The American Spectator

First look at the Tierney translation of a most compelling part of the Saddam Hussein tapes from intelligencesummit.org: there is no fixed date to these exchanges.  There is a clue when Saddam Hussein says that America experienced a terror attack two years before, suggesting 2000, two years after the 1998 attack on the embassies in Africa.  There is no reference to 9-11.

These are preliminary translations.

TA is Tariq Aziz.  SH is Saddam Hussein.

Soon the Arabic originals will be in the hands of Iraqis who can easily understand the peculiar Tikriti slang of Saddam Hussein and others on the tapes and can fill in the blanks and the unintelligibles.

Note the use of the following critical and most threatening words: certain combinations of these words makes for a casus belli of the first rank: at the same time, certain combinations of these words would render the conversation between Aziz and Hussein as a dry colloquy on terrorism in the near future.

biological

French

Russian

terrorism

Americans

weapons of mass destruction

Washington

nuclear explosion

White House

germ warfare

biological (weapon)

TA:  "Well, on the subject of biological which still remains, the French and the Russians, if they help us, we can reach a solution, I mean, I don't think it is unlikely that (unintelligible)

TA:  This talk that Iraq produces…or uses for terrorism, this is an empty allegation.  Somebody could say any country can —

SH:  Terrorism is coming…with the Americans, two years ago with the English, I believe, there was a campaign (unintelligible) with one of them, that in the future would be terrorism with weapons of mass destruction…

SH:  what is it that we…consider this technique…and use people involved with smuggling…there were stories on smuggling.

Other Voice:  but sir, germ warfare –

SH:  Before a little, in 89, … they said in the future they would see a car (unintelligible) a nuclear explosion, for example, Washington, or germ, or chemical.

TA:  Sir, germ, biological, we can arrange a house, we can arrange a truck, with-

SH:  this is coming, this story is coming, but not from Iraq

TA:  Sir, they can't do it

SH:  It is coming from others.

TA: biological, this is simple to arrange.  This is easy.  With any biological (weapon), you can use a truck with germ…and fill the water tank and kill (unintelligible).   And this not a country, it is not necessary to suspect a country, anyone can do it.

TA:  Anyone can do it, and American, in a house near the White House.  They would not have much reason, except the institutes.  They have big institutes, like Hakim.  (Unintelligible) Hakim, and it is known that it was destroyed.

TA:  They, if they can convince the others also, that this institute has the equipment, I don't think there would (mayakin (unintelligible).  There would be (mumbling) Yes?

TA:  Yes, care with all the shibabish.  I mean, if actually, there is going to be destruction, I think our position is not going to be strong.  The others are going to say that this is true, the five are not going to accept— 

SH:  Yes, that is like all, enough of (unintelligible)

Unidentified Male:  (a speaker at a distance from mike raises concern about such an attack)

SH:  (unintelligible) I know that biological is the farthest thing away from there being a story.  Wadiyan (friendly), they ended it, their work and (unintelligible)

Unidentified Male:  (most unintelligible), but mentions a window and air conditioning)

TA:  (most unintelligible sentence)

[The tapes continue: there are hours.  There are hundred more hours to find, translate, analyze.]