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File: 082696_doc1_026.txt
in a project at the Saad-16 complex to pace since the end of the war. obtained from the Netherlands.23 In
develop a ballistic missile. By 1985 Iran had a limited ability to 1988, the sale of 2()O.OOO respirators
In December 1989 Iraq launched produce chemical agents. In 1986, the from a Spanish company was negotiated
the threestage Tamouz-l rocket, capa- research budget for the Jahad-e-Dane- through an Israeli middleman.
ble of putting a satellite into orbit. It shgahi (University Crusade) was raised Iran will continue its efforts to de-
also claims to have tested two Aabed from $1.75 million to $11.25 million. velop a CW capability sufficient to de-
suifaceto-surface missil~s. with a range `This organization was reportedly in- ter Iraqi use of CW and possibly also
of 2,000 kilometers. These develop- volved in military research and devel- for use against the moderate regimes
ments indicate the tremendous pace opment, including the development of of the southern Persian Gulf region
and sophistication of Iraq's ballistic mustard gas. In 1987 Prime Minister and Western targets. As stated above,
missile program.20 Musavi claimed that Iran was produc- Iran has been trying to develop the
Little hard data is available on Iraqi ing "offensive chemical weapons."21 In ability to produce large quantities of so
CW defensive capabilities. It would 1988, Iran used small amounts of mus- phisticated agents indigenously since
seem, though, that they operate on So- tard gas for the first time. By 1989, 1988. It has shown less immediate in-
viet lines. Their order of battle includes a there were reports that Iranian plants terest in acquiring long-range delivery
chemical corps. which fields one de- were producing nerve agent, blood systems.
contamination company per army di- agent, and mustard gas.
vision. They appear to be equipped Iran's first chemical weapons were Libya
with standard Soviet personal and ve- supplied by Syria, but an effort has Libya's CW program is the least de-
hide NBC protection suites. Supplies been made to build up an indigenous veloped of the four countries dis-
from Western Europe have also been chemical industry. There are now cussed here. It has been suggested that
sought to enhance defensive cap a- three main plants in operation. The Muammar Qaddafi only turned to
bilities. For example, in 1981 Iraq pur- main one is at Mahshahr, which prod- chemical weapons when his attempts
chased 10,000 CW medical kits from a uces agents and munitions. The plant to acquire nuclear weapons were
British company. Recently, the long- at Bahswir reportedly only produces thwarted. Whether or not this is true,
standing Iraqi-Egyptian CW coopera- chemical agents. It is unclear whether Libya has made strenuous efforts to
tion has, at least officially, empha- the facility at Damghan only manu- acquire a CW capability since the
sized defensive measures. factures warheads or also the agents mid-l980s.24
) Since the end of the Gulf War, Iraq themselves. There were probably four motives
has embarkeu on an ambitious effort The only publicly known instance behind Qaddafi's policy. First, there
to expand its military industrial base of foreign involvement in this side of was the need to counter the threat of
and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. Iran's CW program is that of the West Egypt's conventional superiority and
In the CW arena it is seeking to stan- German company Lurgi. Krebs AG of CW capability. Second, it was des ira-
dardize and improve its delivery sys- Switzerland contracted to build a pest- ble to prevent a repetition of previous
tems. It is cooperating with Egypt, at icide plant. but the deal was blocked humiliations by the United States.
least in the defensive arena. by the Swiss government in March This could be done by being in a posi-
Apart from improvements to its own 1989. tion to strike at U.S. forces and their
forces, Iraq is in a good position to act Delivery systems are also under de- European allies. Third, it was necessa-
as a supplier to Third World nations velopment. Iran reportedly has a "stock ry to maintain military morale and
} seeking to acquire a CW capability. of ~chemicali bombs and shells."22 support in the face of recent defeats in
Already there are reports that Sudan Scud B missiles had been obtained Chad and at the hands of the United
has received Iraqi CW equipment. from either Syria, Libya, or North Ko- States. This was done by initiating a
rea but are now produced indigenously. major military buildup, of which chem-
Iran Since 1986, the 4()~kilometer-range Oghab ical weapons were a part. Finally,
Iran only began to develop a CW has been produced in Iran. A longer chemical weapons may have been
capability during the Gulf War in re- range missile, the Iran-l30, with a sought as they could enable Qaddafi
sponse to Iraqi chemical attacks. Its range of 130 kilometers, is under de- to make political/military gestures (such
efforts have been hampered by inter- velopment with foreign assistance. as threatening Israel) that Libya's geo-
national restrictions on the export of During the Gulf War, Iranian forces graphic location and lack of power
the necessary materials; nonetheless had minimal defensive capabilities. In projection capabilities would other-
its CW program is now proceeding aj 1984, even specialized CW teams that wise deny to him.
a rapid pace. escorted the United Nation inspection Reflecting the four motives above,
Since it was largely modeled on U.S. team had only respirators, thin rubber there are five possible scenarios for
lines, the Iranian Army did not em- gloves, and plastic laundry bags for the employment of Libyan chemical
phasize CW even though the Iraqi protection. Iran made efforts to reme- weapons:
threat was recognized and feared. Iran dy these deficiencies, but they pro- (1) Against U.S. naval forces in the
was slow in acquiring offensive and ceeded slowly. West European and Gulf of Sidra.
defensive equipment and suffered badly Asian companies were the main source (2) To interdict commeicial shipping
from Iraqi chemical attacks. Only in of supply. South Korea reportedly sup- in the Mediterranean.
the latter part of the Gulf War was a plied cheap copies of European-de- (3) Against U.S. allies in southern
serious effort begun to acquire a CW signed respirators during the Gulf Europe.
64 Marine Corps Ga~e'e * Jujy 990
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