(Los Angeles Times) Bob Drogin - Hussein has relied on a global maze of front companies and offshore banks, shady arms merchants and factory owners, crooked middlemen and brokers, plus corrupt officials and border guards. Between 1994 and 1998, UN inspectors intercepted transactions worth $50-60 million for components, raw materials, high-tech spare parts, and other equipment that could be used for weapons of mass destruction. Shipments or deals were traced to about 20 countries. Most involved Iraq's efforts to produce chemical weapons or to acquire liquid propellant chemicals and solid propellant rocket motor ingredients for long-range ballistic missiles.
2002-11-29 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive