"Technically capable," however, is the important phrase here. If no one were watching, Iraq could do this. But they would have to start completely from scratch, having been deprived of all equipment, facilities and research because of Ritter's work. They would have to procure the complicated tools and technology required through front companies, which would be detected. The manufacture of chemical and biological weapons emits vented gasses that would have been detected by now if they existed. The manufacture of nuclear weapons emits gamma rays that would have been detected by now if they existed. We have been watching, via satellite and other means, and we have seen none of this. "If Iraq was producing weapons today, we would have definitive proof," said Ritter, "plain and simple."
Nonetheless, preparations for the invasion of Iraq (scheduled for mid-October) are going ahead.
I don't think Iraq has Nuclear weapons, just chemical and biologicals. We know they have the technology for nukes, but its unlikely they have the ability to put them together in a deliverable form. They have had the technology now since the 80's, when they were putting up their first nuclear reactor - taken out by an israeli air strike.
But lets look at what this guy said.
How do you detect earth based gamma radiation in amounts that didn't kill the scientists producing it?
He suggests from satelites, which exist in a gamma radiation thick environment. Maybe it is possible, but I doubt it. Sounds a bit star trekish to me.
isn't this the swiss guy? the weapons inspector before the aussie one, richard butler? the dutch radio service on 1026kHz the other day quoted him saying "yes, the US were spying using us as a cover. They were looking for Saddam and his secret service, not for chemical weapons. They put a lot of pressure on me. They must have put even more pressure on Butler." Nice of local Australian media to pick up the scoop: Yes, the US had infiltrated the UN arms inspectors to spy on Iraq.