Quote:
--JOhn D.
Well it's about time an opponent that isn't like shooting fish in a barrel, Lordy I was having to be creative in my replies to keep it interesting. That's the first time I've heard of the guidance system, do you have any links or can you point me in the direction to find it verify that for myself? (I'm not being a smart A** here I'd like to know the facts on that.)
|
Blix orders Iraq to destroy missiles
United Nations, February 22
In a crucial order that could make the difference between war and peace, chief United Nations weapons inspector Hans Blix has given Iraq time till March 1 to begin destroying dozens of its Al-Samoud 2 missiles that exceed the allowed range, their engines, warheads and guidance system under the world body’s supervision.
Diplomats said Mr Blix was under intense pressure from the USA and the UK to move fast, and Iraq’s reaction to this major development could make the difference between war and peace.
In a four-page letter handed over to Iraqi Ambassador Mohammed Al-Douri yesterday, Mr Blix told Iraq that appropriate arrangements should be made so that the destruction process could commence by March 1.
Mr Blix’s order followed the conclusion reached by an international experts’ panel, convened by him, that the missiles were capable of exceeding the range of 150 km set by the Security Council. A copy of the findings of the experts’ panel was attached to the letter.
The inspectors, he said in the letter, would select a variety of methods for destruction depending on items to be destroyed such as explosive demolition, crushing, melting and other physical and chemical methods.
Mr Blix is also preparing a list of 35 outstanding questions about Iraq’s chemical and biological weapons and long-range missile programmes which he would like Baghdad to answer. He would discuss it on Monday with his advisory board of commissioners before finally submitting to Baghdad.
Diplomats said Iraq’s response to the letter would be closely watched, for, a reluctance to demolish one of its most prized weapon systems would be taken by Washington and London as Baghdad’s failure to disarm voluntarily and support their case for war.
The UN assessment is based on data provided by Iraq, which had explained that in some of the tests, the missiles went beyond the allowed range because it lacked a guidance system and the absence of any warhead also made them lighter.
Mr Blix is expected to present a written report to the council on March 1 but now diplomats say it may be delayed till March 7 by which time destruction of missiles and related materials should have started.
Mr Al-Douri wants the UN experts to go to Iraq and see for themselves that the missile cannot exceed 150-km limit rather than depending on theoretical calculations. PTI
Do a search on google with the keywords:
iraq missiles guidance system
and you'll find a lot more links to it. It doesn't surprise me that you hadn't heard about this, the media in the US had been rather coy about a number of pertinent war issues.
As you can see from above, it wasn't just the fact that they had no guidence system that gave these missiles the extra range - it was also because they had no PAYLOAD! The only way that those errant missiles could have killed anyone beyond the 150KM range would have been if they landed on your head...