CIA Says al Qaeda Ready to Use Nukes

Tuesday, June 3, 2003
By Bill Gertz
Washington Times Writer

Al Qaeda's plans for chemical arms were revealed in a document obtained in summer 2002 that "indicates the group has crude procedures for making mustard agent, sarin and VX," the report said. Mustard is a blistering agent, and sarin and VX are nerve agents that can kill humans in small amounts.

Al Qaeda terrorists and related groups are set to use chemical, biological and nuclear weapons in deadly strikes, according to a new CIA report.

"Al Qaeda's goal is the use of [chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons] to cause mass casualties," the CIA stated in an internal report produced last month.

"However, most attacks by the group — and especially by associated extremists — probably will be small-scale, incorporating relatively crude delivery means and easily produced or obtained chemicals, toxins or radiological substances," the report said.

Islamist extremists linked to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden "have a wide variety of potential agents and delivery means to choose from for chemical, biological and radiological or nuclear (CBRN) attacks," said the four-page report titled "Terrorist CBRN: Materials and Effects."

The unclassified report was produced by the CIA's intelligence directorate, and a copy of it was obtained by The Washington Times.

The report identifies several deadly toxins and chemicals that al Qaeda could use to conduct the attacks, including nerve gases, germ and toxin weapons anthrax and ricin, and radiological dispersal devices, also known as "dirty bombs."
(More: WashingtonTimes.com)
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030603-122052-2698r.htm
2003 © The Washington Times.

Dan