Well, I guess it's not all that secret if it's in The Telegraph, is it? (Thanks to Beardown and Captain Ed for the link.)
Syria's President Bashir al-Asad is in secret negotiations with Iran to secure a safe haven for a group of Iraqi nuclear scientists who were sent to Damascus before last year's war to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Western intelligence officials believe that President Asad is desperate to get the Iraqi scientists out of his country before their presence prompts America to target Syria as part of the war on terrorism.The issue of moving the Iraqi scientists to Iran was raised when President Asad made a visit to Teheran in July. Intelligence officials understand that the Iranians have still to respond to the Syrian leader's request.
A group of about 12 middle-ranking Iraqi nuclear technicians and their families were transported to Syria before the collapse of Saddam's regime. The transfer was arranged under a combined operation by Saddam's now defunct Special Security Organisation and Syrian Military Security, which is headed by Arif Shawqat, the Syrian president's brother-in-law.
The Iraqis, who brought with them CDs crammed with research data on Saddam's nuclear programme, were given new identities, including Syrian citizenship papers and falsified birth, education and health certificates. Since then they have been hidden away at a secret Syrian military installation where they have been conducting research on behalf of their hosts.
Read it all. Then read the Captain's comments, which include:
Let's recall that Syria is a member of the UN Security Council, supposedly a member of the body that Kofi Annan says has to approve our actions in defense of our own security ... and also a member of the counterterrorism committee for the UN, a laughably inappropriate assignment. This UNSC member-state allowed Saddam's nuclear scientists to flee just ahead of the invading Americans, which means that Syria knew the Iraqis had not complied with any of the 16 resolutions calling for its disarmament.
That Saddam's WMDs were taken to Syria has been reported for some time. Why the Bush administration, under fire for going into Iraq and not finding any WMDs, has not mentioned this indicates that there is more to US-Syrian relations than we know.
The reported collusion between Syria and Iran--nothing new as Iran funds Hezbollah--creates aa incomprehensible situation for the US.
So what is news about that? No doubt a hell of a lot of things went to Syria other than just the technicians.I think the time has come that Syria was put on notice.It's time to cut the bullshit and stop screwing around with those crazy bunch of bastards over there. Three men in one B-2 could turn that whole stinking country into glass,might as well send one to Iran while we're at it too.
Let them go find work in Iran. They'll be unemployed by Christmas thanks to American airpower!
The Bush team is probably planning some kinda masterstroke in Oct - capturing and parading Osama while simulataneously releasing Iraqi WMD evidence could completely unhinge what little Kerry has left of a campaign platform.
But most troubling is the Washington's silence on the entire sordid AQ Khan nuke-bazaar affair. In a recent intvw to Time, Pak's Gen Musharraf claims the US never even ASKED for access to AQ Khan to interrogate the bastard and find out what other rogues he'd had on his client list?!
Anyways, I do realise this isn't the appropriate forum to talk domestic politics. But its also an issue of (inter)national security, eh?
What's the problem?
Due to my knowledge: there is no int'l law to prevent any country for hiring Iraqi scientists for its own scientific research program.
Do you know any to address me? Or if it's against IAEA rules, would you please explain?
But if you mean that it's against US interests and concerns then it's another story! Every country has its own interests and concerns - including Iran.
Anyhow I know nothing about that report from The Telegraph! Everybody who has a claim, has to prove it.
Ali.
JWers:
This will be posted on multiple threads and periodically for the next few days, so I apologize in advance for the repetition.
Susan B and I are compiling a list of e-mail addresses for JWers/DWers who might wish to contact each other personally. Once your name is on the list, if someone wants to contact you, you will first be contacted by Susan who will obtain your authorization before giving out your e-mail address to the individual who requests it. So far we've had a pretty good response to our previous posts but there are a lot of familiar names missing! If you'd like to join our contact list, send your info (be sure to include your JW screenname so we know who you are) to susan_b356@yahoo.com.
CGW
Can anyone on this site tell me precisely when these scientists, along with their data and equipment, were allegedly transferred to Syria.
I think it is an important question because I remember just before the war started that France worked out some ploy wherein they promised to support the war if the U.S. would give Saddam one last chance (I believe about 3 months) to come clean. Colin Powell fell for this ploy hook line and sinker – and persuaded the President to go along with it. France, of course, would renege on its promise.
If it can be shown that France used this scam as a means to give Saddam time to transfer his WMD programs to Syria, it will go a long way toward exposing the French as enemies, the State Department as useless, and Colin Powell as a complete and utter ninkompoop!
montfort:
Re your last statement, I think that all those are "givens".
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/09/26/wiran26.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/09/26/ixportaltop.html
If it can be shown that France used this scam as a means to give Saddam time to transfer his WMD programs to Syria, it will go a long way toward exposing the French as enemies, the State Department as useless, and Colin Powell as a complete and utter ninkompoop!
Posted by: montfort at September 26, 2004 11:09 AM
FOLLOW THE LINKS AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE?
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-09/25/content_2020144.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-09/26/content_2023435.htm
The foreign military leaders and observers are from Brunei, the Philippines, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
The ranking officers include commander of the Brunei armed forces, chiefs of the general staff of the Philippines and Tajikistan, and the chief of staff of the Bangladesh army.
It is the first time the PLA invited so many foreign, high-ranking military officers to observe a Chinese military exercise. It is also the largest-scale military exercise open to foreign observers.
However, this is not the first time Chinese armed forces invited foreign servicemen to observe military exercises.
In August 25, 2003, for the first time, China invited foreign military observers from 15 countries to watch military maneuvers at China's largest tactical drill base. The event was aimed at introducing Chinese armed forces to the world and strengthening cooperation with foreign armed forces.
On Sept. 2 some 50 servicemen from China and abroad observed an amphibian landing exercise in Shanwei of south China's Guangdong Province.
REMEMBER WHERE JAMES UJAMA WENT GUANGDONG? LOOK AT ALL THE MINNING ACTD. THERE?
UNITED NATIONS=LEAGE OF NATIONS!!
Part of the American Tribe
Squirrel Hunter
Spider Killer
God Bless the USA and her Fighting Forces and ALL who Fight with her give them Strength,Wisdom and Courage to stay the course to Defeat the Islamic Terrorist and ALL who Support them Open the Eyes of the World to their Threat Amen
PS
Where did sars start? was it Guangdong?
Catherine:
I believe China is merely beginning to make moves that will in another generation culminate in its becoming a tru-blue rival to the USa for world-power status. It is showcasing its military capabilities and tech to potential buyers, future allies etc Remember the defence industry rakes in some $ half trillion a year worldwide.
Secondly, Chuina may also be waiting for the US to overstretch itself militarily by opening another front in whicih case they can move in and grab Taiwan while the US isn't looking, so to speak.