U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, making his case that Iraq had evaded demands that it disarm, played an audio tape for the U.N. Security Council Wednesday between Iraqi military officers purportedly discussing hiding prohibited vehicles form weapons inspectors.
"Saddam Hussein and his regime are concealing efforts to produce more weapons of mass destruction," Powell said.
Powell began by playing audiotapes of what he said were Iraqi officials discussing an upcoming inspection by U.N. officials.
"They are inspecting ammunition you have... for the possibility there are forbidden ammo," said a voice Powell identified as an Iraqi official. "We sent you a message yesterday to clean out the areas, scrap areas, abandoned areas, make sure there is nothing there."
Powell called the recordings "part and parcel of a policy of evasion and deception that goes back 12 years."
"I cannot tell you everything that we know. But what I can share with you, when combined with what all of us have learned over the years, is deeply troubling," Powell said.
He also showed a satellite photograph of what Powell said was an active chemical weapons bunker. He said the photograph showed Iraqi officials cleaning out the bunkers ahead of another inspection. Other photographs showed caravans of trucks at other suspected chemical weapons and ballistic missile sites just two days before inspections resumed.
Powell also detailed the U.S. claims that Baghdad and al-Qaeda operatives are working together and that some followers of a senior associate of Osama bin Laden are currently in the Iraqi capital, with the approval of Saddam.
He said his case was persuasive that Iraq is hiding its chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs and missile activity and was deliberately misleading inspectors. "I believe this conclusion is irrefutable and undeniable," he said.
"The issue before us is not how much time we are willing to give the inspectors to be frustrated by Iraqi obstruction, but how much longer are we willing to put up with Iraq's noncompliance before we as a Council, we as the United Nations say: `Enough. Enough.' "
"Clearly, Saddam will stop at nothing until something stops him," Powell said, adding Baghdad's denials represent a "web of lies." (Albawaba.com)
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