable of delivering them. Intelligence indicates that Saddam is

determined to retain this capability and recognises that Iraqi political weight

would be diminished if Iraq’s military power rested solely on its conventional

military forces.

• Iraq’s attempts to retain its existing banned weapon systems:

Iraq is already taking steps to prevent the UN weapons inspectors finding

evidence of its chemical and biological weapons programme. Intelligence

indicates that Saddam has learnt lessons from previous weapons

inspections, has identified possible weak points in the inspections process

and knows how to exploit them. Sensitive equipment and papers can easily

be concealed and in some cases this is already happening. The possession

of mobile biological agent production facilities will also aid concealment

efforts. Saddam is determined not to lose the capabilities that he has been

able to develop further in the four years since inspectors left.

• Saddam’s willingness to use chemical and biological weapons:

intelligence indicates that as part of Iraq’s military planning Saddam is willing

to use chemical and biological weapons, including against his own Shia

population. Intelligence indicates that the Iraqi military are able to deploy

chemical and biological weapons within 45 minutes of an order to do so.”304

573. In a section on “Chemical agent: production facilities”, the dossier stated:

“Intelligence shows that Iraq has continued to produce chemical agent.”305

574. In a similar section on “Biological agent: production facilities”, the dossier

stated: “We know from intelligence that Iraq has continued to produce biological

warfare agents.”306

304 Iraq’s Weapons of Mass Destruction. The Assessment of the British Government, 24 September 2002,

pages 18-19.

305 Iraq’s Weapons of Mass Destruction. The Assessment of the British Government, 24 September 2002,

page 19.

306 Iraq’s Weapons of Mass Destruction. The Assessment of the British Government, 24 September 2002,

page 21.

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