4.2 |
Iraq WMD assessments, July to September 2002
583.
In respect of
ballistic missiles, the Executive Summary stated:
“As a
result of that intelligence, we judge that Iraq has:
•
illegally
retained up to 20 Al Hussein missiles, with a range of
650km,
capable of
carrying chemical or biological warheads;
•
started
deploying its Al Samoud liquid propellant missile, and has used
the
absence of
weapons inspectors to work on extending its range to at
least
200km
…
•
started
producing the … Ababil-100, and is making efforts to extend its
range
to at least
200km …
•
constructed
a new engine test stand for the development of missiles
capable
of reaching
the UK Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus and NATO members
(Greece and
Turkey), as well as all Iraq’s Gulf neighbours and
Israel;
•
pursued
illegal programmes to procure materials for use in its
illegal
development
of long-range missiles …”314
584.
In its
“main
conclusions”, the dossier
stated:
“Iraq
possesses extended-range versions of the SCUD ballistic missile …
which are
capable of
reaching Cyprus, Eastern Turkey, Tehran and Israel. It is also
developing
longer-range
missiles …”315
585.
The dossier
stated that the JIC:
•
drew
attention in mid-2001 to a “step change” in progress on Iraq’s
missile
programme
over the preceding two years, and that “work was under
way
on larger
engines for longer-range missiles”; and
•
concluded
in early 2002 that “Iraq had begun to develop missiles with a
range
of over
1,000kms”, but it assessed that “if sanctions remained effective”,
Iraq
“would not
be able to produce such a missile before 2007”.
586.
In a section
on Iraq’s ballistic missile programme since 1998, the dossier
stated:
•
Iraq had
retained up to 20 Al Hussein missiles that “could be used
with
conventional,
chemical or biological warheads and, with a range of 650km
are
capable of
reaching a number of countries in the region including
Cyprus”.
•
“Intelligence
has confirmed that Iraq wants to extend the range of its
missiles
systems to
over 1,000km, enabling it to threaten other regional
neighbours.”
•
“Iraq’s
missile programmes employ hundreds of people.”
314
Iraq’s
Weapons of Mass Destruction. The Assessment of the British
Government, 24
September 2002,
page
6.
315
Iraq’s
Weapons of Mass Destruction. The Assessment of the British
Government, 24
September 2002,
page
17.
225