IRAQ CW

File: cia_65679_65650_01.txt
Page: 01
Total Pages: 1
Subject: IRAQ CW    
Not Finally Evaluated Intelligence    
    
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DIRECTOR 634551 
 
NOT WITHSTANDING BAGHDAD'S NPT COMMITMENT, WE STILL BELIEVE 
THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP JUDGES A NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAPABILITY 
TO BE ESSENTIAL TO MEET IRAQ'S SECURITY NEEDS AND TO FURTHER 
REGIONAL AMBITIONS. 
 
 
HOWEVER, COALITION AIR STRIKE DAMAGE TO THE TUWAITHA NUCLEAR 
RESEARCH CENTER, SUSPECT NUCLEAR FACILITIES, AND IRAQ'S 
INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE PROBABLY DELAYED BAGHDAD'S EFFORTS BY 
SEVERAL YEARS. WE BELIEVE THE TUWAITHA NUCLEAR RESEARCH 
CENTER- 
PROBABLY PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN BAGHDAD'S EFFORTS TO DEVELOP 
A NUCLEAR WEAPON.  BEYOND THE CIVILIAN NUCLEAR RESEARCH THAT 
WAS ONGOING AT TUWAITHA, WE BELIEVE THE SITE HOUSED IRAQ'S 
CLANDESTINE WORK ON URANIUM ENRICHMENT AS WELL AS A SMALL 
FUEL REPROCESSING CAPABILITY.
ALSO CONCLUDED IRAQ HAD SEVERAL FACILITIES AT TUWAITHA THAT 
COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO RECOVER HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM FROM 
THE SAFEGUARDED FUELS.  THESE FACILITIES--WHICH WOULD NOT 
REQUIRE SAFEGUARDS UNTIL RELEVANT NUCLEAR MATERIALS WERE 
PRESENT--INCLUDED LABORATORIES SUPPLIED BY                            
ALL BUT TWO BUILDINGS BELIEVED TO BE CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING A 
CRASH PROGRAM--ONE OF TWO        SUPPLIED RADIOISOTOPE 
LABORATORY BUILDINGS AND THE SUPPLIED RADIOCHEMISTRY 
LABORATORY--WERE DESTROYED OR EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. 
WE BELIEVE IRAQ WAS FOCUSING ON PRODUCING ABOUT 100-125 KG 
OF HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM PER YEAR WITH MODIFIED VERSIONS 
OF THE URENCO G-1 OR G-2 CENTRIFUGES. 
 
SINCE 1984, THE IRAQIS BUILT THREE NEW LABORATORIES AT 
TUWAITHA- 
-WHICH WERE DESTROYED IN COALITION AIR RAIDS. 
ONE SUSPECT NUCLEAR SITE THAT HAS RECEIVED CLOSE ATTENTION 
IS THE METAL FABRICATION PLANT AT TAJI.  WE BELIEVE TAJI IS 
ONE POSSIBLE SITE THAT THE IRAQIS COULD HAVE USED TO PRODUCE 
GAS CENTRIFUGE COMPONENTS FOR THEIR CLANDESTINE URANIUM 
ENRICHMENT PROGRAM.

END OF MESSAGE
 
1.5(c) 

65679-65650