Absence of Arms Finds in Iraq Worries U.S.
May 21 -- Nine weeks after the U.S.-led war with Iraq, U.S. officials still have no proof that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction but remain convinced that Saddam Hussein had the capability to make them.
U.S. intelligence officials said two tractor-trailers found in northern Iraq are laboratories for making biological weapons. But after combing through the mobile trailers for more than a month, U.S. officials still could not say they had found a trace of biological agent on the trailers.
Former inspectors said this is no smoking gun. "I don't think that even evidence that these were biological labs would be sufficient until there is clear proof that weapons were produced in these facilities," said Jonathan Tucker, a former U.N. biologicalweapons inspector.
Scientists and politicians said the failure to find real proof raises serious questions, with Sen. Robert Byrd today accusing the Bush administration of duping the American people.
"They have so far turned up only fertilizer, vacuum cleaners, conventional weapons, and the occasional buried swimming pool," said Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat.
Powell: We Got it Right
A U.S. intelligence report on the trailers, portions of which were read to ABCNEWS, said: "Biological weapons agent production is the only consistent, logical purpose for these vehicles."
The report also said the trailers were "strikingly similar" to mobile labs described by Secretary of State Colin Powell in his U.N. speech in February. In that speech, Powell said such labs were capable of producing anthrax.
Powell met with reporters today, refusing to describe the analysis as a vindication, but nevertheless expressing pride.
"We have taken our time on this one, because we wanted to make sure we got it right, and the intelligence community, I think, is convinced now that that's the purpose they served," he said.
"I think we knew what we were saying when we went to the United Nations on the 5th of February, and I was pleased to be the one to present the case."
Related Stories
ABC News Live