GEOSTRATEGY-DIRECT INTELLIGENCE BRIEF
Syria smuggling WMD to Sudan
Apparent effort to conceal them from Western inspection
Posted: April 15, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern
Syria's Defense Ministry has been smuggling components for missiles and weapons
of mass destruction to Sudan in an apparent effort to conceal them from Western
inspection.
Western intelligence sources said the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad
has been flying shipments of Scud C and Scud D extended-range missiles and WMD
components to warehouses in Khartoum since at least January 2004.
The sources said the Syrian shipments to Khartoum were placed on civilian
airliners but authorized and directed by the Defense Ministry.
"There is widespread concern in the Syrian regime that Damascus will be the
next to face heavy U.S. and international pressure to open its WMD facilities
in the wake of the Libyan example," a senior intelligence source said. "The
Syrians have decided that they want to take some of their assets out of the
country."
The intelligence sources said the Sudanese regime of President Omar Bashir was
not informed of the Syrian missile and WMD shipments.
They said the Syrian material was sent to Khartoum as part of the increased
trade relations between the two countries and processed and stored by Sudanese
companies.
A U.S. official who deals with Middle East issues said Syria was suspected of
transporting missile and WMD components to Sudan. But the U.S. intelligence
community has not confirmed the reports, he said.
The intelligence sources said 10 civilian aircraft sponsored by the Syrian
Defense Ministry brought a range of missile and WMD-related material to
Khartoum in January. A similar number of flights were reported in February and
March and they included components of the Scud C, Scud D missiles and launchers
as well as chemical weapons and precursors.
In some cases, the cargo was listed as medical equipment, the sources said.
Syria has operated numerous civilian projects in Sudan, including agriculture,
food and transportation. Much of the cargo was destined for southern Sudan.
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| User: "WH" |
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| Title: Re: Syria smuggling WMD to Sudan |
16 Apr 2004 01:18:38 PM |
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"TonyZ2001" <tonyz2001@aol.com> skrev i meddelandet
news:20040415115610.17367.00000491@mb-m16.aol.com...
GEOSTRATEGY-DIRECT INTELLIGENCE BRIEF
Syria smuggling WMD to Sudan
Apparent effort to conceal them from Western inspection
Posted: April 15, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern
Syria's Defense Ministry has been smuggling components for missiles and
weapons
of mass destruction to Sudan in an apparent effort to conceal them from
Western
inspection.
<yawwwwn>
WH
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