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The Terrifying Inside Story Of The Iraqi Nuclear And Biological Weapons

DeShawn Powell

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Published in Saddam S Bombmaker: The Terrifiying Inside Story Of The Iraqi Nuclear And Biological Weapons

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In the aftermath of the Gulf War, the world was shocked to learn that Iraq had been developing a nuclear and biological weapons program. This article tells the inside story of how Iraq acquired the materials and technology to build these weapons, and how close it came to using them. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of nuclear proliferation and the importance of international cooperation to prevent it.

Saddam's Bombmaker: The Terrifiying Inside Story of the Iraqi Nuclear and Biological Weapons

by Jeff Stein

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Iraq's Nuclear Program

Iraq's nuclear program began in the 1970s, under the leadership of Saddam Hussein. Hussein was a ruthless dictator who was determined to make Iraq a major power in the Middle East. He saw nuclear weapons as a way to achieve this goal.

Iraq acquired the materials and technology for its nuclear program from a variety of sources. It purchased nuclear reactors from France and the Soviet Union, and it obtained uranium from Niger and South Africa. It also developed its own indigenous nuclear research and development program.

By the early 1990s, Iraq had made significant progress in its nuclear program. It had built several nuclear reactors and was close to developing a nuclear weapon. However, the Gulf War put an end to Iraq's nuclear ambitions. The United Nations imposed sanctions on Iraq, and UN weapons inspectors were sent in to destroy Iraq's nuclear facilities.

Iraq's Biological Weapons Program

Iraq's biological weapons program was even more ambitious than its nuclear program. Iraq acquired the materials and technology for its biological weapons program from a variety of sources, including the United States. In the 1980s, the United States provided Iraq with anthrax and botulinum toxin as part of its covert support for Iraq's war against Iran.

Iraq also developed its own indigenous biological weapons research and development program. By the early 1990s, Iraq had produced large quantities of biological weapons, including anthrax, botulinum toxin, and aflatoxin. It had also developed the means to deliver these weapons, including ballistic missiles and spray tanks.

Iraq's biological weapons program was a serious threat to regional and global security. Iraq had used chemical weapons against its own people in the Halabja massacre in 1988, and there were fears that it would use biological weapons again.

The Gulf War and the UN Weapons Inspections

The Gulf War put an end to Iraq's nuclear and biological weapons programs. The United Nations imposed sanctions on Iraq, and UN weapons inspectors were sent in to destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). The weapons inspectors found evidence of Iraq's nuclear and biological weapons programs, but they were unable to find any actual WMDs.

The UN weapons inspectors were eventually withdrawn from Iraq in 1998. However, they continued to monitor Iraq's compliance with the sanctions. In 2002, the United States accused Iraq of violating the sanctions by developing new WMDs. This accusation led to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The Legacy of Iraq's WMD Programs

The 2003 invasion of Iraq did not find any evidence of an active WMD program. However, the invasion did uncover evidence of Iraq's past WMD programs. This evidence included documents, equipment, and materials that were used to develop nuclear and biological weapons.

The legacy of Iraq's WMD programs is a cautionary tale about the dangers of nuclear proliferation. It is a reminder that even a small country can develop WMDs, and that these weapons can pose a serious threat to regional and global security.

The Importance of International Cooperation

The international community must work together to prevent the spread of nuclear and biological weapons. This means strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime, and providing assistance to countries that are trying to develop peaceful nuclear programs.

It also means working to resolve conflicts peacefully, and to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to terrorist groups.

The world is a safer place without Iraq's nuclear and biological weapons programs. We must all work together to ensure that these weapons never fall into the wrong hands again.

Saddam's Bombmaker: The Terrifiying Inside Story of the Iraqi Nuclear and Biological Weapons

by Jeff Stein

4.1 out of 5