Colin Powell: Difference between revisions
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"Our key remaining concern is the claim that the tubes are manufactured to a tolerance that 'far exceeds US requirements for comparable rockets.' In fact, the most comparable US system is a tactical rocket--the US Mark 66 air-launched 70mm rocket--that uses the same, high-grade (7075-T6) aluminum, and that has specifications with similar tolerances. Note that the Mk 66 specifications are unclassified, and the Department is planning to share them with the IAEA." 2/3/2003 [http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/congress/2004_rpt/iraq-wmd-intell_appendix-b.htm] | "Our key remaining concern is the claim that the tubes are manufactured to a tolerance that 'far exceeds US requirements for comparable rockets.' In fact, the most comparable US system is a tactical rocket--the US Mark 66 air-launched 70mm rocket--that uses the same, high-grade (7075-T6) aluminum, and that has specifications with similar tolerances. Note that the Mk 66 specifications are unclassified, and the Department is planning to share them with the IAEA." 2/3/2003 [http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/congress/2004_rpt/iraq-wmd-intell_appendix-b.htm] | ||
Powell's provided translation of an intercepted conversation between Iraqi army officers: | |||
"They're inspecting the ammunition you have, yes. | |||
"Yes. | |||
"For the possibility there are forbidden ammo. | |||
"For the possibility there is by chance forbidden ammo? | |||
"Yes. | |||
"And we sent you a message yesterday to clean out all of the areas, the scrap areas, the abandoned areas. Make sure there is nothing there." | |||
(2/3/2003, presentation to the U.N.) [http://web.archive.org/web/20050204130309/http://www.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/2003/17300.htm] | |||
However, the incriminating phrases "clean all of the areas" and "make sure there is nothing there" do not appear in the official State Department translation of the exchange: | |||
"Lt. Colonel: They are inspecting the ammunition you have. | |||
"Colonel: Yes. | |||
"Lt. Col: For the possibility there are forbidden ammo. | |||
"Colonel: Yes? | |||
"Lt. Colonel: For the possibility there is by chance, forbidden ammo. | |||
"Colonel: Yes. | |||
"Lt. Colonel: And we sent you a message to inspect the scrap areas and the abandoned areas. | |||
"Colonel: Yes." | |||
[http://web.archive.org/web/20030404073844/http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/pix/events/secretary/2003/17399.htm] | |||
Revision as of 07:22, 12 October 2012
On the Iraq War
"[I]t strikes me as quite odd that these [aluminum] tubes are manufactured to a tolerance that far exceeds U.S. requirements for comparable rockets. Maybe Iraqis just manufacture their conventional weapons to a higher standard than we do, but I don't think so." (2/5/2003, in U.N. presentation) [1]
Powell received an INR memo two days earlier directing contradicting this statement:
"Our key remaining concern is the claim that the tubes are manufactured to a tolerance that 'far exceeds US requirements for comparable rockets.' In fact, the most comparable US system is a tactical rocket--the US Mark 66 air-launched 70mm rocket--that uses the same, high-grade (7075-T6) aluminum, and that has specifications with similar tolerances. Note that the Mk 66 specifications are unclassified, and the Department is planning to share them with the IAEA." 2/3/2003 [2]
Powell's provided translation of an intercepted conversation between Iraqi army officers:
"They're inspecting the ammunition you have, yes.
"Yes.
"For the possibility there are forbidden ammo.
"For the possibility there is by chance forbidden ammo?
"Yes.
"And we sent you a message yesterday to clean out all of the areas, the scrap areas, the abandoned areas. Make sure there is nothing there."
(2/3/2003, presentation to the U.N.) [3]
However, the incriminating phrases "clean all of the areas" and "make sure there is nothing there" do not appear in the official State Department translation of the exchange:
"Lt. Colonel: They are inspecting the ammunition you have.
"Colonel: Yes.
"Lt. Col: For the possibility there are forbidden ammo.
"Colonel: Yes?
"Lt. Colonel: For the possibility there is by chance, forbidden ammo.
"Colonel: Yes.
"Lt. Colonel: And we sent you a message to inspect the scrap areas and the abandoned areas.
"Colonel: Yes."