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RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (U)
Filename:06000au.90d
TO: [   (b)(2)   ]
INFO: [   (b)(2)   ]
FM:   DIA WASHINGTON DC//DT-5A//
SUBJ:   RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (U)
REF.:     [   (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(5)   ]
A.  IRAQ  HAS  THE  TECHNICAL CAPABILITY TO CREATE A CHEMICAL
WARHEAD FOR THE SCUD MISSILE, AND IT IS POSSIBLE BUT NOT 
ESTABLISHED  THAT' THEY HAVE DONE  SO.   THEY HAVE  28 FIXED  
MISSILE LAUNCHING  SITES AND  AT LEAST 22  MOBILE LAUNCHERS.
B.  PRESUMABLY THEY COULD DELIVER ANY CHEMICAL IN THEIR ASSESSED
INVENTORY BY MISSILE.
C.  THE SCUD MISSILE  AS THE  AL HUSSAYN CAN CARRY A CHEMICAL
WARHEAD OF 350-400 KG OVER A DISTANCE OF  475-500   KM, WITH  A 
CEP  OF 1-2 KM.  THE AL HUSSAYN  MISSILE CAN TAKE A WARHEAD OF 
LESS THAN 100 KG TO ABOUT 600 KM, WITH A CEP OF 2-3 KM.  THE AL 
ABBAS CAN DELIVER A 200-KG WARHEAD TO  A RANGE OF 600 KM, WITH A 
CEP OF 3-5 KM.
D.  THE  LOCATIONS OF  POSSIBLE CHEMICAL MISSILE LAUNCHERS ARE
UNKNOWN.
E.  TO OUR KNOWLEDGE THE SOVIETS HAVE NOT SOLD CHEMICAL WARHEADS
TO THE IRAQIS.  IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY SOLD THEM A CHEMICAL 
CAPABLE MISSILE.
F.   THE  REENTRY TEMPERATURE  OF A CHEMICAL CAPABLE MISSILE IS
UNKNOWN.
G.   WE HAVE NO INFORMATION ON THE ALTITUDE  AT WHICH  A CHEMICAL
MISSILE WOULD  OPEN.   FOR A NONPERSISTENT AGENT, A BURST OF 
BETWEEN GROUND AND 10 METERS SEEMS A LOGICAL CHOICE; A PERSISTENT 
AGENT MIGHT BE DELIVERED  FROM A SOMEWHAT HIGHER ALTITUDE.
H.   THE IRAQIS HAVE INDICATED AN INTEREST IN MAKING SOMAN, BUT
IT IS NOT KNOWN WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE IT.
I.   A  VARIETY OF  LETHAL AND  NONLETHAL AGENTS  ARE BELIEVED TO
HAVE BEEN  USED AGAINST  THE KURDS  BUT THE PRECISE TYPE OF AAENT 
IS NOT KNOWN.  NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR 
VERIFICATION.
J.   THE IRAQIS HAVE A 122-MM  ROCKET IN  WHICH THEY  PUT PLASTIC
CONTAINERS OF  AGENT.  IF THEY SO CHOSE, THEY COULD PUT IN A 
CONTAINER OF NERVE AGENT AND A CONTAINER OF MUSTARD. THIS WOULD 
NOT BE CONSIDERED A BINARY WEAPON.
K.  THE  IRAQIS NAVE  SHOWN NO  APPARENT INTEREST  IN THICKENING
CHEMICAL AGENTS To DECREASE THEIR EVAPORATION RATE.
L.  THE  IRAQIS  HAVE  THE TECHNICAL CAPABILITY TO PRODUCE A 
BINARY
CHEMICAL WEAPON, BUT WE DO NOT  KNOW IF  THEY HAVE  ACTUALLY DONE 
 SD. SADDAM'S BOAST OF USING A BINARY WEAPON SUGGESTS THAT THE 
CAPABILITY EXISTS.
[   (b)(2)   ]