Iraqi Scientists Ordered Back to Nuclear Weapons Program

Iraqi scientist Salman Yassin Zweir, a 39-year-old design engineer who worked for 13 years for the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission, has come forward with information about a secret document issued in August 1998 ordering him and other former nuclear scientists back to work on the country's nuclear weapons program. According to Zweir, the orders were signed by Mehdi Shurq Ghali, head of the research program, and intended to restart the program at a research center on Al-Juadriya Street in Baghdad. The move comes as Iraq continues to face international sanctions and pressure to comply with U.N. weapons inspections.

Key Takeaways:

• The Iraqi government has ordered former nuclear scientists, including Salman Yassin Zweir, to return to work on the country's nuclear weapons program, according to a secret document issued in August 1998.
• The document, signed by Mehdi Shurq Ghali, head of the research program, identifies a research center on Al-Juadriya Street in Baghdad as the new headquarters for the operation.
• Zweir, who worked for 13 years at the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission, said he was arrested and tortured after refusing to return to nuclear weapons work during the Gulf War.
• The Iraqi nuclear weapons program, known as Project 3000, was believed to be between one and four years from producing a nuclear bomb when the war broke out.
• U.N. inspectors carried out over 1,000 inspections between 1991 and 1997, but never found direct evidence of ongoing research.
• Charles Duelfer, former deputy chief of U.N. inspectors, expressed concern over Zweir's story, noting a pattern of ongoing research without direct evidence.
• The report comes as more countries begin to break ranks with the U.N. over sanctions imposed on Iraq following the Gulf War.

Statistics:

• 1,000: Number of inspections conducted by U.N. inspectors between 1991 and 1997.
• 13 years: Length of time Salman Yassin Zweir worked for the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission.
• 1998: Year the secret document was issued, ordering scientists back to work on the nuclear program.
• 4 months: Timeframe between the issuance of the document and the expulsion of international weapons inspectors from Iraq.
• 39: Age of Salman Yassin Zweir at the time of the interview.
• 2 wars: The Gulf War and the 1990-1991 conflict sparked by Saddam's invasion and occupation of Kuwait.

Sources:

• "Iraqi scientists ordered to return to work on nuclear program." The Sunday Times, [date unavailable].
• UPI, "Iraqi scientist reveals Saddam's nuclear plans." December 24, [date unavailable].