IRAQ: SITUATION UPDATE. (U)

File: 970613_70606801_d_txt_0001.txt
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(b.2.)

SUBJECT: IRAQ: SITUATION UPDATE. (U)


DOI: 3 OCT 91 (AS OF 0100 EDT)
MAJOR POINT
1.           (b.1. sec. 1.5.c.)                                        REPORTS THAT
BAGHDAD BUILT SEVERAL NUCLEAR DEVICES WITH URANIUM SMUGGLED FROM
(b.1. sec. 1.5.c.)                IN 1988.
DISCUSSION
2.           INSPECTION AND MONITORING ACTIVITY. ACCORDING TO
(b.1. sec. 1.5.c.)    BAGHDAD SMUGGLED AN UNSPECIFIED AMOUNT OF URANIUM FROM
(b.1. sec. 1.5.c.)              IN 1988.(b.1. sec. 1.5.c.)
TECHNICIANS REPORTEDLY HELPED THE IRAQIS ASSEMBLE FOUR NUCLEAR
DEVICES USING THE URANIUM. ALTHOUGH THE DEVICES WERE NEVER TESTED,
IRAQI OFFICIALS APPARENTLY BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE FUNCTIONAL. THE
SOURCE STATED THAT THE DEVICES WERE NOT CONFIGURED AS WEAPONS AND
CANNOT BE AIR-DROPPED. HOWEVER, THEY WERE DESIGNED TO BE LOADED
ONTO SOVIET-MANUFACTURED TU-22/BLINDER BOMBERS AND COULD BE
DETONATED ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT. THE FOUR NUCLEAR DEVICES ARE SAID
TO BE STORED IN A LARGE UNDERGROUND FACILITY (b.1. sec. 1.5.c.)

. COMMENT: A REVIEW (b.1. sec. 1.5.c.)  OF THE AREA HAS NOT REVEALED ANY
SIGN OF A FACILITY OR GUARD FORCE. FURTHERMORE, THE REMAINING
ASPECTS OF THE SOURCE'S REPORTING ALSO REMAIN UNCONFIRMED.  RUMORS
OF IRAQI POSSESSION OF NUCLEAR DEVICES OCCASIONALLY SURFACE, BUT
THERE IS NO DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT SUCH CLAIMS.
(b.1. sec. 1.5.c.)

(b.2.)
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