Saddam Hussein the Liar
Bush won't be satisfied even if Saddam does destroy the missiles, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said. He said stockpiles of sarin and VX nerve agent were still missing.
"This is not about public relations. This is about protecting the lives of the American people,'' Fleischer said. "If Saddam Hussein destroys the missiles that he said he never had ... you've got to wonder what other weapons does he have?''
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"Bush's insistence on ignoring the international community and using pressure and blackmail to force Security Council members to accept his evil wishes ... is leaving the Iraqis with only one choice: to defend their land, independence, dignity and national integrity,'' it said.
Blix's order came after international experts determined the Al Samoud 2 flew farther than the 150km limit set down by the United Nations in 1991. Iraq maintains some of the missiles overshot the limit because they were tested without warheads and guidance systems.
Iraq has until the end of the week to begin destroying the missiles, components and related systems.
If it refuses, UN officials said Blix is likely to report the failure to the Security Council, which would then have to decide on any action. A refusal could give impetus to a draft UN resolution submitted on Monday by the United States, Britain and Spain to pave the way for war.
Iraq has suggested it is negotiating with the United Nations to let it modify its missiles - or perhaps destroy only some of them - instead of eliminating the missile system.
The United Nations says the order is non-negotiable, but Blix said he was sending his chief deputy, Demetrius Perricos, to Baghdad to discuss the demand.
"We have set the date for the commencement of the destruction of these missiles and we expect that to be respected,'' Blix said.
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What happened to:
8,500 missing litres of anthrax growth medium
6,500 missing chemical bombs
3,000 missing tons of chemical precursors
550 missing artillery shells filled with mustard gas
360 missing tons of chemical warfare agents, including 1.5 tons of VX nerve agent
50 missing long-range missile warheads
in Iraq?
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The US and UK want a full explanation of what happened to the following:
360 tonnes of chemical warfare agents, including 1.5 tonnes of VX nerve agent
3,000 tonnes of chemical precursors (which are developed into chemical weapons) including 300 tonnes uniquely used for VX.
Growth media for 20,000 litres of biological warfare agents. Any Iraqi claims that this will have degenerated will not be accepted as mustard gas found in shells in 1997 was active
Shells for use in biological warfare - 20,000 are missing say the British, 15,000 say the Americans
6,000 chemical warfare bombs.
Why did Iraq try to import 60,000 aluminium tubes? Rapidly spinning rotor tubes in centrifuges are used to separate weapons grade uranium, though both the British and American reports acknowledge that the tubes could be used for conventional weapons as well.
Why did it try to import other equipment, including vacuum pumps, a winding machine and special chemicals needed in gas centrifuge cascades?
