• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Tracking Inspections: 17 DECEMBER 2002

In the biggest day of inspections thus far, 77 inspectors visited eight sites in Iraq on 17 December, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. An IAEA team of 15 inspectors visited the Jabir bin Hayyan Factory, 30 kilometers north of Mosul, to conduct a radiological survey. Inspectors also took "various samples," the Foreign Ministry reported. A second team of two inspectors went 30 kilometers west of Baghdad to the Al-Radwan General Company, which manufactures casings, to inspect equipment. They then visited the Al-Ubur General Company, which "specializes in providing maintenance of machines and equipment." Inspectors inquired about the factory's manufacture of the "Al-Jihad machine." All three companies belong to the MIO. UNMOVIC inspectors had not reported on their inspections at the time of the press release.

A group of 12 UNMOVIC biological inspectors visited the Ninawa Pharmaceutical Company north of Mosul, where they checked the Iraqi declarations against equipment, as well as videotaped the site. They also requested drawings of the site and questioned management. A second team of nine inspectors returned to the Biotechnology Department at Baghdad University in Al-Jadiriyah.

Inspectors questioned the department head, checked declarations against equipment, toured the laboratories, and "requested the titles of post-graduate research studies." Inspectors also returned to the Genetic Engineering Institute to request the site's "coordinates." A team of 18 inspectors returned to the Chlorine Factory at the Al-Tariq State Company to verify declarations and check marked devices and chemical materials, the Foreign Ministry reported.

A UNMOVIC team of nine inspectors visited the recently declared Oxidizer Production Plant of the Al-Rayah Center, the Foreign Ministry reported. UNMOVIC stated that the plant, located 50 kilometers northwest of Baghdad, comprises "a small plant engaged in the production of fuel and oxidizer for missiles, such as the Volga/SA-2 and the Al-Sumud." A second group of 11 inspectors visited the Al-Amin Factory in Al-Fallujah, 70 kilometers west of Baghdad. UMOVIC reported that the factory "produces the motor cases and nozzle housings for the Al-Fatah and Al-Abour missiles," and employs 165 people. Both teams toured the sites and questioned management. UNMOVIC also reported that it inspected the Fallujah II site.

Copyright (c) 2003. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org