Iraq:  Baghdad Has Destroyed 72 al-Samoud 2 Missiles

Iraq yesterday destroyed two prohibited al-Samoud 2 missiles and related equipment, bringing the total to 72 missiles since March 1, according to a U.N. press release (see GSN, March 17; U.N. release, March 17).  On Sunday, Iraq destroyed two of the missiles, along with related equipment (U.N. release, March 16).

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Iraq:  Baghdad Has Destroyed 68 Al-Samoud 2 Missiles; Recent Trade Reported

Iraq has so far destroyed at least 68 of its prohibited al-Samoud 2 missiles, according to Reuters (see GSN, March 13).  On Saturday, Iraq destroyed three of the missiles, along with a launcher and other related equipment (Samia Nakhoul, Reuters, March 15).  Iraq Friday destroyed four al-Samoud 2 missiles, seven warheads for the missiles and other related equipment (U.N. release, March 14).

Iraq Purchases Missile Fuel Chemical

In August Iraq purchased from a Chinese company a dual-use chemical used in producing missile fuel, with the aid of French and Syrian brokers, according to U.S. intelligence and defense officials.

The sale of the chemical, hydroxy terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), was traced last summer from China’s Qilu Chemicals company, U.S. officials said.  “Qilu Chemicals is the largest manufacturer of HTPB in China,” an official said.

The French company CIS Paris brokered the sale of 20 tons of HTPB to Iraq, according to the Washington Times.  The shipment was sent from China to the Syrian port of Tartus, where it was then sent via truck to an Iraqi missile production plant, according to U.S. officials.

France has denied aiding the HTPB sale.

“These accusations are devoid of all foundation,” French Foreign Ministry spokesman Francois Rivasseau said.  “They are a part of a polemic that we do not want to get involved in.  In line with the rules currently in force, France has neither delivered, nor authorized the delivery of such materials, either directly or indirectly,” he said (Bill Gertz, Washington Times, March 15).

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China:  Officials Say China Did Not Need U.S. Rocket Technology

Two recently punished U.S. companies did not give missile technology to Beijing, according to two Chinese scientists familiar with the launch of U.S.-built satellites, Bloomberg.com reported yesterday (see GSN, March 6).

The U.S. State Department fined U.S. contractors Boeing and Hughes Electronics $32 million last week for sending rocket technology to China without the proper licenses, Bloomberg.com reported.  The United States said that the companies should have obtained licenses before they provided missile technology while investigating two failed Chinese rocket launches in the 1990s.  The State Department alleged that the actions represented 123 violations of the Arms Control Export Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.  Boeing and Hughes agreed to the fine.

“There isn’t any need for us” to take U.S. rocket technology, said Long Lehao, head of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.  “Our rockets are like our children, we’re very clear on their illnesses and merits,” Long said.

Demonstrating its technological independence, China released an analysis of its failed 1995 Long March 2E rocket launch more than six months before the U.S. companies did, according to Mu Shan, former deputy chief engineer of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

“This has harmed not only the feelings of the Chinese people, but also to the interests of the two countries,” Mu said (Chi-Chu Tschang, Bloomberg.com, March 13).

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Iraq:  Baghdad Has Destroyed 58 al-Samoud 2 Missiles

Iraq yesterday destroyed three prohibited al-Samoud 2 missiles, bringing the total number of destroyed missiles to date to 58 (see GSN, March 12).  The missiles were banned after a panel of international experts determined they could fly beyond the U.N.-mandated range of 150 kilometers (U.N. release, March 12).

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North Korea:  Pyongyang Preparing Ballistic Missile Test, Second Cruise Missile Test Failed

U.S. intelligence officials have said North Korea is preparing to test-launch another missile, possible a Taepodong 2 long-range ballistic missile, the Washington Times reported today (see GSN, March 10).

Recent satellite photographs taken of a North Korean base revealed activity that indicated possible missile test preparations, the officials said.  The activity is being closely monitored amid concerns that the test could involve a Taepodong 2, an official said.  Such a test would unquestionably end North Korea’s missile testing moratorium, which began in 1998.

“There aren’t indications of an imminent launch, but it is something they might well do,” one U.S. official said.  “It’s certainly a possibility,” the official added.

Pyongyang is expected to make a prior announcement before the next missile test, the intelligence officials said.  Such an announcement could be issued as early as today, they added.

Meanwhile, North Korea’s Monday test of an anti-ship cruise missile failed when the missile did not fly properly due to a guidance system problem, the officials said.  The missile, a North Korean version of the Chinese-made HY-2 Silkworm, flew about 80 miles before falling into the Sea of Japan.  The missile normally has a range of about 100 miles (Bill Gertz, Washington Times, March 12).

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Iraq:  Baghdad Destroys Three Al-Samoud 2 Missiles

Iraq today began destroying an additional three prohibited al-Samoud 2 missiles, according to Reuters (see GSN, March 6; Reuters/MSNBC.com).  Yesterday, Iraqi technicians destroyed three missiles, bringing the total of al-Samoud 2 missiles destroyed to date to 55.  Iraq also destroyed yesterday nine warheads for the missiles, one al-Samoud 2 launcher and some propellant tanks (International Atomic Energy Agency release, March 11).

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