IRAQ BACKUP BW PRODUCTION PLANT

File: cia_63808_63808_01.txt
Page: 01
Total Pages: 1
Subject: IRAQ BACKUP BW PRODUCTION PLANT

Not Finally Evaluated Intelligence







TO FACILITATE ELECTRONIC ACCESS, THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN

REFORMATTED TO ELIMINATE INFORMATION THAT DOES NOT PERTAIN

TO GULF WAR ILLNESS ISSUES OR THAT IS CLASSIFIED. A COPY OF

THIS REDACTED DOCUMENT, IN ORIGINAL FORMAT, IS AVAILABLE ON

REQUEST.







JAN 91







SUBJECT: SPOT COMMENTARY: IRAQ-KUWAIT: SITUATION REPORT (JANUARY

1991







IRAQ-KUWAIT:  SITUATION REPORT (JANUARY 1991

SPECIOUS IRAQI CLAIM OF INFANT FORMULA PLANT BOMBING

THE ABU GHURAYB PLANT, WHICH IRAQ CLAIMS IS AN INFANT FORMULA

PLANT,

WE BELIEVE IT IS A BACKUP BW PRODUCTION

FACILITY. THE PRODUCTION OF BW AGENTS REQUIRES THE SAME EQUIPMENT

(COOLING, DRYING AND PROCESSING TANKS) AND MATERIAL (MEDIA) USED IN

PHARMACEUTICAL AND NUTRITIONAL FACILITIES. ABU GHURAYB, HOWEVER, HAS

CHARACTERISTICS THAT PROBABLY SUPPORT A BW OPERATION:

--THE FACILITY HAS A LEVEL OF SECURITY

--MORE IN LINE WITH A MILATARY FACILITY THAN AN

 INFANT FORMULA PRODUCTION FACILITY.

--THE EQUIPMENT PRESENT IN THE PLANT IS COMMONLY USED FOR GROWING

MICROORGANISMS, NOT PRODUCING INFANT FORMULA.

--OTHER EQUIPMENT IN THE FACILITY WOULD ALLOW REACTOR CONTROLS TO

WITHIN A HALF DEGREE FAHRENHEIT--CRUCIAL FOR BACTERIAL GROWTH, NOT

NECESSARY FOR MIXING INFANT FORMULA.

--THE FACILITY,

REPORTEDLY HAS NEVER PRODUCED INFANT FORMULA.

--CONTRARY TO SOME PRESS REPORTS, THIS FACILITY DOES NOT HAVE

EQUIPMENT THAT IS SUITABLE FOR CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENT PRODUCTION.







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