Quote:
Originally posted by arsenal@Oct 25 2004, 06:25 PM
So, would it be fair to say, that *IF* the sanctions had been lifted on Iraq, that Saddam would of used these weapons, technologies to start up weapons programs?
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A conventional weapons program, yes. And every country has the right to develop conventional weapons programs, even under sanctions. But that is a long way from starting up a WMD program. I think people need to realize just how difficult it is to get a program like this going and sustain it. Once these products are created they have a definite shelf life, usually less than a couple of years. Unless you continue to keep them rolling off the line, they become usless in short order.
A chemical weapons system is likely the easiest to build and maintain. But a bio weapons program is next to impossible to start up without getting cultures from someplace first (US or Russia). Nuclear is obvious. It takes specialized equipment, people and materials. None of these are easy to get going and maintain with the world watching.