More - Charles Duelfer Quotes

[No one has a precise answer. The International Atomic Energy Agency dismantled 40 nuclear-research facilities before the U.N. inspectors left Iraq, including three uranium-enrichment sites. Prior to the inspections, Saddam's stealthiness had been so effective that none of the 40 were known to the outside world. Clearly, Iraq was on its way to becoming a nuclear power. Without ground inspections, those who track Iraq's nuclear development have had to rely on interviews with recent defectors and surveys of suppliers Baghdad has contacted seeking parts. Both suggest that Iraq's nuclear program is back in full swing.] Iraq's known nuclear scientists are gravitating to the country's five nuclear research sites, ... That doesn't appear to be coincidental.

Charles Duelfer

 

This is a very interesting element of the British presentation. It was on the basis of that kind of information we had from defectors as far back as 1997 that we conducted some of our most controversial inspections.

Charles Duelfer

 

We need to investigate whether there are more where that came from, wherever that is, and we need to make certain that they're not finding their way into anti-coalition or terrorist hands.

Charles Duelfer

 

Given that kind of background, I would be a little bit surprised if it was Saddam Hussein who directed this, ... But, on the other hand, I would also be somewhat surprised if there were no connection at all between Saddam and al Qaeda.

Charles Duelfer

 

Certainly Iraq, even before oil-for-food and sanctions, conducted business by buying influence.

Charles Duelfer

 Business

We decided that it made no more sense for him to hang around in Baghdad without being able to accomplish his task, ... a simple, practical decision.

Charles Duelfer

 

Many perceive a grave risk in speaking with us. On one hand, there is a fear of prosecution or arrest. On the other, there is a fear [that] former regime supporters will exact retribution. This is, in part, why we do not yet fully understand the central issue of regime intentions,

Charles Duelfer

 

Over the past 10 months, we have learned that [deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's] most senior and trusted officials can hold their tongues,

Charles Duelfer

 

What they do is support the conclusion the regime had the intention of building or rebuilding weapons of mass destruction.

Charles Duelfer

 

What they do is support the conclusion in the report, which we made in the last couple of years, that the regime had the intention of building and rebuilding weapons of mass destruction, when circumstances permitted.

Charles Duelfer

 Conclusion