IRAQI BIOLOGICAL WARFARE (BW) DEVELOPMENTS
Filename:011045di.90
CDSN = LGX896 MCN = 90274/19935 TOR = 902741647
PTTSZYUW RUEKJCS6251 2741648---RUEALGX.
ZNY
P 011648Z OCT 90
FM JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEALGX/SAFE
P 011045Z OCT 90
FM DIA WASHINGTON DC//IRAQ REGIONAL ITF//
TO DIACURINTEL
RUCLFBA/CTOCSE 18 ABC REAR FT BRAGG NC
AIG 7011
AIG 7046
AIG 7033
RUEBLEA/COMMCEN TTY RIYADH IAP SA
RHMPMCC/GMCC BCST
RHTMMCC/MMCC BCST
BT
PASS: [ (b)(2) ]
SUBJ: IRAQI BIOLOGICAL WARFARE (BW) DEVELOPMENTS
1. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ] THAT IRAQ ACQUIRED
FORTY HIGH PERFORMANCE AEROSOL GENERATORS IN THE SPRING OF 1990,
OSTENSIBLY FOR SPRAYING CROPS WITH PESTICIDES. THE GENERATORS
WERE CUSTOM BUILT TO DELIVER EITHER LIQUID OR DRY MATERIAL EITHER
SINGLY OR SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE GENERATORS CAN DISTRIBUTE FIFTY
LITERS PER
MINUTE (3,000 LITERS PER HOUR OR APPROXIMATELY 800 GALLONS PER
HOUR) THROUGH A CUSTOM DESIGNED NOZZLE(S) WHICH PERMITS THE
AEROSOL TO BE ADJUSTED TO TEN DIFFERENT PARTICLE SIZES. THE
DISSEMINATION
OUTLET CAN BE ROTATED ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY DEGREES THEREBY
ENABLING DISSEMINATION HORIZONTAL TO GROUND OR WATER SURFACES, OR
UPWARDS AT AN ANGLE PERMITTING PREVAILING WINDS TO CARRY THE
AEROSOL. THE IRAQI ENTITY WHICH ACQUIRED THE AEROSOL GENERATORS
IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME BUT COULD VERY WELL BE CONNECTED TO THE
IRAQI BIOLOGICAL WARFARE (BW) PROGRAM.
2. THE AEROSOL GENERATORS ARE OF SUCH SIZE TO FIT ON THE
BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK OR A SMALL ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE, A SMALL
BOAT, OR SMALL AIRCRAFT. THESE UNITS WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR THE
DISPERSAL OF BW AGENTS IN EITHER LIQUID OR DRY FORM. THE ABILITY
TO DISPENSE SIMULTANEOUSLY LIQUID AND DRY MATERIALS WOULD ENABLE
THE IRAQIS TO DISSEMINATE TWO BW AGENTS AT THE SAME TIME. SUCH
UNITS, HOWEVER, WOULD THEMSELVES BECOME HEAVILY CONTAMINATED
DURING USE AND WOULD REQUIRE DECONTAMINATION TO RENDER THEM SAFE.
PERSONNEL OPERATING SUCH UNITS WOULD AT A MINIMUM NEED TO WEAR A
PROTECTIVE OVERGARMENT, A CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WARFARE MASK,
AND UNDERGO THOROUGH DECONTAMINATION AFTER DISPENSING THE
AGENT(S). DECONTAMINATION OF THE AEROSOL GENERATORS AND TRANSPORT
VEHICLES WOULD LIKELY HAVE TO OCCUR NEAR THE AREA OF OPERATION AT
REMOTE LOCATIONS SO AS TO MINIMIZE INCIDENTAL CONTAMINATION OF
IRAQI FORCES.
3. THE IRAQIS HAVE TWO CONFIRMED BW AGENTS--ANTHRAX AND
BOTULINUM TOXIN. ANTHRAX CAN BE DISSEMINATED BY AEROSOL
GENERATORS EITHER AS A FREEZE-DRIED POWDER OR AS A LIQUID
SUSPENSION.
THEORETICALLY BOTULINUM TOXIN CAN BE DISPENSED AS EITHER A FREEZE-
DRIED POWDER, PROBABLY IN COMBINATION WITH A FILLER, OR AS A
LIQUID. THE MORE LIKELY OF THE TWO CHOICES FOR BOTULINUM TOXIN IS
DISSEMINATION AS A POWDER. POWDERS ARE EASILY MIXED WITH FILLERS,
POSE A CONSIDERABLY GREATER THREAT THROUGH INHALATION, AND ARE
BETTER ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE SHEAR FORCES EXPERIENCED WHEN
DISSEMINATED THROUGH NOZZLES WITH A RELATIVELY SMALL ORIFICE.
4. (U) POC FOR THIS MESSAGE IS [ b.6. ], DIA/DT,
[ b.2. ].
BT
#6251
NNNN
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
