 "In 1995, further information on Iraq’s offensive program was made available to United Nations inspectors. Iraq conducted research and development work on anthrax, botulinum toxins, Clostridium perfringens, aflatoxins, wheat cover smut, and ricin. Field trials were conducted with Bacillus subtilis (a simulant for anthrax), botulinum toxin, and aflatoxin. Biological agents were tested in various delivery systems, including rockets, aerial bombs, and spray tanks. In December 1990, the Iraqis filled 100 R400 bombs with botulinumtoxin, 50 with anthrax, and 16 with aflatoxin. In addition, 13 Al Hussein (SCUD) warheads were filled with botulinum toxin, 10 with anthrax, and 2 with aflatoxin. These weapons were deployed in January 1991 to four locations. In all, Iraq produced 19,000 liters of concentrated botulinum toxin (nearly 10,000 liters filled into munitions), 8,500 liters of concentrated anthrax (6,500 liters filled into munitions) and 2,200 liters of aflatoxin (1,580 liters filled into munitions).
"The threat of biological warfare has increased in the last two
decades, with a number of countries working on the offensive use
of these agents. The extensive program of the former Soviet Union
is now primarily under the control of Russia. Former Russian president
Boris Yeltsin stated that he would put an end to further offensive
biological research; however, the degree to which the program
was scaled back is not known. Recent revelations from a senior
BW program manager who defected from Russia in 1992 outlined a
remarkably robust biological warfare program, which included active
research into genetic engineering, binary biologicals and chimeras,
and industrial capacity to produce agents. There is also growing
concern that the smallpox virus, now stored in only two laboratories
at the CDC in Atlanta and the Institute for Viral Precautions
in Moscow, may be in other countries around the globe.
"There is intense concern in the West about the possibility of
proliferation or enhancement of offensive programs in countries
hostile to the western democracies, due to the potential hiring
of expatriate Russian scientists. It was reported in January 1998
that Iraq had sent about a dozen scientists involved in BW research
to Libya to help that country develop a biological warfare complex
disguised as a medical facility in the Tripoli area. In a report
issued in November 1997, Secretary of Defense William Cohen singled
out Libya, Iraq, Iran, and Syria as countries “aggressively seeking”
nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons." |
