IRAQ: A JOKE

Posted on April 16, 2003 by Dave Pollard
How did the U.S. Administration know that Iraq had WMD? They kept the receipts.

That joke is from a friend of Montreal blogger M-J Milloy . The same blog links to a remarkable blow-by-blow list of U.S. WMD sales to Iraq during the 1980s, and the U.S. Administration’s vetos of motions censuring Iraqi use of these weapons. The list was compiled back in January from public news archives, by Minnesotan John King. Some excerpts (but read the whole list!):

  • December 20 1983. Donald Rumsfeld, then a civilian, meets with Saddam Hussein to assure him of US friendship and materials support.
  • March 1986. The United States with Great Britain block all Security Council resolutions condemning Iraq’s use of chemical weapons, and on March 21 the U.S. becomes the only country refusing to sign a Security Council statement condemning Iraq’s use of these weapons.
  • May 1986. The U.S. Department of Commerce licenses 70 biological exports to Iraq between May of 1985 and 1989, including at least 21 batches of lethal strains of anthrax.
  • May 1986. US Department of Commerce approves shipment of weapons grade botulin poison to Iraq.
  • April 1988. US Department of Commerce approves shipment of chemicals used in manufacture of mustard gas.
  • September 1988. U.S. Department of Commerce approves shipment of weapons grade anthrax and botulinum to Iraq. 
  • July 1991. The Financial Times of London reveals that a Florida chemical company had produced and shipped cyanide to Iraq during the 80’s using a special CIA courier. Cyanide was used extensively against the Iranians.

All of a sudden, the joke above isn’t funny anymore.

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6 Responses to IRAQ: A JOKE

  1. Rayne says:
    April 16, 2003 at 16:00

    I’ve wondered for some time now, since the original “statement” was released to the UN by the Iraqis in November, what happened to the pages that were removed by the US prior to the UN actually taking delivery of the 12,000+ page document. I suspected the pages contained information about purchases from certain countries — same info not looking good if published broadly by the UN. Where are those pages?

  2. Dave Pollard says:
    April 16, 2003 at 17:04

    The word “shredder” comes to mind.

  3. Marie Foster says:
    April 16, 2003 at 23:13

    I have pointed out a number of times to friends how Saddam came to have his so called WMD. Part of the reason that we did not come to the aid of the Kurds when he used gas on them (does anyone really think that the CIA did not know at the time) was the embarrassment to our administration? We sent him plenty of conventional arms too. All I get is mostly blank stares.We needed the bastage Saddam to kick the Mullahs in Iran in the balls for taking our diplomats hostage. There is strong evidence that he was led to believe that he would receive the reward he wanted as a result of his

  4. mark says:
    April 17, 2003 at 05:39

    Don’t let the facts confuse you.

  5. Rayne says:
    April 17, 2003 at 11:21

    Whatever did happen with the Iran-Contra money…? don’t go there…

  6. Dave Pollard says:
    April 17, 2003 at 18:38

    CBC radio had a whole series of interviews with Iraqis “on the street” today. They were all delighted to be rid of Saddam, but all sceptical about the motives and future role of the US ‘liberators’, and anxious for all foreigners to leave ASAP. Most telling comment: “When you look at the rejoicing in the streets, do not be fooled; Iraqis are educated people, and we know where Saddam’s chemical weapons came from”.

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