Financial Times
Iraq's biological weapons programme, under way since the 1970s, was uncovered just seven years ago following a defection. Considerable uncertainty remains about Iraq's capability, the International Institute for Strategic Studies says.
The programme produced anthrax, botulinum toxin, ricin, clostridium perfringens (gas gangrene), aflatoxin and wheat smut. Iraq also acquired the materials to produce other agents, and "by July 1990 Iraq had added viruses and genetic engineering to its offensive research activities". It acknowledged research on camelpox virus and haemorrhagic viruses but denied work on smallpox or Ebola.
In December 1990, anthrax, botulinum toxin and aflatoxin were loaded into missile warheads, aerial bombs and spray devices, although never used. Some plants were destroyed by Unscom, but the departure of inspectors in 1998 left uncertainty. Unscom was unable to verify Iraq's accounting for munitions, bacterial growth media and bulk agents. The IISS says Iraq "possesses an industrial capability and knowledge base to produce agents quickly and in volume if desired". It has continued to develop a foot and mouth disease vaccine plant at Daura, which had produced botulinum toxin and anthrax.
Amounts of agent in Iraq's possession "are presumably in the range of thousands of litres". The ability to deliver such weapons is unclear, with previous known methods likely to be inefficient because the explosion of a missile or bomb would destroy most of the agent. In theory, Iraqi toxins could cause mass casualties against an unprotected population, with strong civil defence and vaccinations needed to reduce these.
"Delivery or biological weapons by individuals or small groups acting as commandos or terrorists remains a plausible threat that is very difficult to defend against," the IISS says.
