Reference: Iraq Aluminum Tubes (beta version)

Liberalpalooza

19 years ago

I had previously diaried about creating a series of reference diaries for those who need access to information and don’t feel like spending hours looking for it. This is the beginning of the first diary.

This diary is far from complete (it’s a slow process) and will probably be deleted and replaced later on (due to how much info I still have to add). What I’m looking for right now is just some feedback on the basic layout and/or suggestions.

Also if you have info or sources on this issue feel free to post them in comments and I’ll add them as I revise.

And if anyone can tell me why the blank space appears before each table that would be SOOOOOO very helpful.
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BRIEF SUMMARY

The attempted purchase of aluminum tubes by the Iraqi government was one of the pieces of information the Bush Administration touted as proof of Iraq’s attempt to develop a nuclear device. Despite evidence to the contrary, the Bush Administration claimed that the attempted purchase of these tubes proved Iraq’s desire to create nuclear weapons.

TIMELINE

1980s	Iraq purchases aluminum tubes for use in rockets with the same material, length, diameter and wall thickness as the aluminum tubes they sought in 2001 source (pdf)
1996	IAEA during an inspection examine 66,000 aluminum tubes with the same material, length, diameter and wall thickness as the aluminum tubes they sought in 2001 source
April 10, 2001	One of the first reports on the tubes is sent to senior administration officials declaring the tubes “have little use other than for a uranium enrichment program.” source
April 11, 2001	Department of Energy officials create list of reasons why the tubes are not well suited for centrifuges. source
May 9, 2001	Daily Intelligence Highlight, a secret Energy Department newsletter published on Intelink, a Web site for the intelligence community and the White House published that the dimensions of the aluminum tubes Iraq had attempted to purchase matched perfectly the aluminum tubes they had previously purchased and that previous inspections had verified as being used in rockets. source
August 17, 2001	The Department of Energy assembles a team of centrifuge experts who produce the Technical Intelligence Note detailing their doubts about the aluminum tubes suitability for centrifuges. source
September 8, 2002	“We do know that there have been shipments going into Iran, for instance — into Iraq, for instance, of aluminum tubes that really are only suited to — high-quality aluminum tubes that are only really suited for nuclear weapons programs, centrifuge programs.” Condeleza Rice Interview on CNN source
October 7, 2002	“Iraq has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes and other equipment needed for gas centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons.” President Bush Speech at Cincinnati Museum Center – Cincinnati Union Terminal source (audio and video also available from site)
November 27, 2002	UNMOVIC and IAEA resume inspections of Iraq
January 9, 2003	“We told the Council that we have been investigating Iraqi reports that they have imported aluminium tubes for rockets and not for centrifuge, not for uranium enrichment. We are investigating their efforts to procure aluminium tubes. We are in touch with some of their intended suppliers, and the question is still open, but we believe, at this stage, that these aluminium tubes were intended for the manufacturing of rockets.” Mohamed ElBaradei, IAEA’s Director General UN Press Briefing source video (click on “said” and forward to 16:37)
January 28, 2003	“Our intelligence sources tell us that he has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons production. Saddam Hussein has not credibly explained these activities.” President Bush State of the Union source (audio and video also available from site)
February 5, 2003	Powell’s U.N. presentation includes information about the tubes
March 7, 2003	“Based on available evidence, the IAEA team has concluded that Iraq’s efforts to import these aluminium tubes were not likely to have been related to the manufacture of centrifuges and, moreover, that it was highly unlikely that Iraq could have achieved the considerable re-design needed to use them in a revived centrifuge programme.” “There is no indication that Iraq has attempted to import aluminium tubes for use in centrifuge enrichment. Moreover, even had Iraq pursued such a plan, it would have encountered practical difficulties in manufacturing centrifuges out of the aluminium tubes in question.” Mohamed ElBaradei, IAEA’s Director General UN Report source

FACTS

Characteristics of Al Tubes *	Zippe Centrifuge *	Rockets *	Comments
Al Alloy 7075-T6	Not used, but could be used	Used in US and NATO rockets
Anodization	Not used	Prevents corrosion if tubes or rockets stored for long periods
Length 900 mm	For subcritical centrifuge, tube must be cut so that length does not exceed 400 mm.	Length for rockets Iraq said it reverse-engineered.
Diameter 81 mm	Possible, but not an optimal diameter. Leakage rate for this diameter can be about 1-7%, a relatively high rate.	Standard diameter for helicoptor launched rocket of the type Iraq reverse-engineered.
Wall thickness 3 mm	Far too thick for these Zippe designs, but possible to use in existing Iraqi design with advanced bearings and other modifications. But the resulting centrifuge would have far less ability to enrich.	Standard thickness
Tolerances	In some cases, acceptable	Consistent with tolerances of NATO rockets of the type Iraq reverse-engineered.