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File: 970729_aadeo_06.txt
including the "listening devices' located in the dresser lamp. The Iraqis have
probably figured out the rules to our card games by now. Rooms were also
searched each day by more than the maid.
1700: Team meeting was held. The helicopters still are not going to be
permitted by Iraq, so we will confine our inspections to the vicinity of
Baghdad until the issue is resolved.
7 Sep 91: Depart hotel via air conditioned Toyota luxury bus for Al Dujayl and
Abachi, approximately 60 KM north of Baghdad to inspect oxidizer tanks that
were scheduled to be drained and destroyed from a previous inspection. The
trip up revealed much of the same as the journey when we first arrived. Lots
of AAA and military installation every few miles. We also passed wreckage of
several T-55 tanks being transported south. Several factories were passed en
route that were totally demolished and were just starting to be rebuilt. We
arrived with our escort vehicle of Iraqis, and chase vehicle of UN ambulance
and UN commo van at about 0830.
We are down wind of the site and frequent odor is apparent. We asked
the location of the tanks and no sooner did we ask than they were in sight
approximately 50 yards away. The team chief and team continued on to the
tanks. We warned the medic, doctor, team chief, and deputy team chief about
the hazards. The oxidizer was confirmed to be Inhibited Red Fuming Nitric Acid
(IRFNA). The Iraqis had decided to vent the tanks by shooting them with small
arms. With about 10 tanks in the area, three were visibly venting red clouds
of IRFNA and the smell was very strong. We persisted in warning the team chief
and medical personnel, and the medic and the Italian finally helped to
convince the team chief to withdraw. He withdrew directly down wind, and
finally with some persuasion left the scene totally in the bus to regroup. The
Iraqis didn't seem overly concerned but were told to destroy the oxidizer
completely and empty the containers totally and the site would be revisited.
Each drum was approximately eight feet long, four feet high, and four feet in
diameter. Our British POD tech had participated in UNSCOM three where in
disposing of 800 gallons of IRFNA, the Iraqis.had simple poured the IRFNA out
of the containers into a dirt field to vent it. Obviously no EPA concerns
here! The team then declared to visit an unannounced inspection site at al
Sahra Air Base in Tikrit, the home town of Saddam Hussein.
We arrive at al Sahra at 1030. The briefing team indicated the
possibility of SCUD missiles at this facility. The facility itself is a large
base used as an Air Force training academy. Installation map is at Atch 1.
We proceeded to the commanding Brigadiers office and base
headquarters. We were given tea and briefed on the mission of the
installation. The commander then had our bus follow his car on a tour of the
perimeter and later the interior of the base. On the perimeter, holes had be
cut in the fence for towing aircraft. Up to one mile away , outside the
perimeter, low level berms about four feet in height had been pushed up around
both training and combat aircraft. Similar dispersal action had been taken
inside the perimeter with aircraft and vehicles. Although most of the aircraft
were trainers, there was approximately 20 MiG 21, 23 on site. Anti-aircraft
artillery batteries were abundant, over 100 positions, as well as at least
four Roland batteries. One team member saw SA-4, and SA-6 positions. We later
saw missile components inside storage structures for these.
1-8
V000236
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