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Latest CIA WMD Threat Assessment Highlights Syrian Nuclear Ambitions


By Mike Nartker
Global Security Newswire


WASHINGTON — In a marked shift from previous assessments, the CIA said in a report released today that it is monitoring Syrian nuclear intentions with “growing concern” (see GSN, Nov. 5)

The unclassified semiannual report, covering a period from Jan. 1 to June 30 of this year, assesses the WMD and ballistic missile threat posed by a number of countries of U.S. concern, including Iran and North Korea. The report also outlines the proliferation activities of several supplier countries, such as China and Russia.

In its report, the CIA said that it is monitoring Syrian nuclear activities with increased concern, noting continued Syrian-Russian agreements on nuclear cooperation and Damascus’s expanded access to foreign nuclear-related expertise. Previous agency assessments of Syrian nuclear weapons efforts, however, do not describe U.S. interest in Syrian nuclear activities in such ominous language.

As for other Syrian weapons issues, the CIA says that Syria continued during the first half of this year to seek foreign assistance to develop a solid-propellant rocket motor development and production capability. Syria has also relied on other nations, primarily North Korea, for assistance with its liquid-propelled missile program, the report says.

Concerning biological and chemical weapons, the report says that it is “highly probable” that Syria has continued to work to develop an offensive biological weapons capability and that Syria continues to seek foreign assistance and equipment for its chemical weapons program.

Syria’s alleged WMD activities have come under increased attention from both the Bush administration and the U.S. Congress. In a speech last month in London, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton noted U.S. concerns over Syrian nuclear activities, especially concerning Syrian efforts to acquire nuclear-related dual-use technologies.

Bolton also described Syria’s chemical weapons program as “one of the most advanced Arab state chemical weapons capabilities.”

According to recent reports, however, Bolton has come under criticism for allegedly exaggerating the WMD threat posed by some countries of concern, including Syria (see GSN, Nov. 3).

In Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives last month overwhelmingly approved the Syrian Accountability Act, which would require the president to impose new rounds of economic sanctions against Damascus if its fails to end its WMD activities. The Senate is expected to soon approve the bill, which has received growing White House support.

In another shift from previous assessments, today’s CIA report briefly notes the continued effort by coalition forces in Iraq to search for evidence of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s alleged WMD and ballistic missile efforts (see GSN, Nov. 10). Previous agency assessments conducted last year, however, included a number of claims concerning Iraqi WMD efforts that have since been disputed, such as allegations that Iraq acquired thousands of high-strength aluminum tubes for use in uranium enrichment activities and that Iraq retained a “small force” of prohibited Scud-type missiles.

Today’s report also appeared to indicate reduced U.S. concerns surrounding Sudan’s biological and chemical weapons efforts, saying “the U.S. is working with Sudan to reconcile past concerns about its attempts to seek [chemical weapons] capabilities from abroad.” Previously, the agency said that Sudan has aspired to develop chemical weapons program and that it possibly was “interested” in developing a biological weapons program.

Iran

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http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2003_11_11.html#4A2C4791

This was from LAST year. I believe Israel will go after Iran AND Syria this coming year. Soon my friends...soon!

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