[antiwar-van] US Has No Courage to Report On WMD

[hanna kawas]

-----Original Message-----
From: ep at MennoLink.org [mailto:ep at MennoLink.org]On Behalf Of CPTnet
editor, Webster, NY
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 10:26 AM
To: menno.org.cpt.news at MennoLink.org
Subject: IRAQ: Scientists grilled on weapons of mass destruction


CPTNet
September 8, 2003
IRAQ: Scientists grilled on weapons of mass destruction

"I wish there was something I could say to close this file," an Iraqi
scientist in Baghdad repeatedly told CPTers in the course of a two-hour
discussion. Members of a special U.S.  military task force investigating
Weapons of Mass Destruction have visited him repeatedly.

According to Iraqi scientists, such interviews and unannounced
interrogations began in May. The U.S. Military has detained at least three
university professors for periods of up to three weeks.

After the shooting of an American soldier at the University of Baghdad early
this summer, new faces appeared on the investigative team and told
scientists that the venue for meetings should shift from university campuses
to hotels for the safety of the team and the scientists.  At that point the
scientists realized that the pressure on them and their families had
increased and to refuse to cooperate with the interviews could lead to
detention or worse.  So they agreed.

Now they say that what began as polite scientific interviews have turned to
harsh interrogations where their inquisitors expect "stuff even American
scientists cannot do let alone Iraqi scientists."

One scientist reported a recent exchange in which the interrogators said,
"We want to interest you in cooperation so that we can look to the future
together and perhaps help you go abroad."

Iraqi scientists currently under investigation report that the U.S.
Interrogators ask them why they are not telling the truth.  One scientist
responded, "Are you interested in truth, or what you want to hear?"  Another
scientist asked his American interrogators if they had the courage to report
that they did not find what they were looking for.  "They refused to answer
the question," he said.

"The judgement of the people in our group is that weapons of mass
destruction did not exist here or elsewhere in the country.  We understand
that many of the areas of research that we carry out can be part dual use.
We explained in detail how our systems work," said one scientist.

A question repeatedly asked by investigators referred to "reliable
information" claiming the existence of a secret underground laboratory.  The
scientists are not familiar with such a site and suggested that the
investigators bring the person who gave them the information to identify the
place.

One of the university professors under investigation remarked, "This type of
thing never happened to us under the previous government.  Under this system
we have no rights, no defense.  We thought the investigation would soon be
over and when they first came we tried to cooperate.  We have no option but
to continue to tell the truth as we know it even when the same questions are
asked again and again."

University administrators have begun giving more active support to
scientists under investigation by making contacts with the Coalition
Provisional Authority.

Among the scientists detained are:
- Dr. Alice Gregon, Baghdad University Faculty of Science--arrested for two
weeks and taken to the office of civilian armed groups.

- Dr. Antone Sabri, Professor of the College of Veterinary Medicine--held
for ten days; was released after polygraph testing.

- Dr. Hasim Mohammed Ali, Faculty of Medicine-- still detained.


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