Volume 1 - Iraq Watch

• An electrophoresis system including a specialatomizer with rubber bellows for producing reagentmists. This system can be used for recombinantDNA process-cloning and many other molecularbiology applications.• A refrigerated ultracentrifuge, a microcentrifuge,a low temperature freezer (between -30 and -80degrees Celsius), and an automatic DNA-analysissystem with mono-laser. This equipment is onthe UN dual-use monitoring lists and would haverequired verification.• A moisture purging vacuum pump and electroporator.This equipment is used for plasmid cloning.2002—Attempts To Procure a DNA SynthesizerFrom August 2002 through February 2003 representativesfrom a Jordanian trading company with linksto Iraq attempted to purchase a DNA synthesizerfrom a German based company. This equipment wasrestricted under the UN GRL.• An official claiming to be the managing director ofthe Jordanian firm Al Theker forwarded the informationto Iraq. The report stated that it appearedthat the Jordanian firm’s official was forwardinginformation back to the Baghdad-based WateeraCompany.Possible Breaches of UN Sanctions by DanishCompaniesdryers. What was in question was their ability tomanufacture the very precise atomizer nozzlesrequired to produce particles in the optimum sizerange.• It is believed that Iraq obtained two very capablespray dryers from the Danish company, NiroAtomizer Inc. One of these Niro spray dryers wasinstalled in Al Hakam in the Bacilllus Thuringiensis(BT) production line and was used in the productionof BT in the 1-3 micron size range.• It is believed that this spray dryer was destroyedwith the rest of Al Hakam; however, it cannot beconfirmed that the critical atomizer nozzle was alsodestroyed.• If the atomizer nozzle from Al-Hakam was retained,Iraq may have been able to reverse engineer it,although the precision required would have been achallenge for the Iraqis.Possible Breaches of UN Sanctions by ItalianCompanies2002—Attempt To Procure Biotechnology and BioWeapons Related Technology and ExpertiseIn January 2002, the Al-Mazd Group for Medical andEngineering Systems and Technology (AGMEST) inBaghdad requested a quotation for 10 freeze dryersthrough the Iraqi Ministry of Health from an Italianfirm.Regime Financeand Procurement2001—Procurement of Precise Atomizer NozzlesAlthough Iraq was able to indigenously produce mostof what it required for its biological agent programs,they were not able to create or fabricate all of thenecessary equipment for CW and BW weapons programs.It was also important for Iraq to procure theappropriate spray dryers in order to obtain BacillusAnthrecis spores in a dried form. It is well knownthat the persistency of the spores in this form is muchlonger and more stable than in the liquid form.• It was known for certain that Iraq was able to makemost of the mechanical components for spray2002—Attempt To Procure Dual-Use AutoclavesIn March 2002 the Iraqi firm Al Mutasem Engineeringused a Jordanian intermediary company, tocontact an Italian firm and receive a price quote fordual-use autoclaves.• Autoclaves are commonly used in laboratories tosterilize equipment. They are not a vital part of aBW program as there are other means to sterilizeequipment.263