[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 11 (Tuesday, February 3, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               DAVID KAY AND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
January 20, 2004, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I am here to sort of elaborate on David 
Kay's comments dealing with weapons of mass destruction. He is a chief 
weapons of mass destruction hunter for the United States and he 
resigned recently, but he made some very interesting statements 
regarding Iraq's pursuit of the WMD and the possible deception of Iraqi 
scientists against Saddam Hussein regarding weapons programs. I think 
it is important to look at the totality of what David Kay said and not 
just what some of the political pundits have pulled out of his speech. 
He said that the CIA and other intelligence agencies did not realize 
that Iraq scientists had presented ``ambitious but fanciful weapons 
programs to Saddam Hussein,'' and had them use the money that they were 
going to use for these things for other purposes.
  At present, we have not found a huge stockpile of WMD. The search 
continues. However, we know a few facts. According to a recent New York 
Times story, Dr. Kay also reported ``Iraq attempted to revise its 
efforts to develop nuclear weapons in 2000 and 2001, but never got as 
far towards making a bomb as Iran and Libya did.'' He also said 
``Baghdad was actively working to produce a biological weapon, using 
the poison ricin until the American invasion last March.'' We have all 
become familiar with this toxin given recent events in the news because 
of what happened at the Senate office building yesterday.
  Many of this administration's detractors have begun using Kay's 
statements to bolster their particular points of view regarding weapons 
of mass destruction and Iraq. But let us not forget that the Clinton 
administration also declared Iraq had WMD and was actively pursuing 
those types of programs. Dr. Kay's information then supports the 
assertion of the Clinton administration that Saddam Hussein was 
pursuing weapons of mass destruction programs.
  Saddam Hussein made it clear that he wanted to see the State of 
Israel and the United States destroyed. He saw himself as a lion 
standing up to the powerful United States. Although he could not 
directly attack the United States, it is not unreasonable to conclude 
that he would transfer weapons of mass destruction, the technology, the 
weapons themselves and items to a terrorist organization, or to any 
other rogue nation, to use in a direct attack on our soil; and that is 
why the President's proposal to look at all of the intelligence 
activities dealing with weapons of mass destruction, not just in Iraq, 
but also in other rogue nations, is very important and he is to be 
commended.
  Dr. Kay said the CIA and other agencies failed to recognize that Iraq 
had all but abandoned its efforts to produce large quantities of 
chemical or biological weapons after the first Persian Gulf War in 
1991. He also stated that contrary to certain allegations, he was 
convinced that the analysts were not pressed by the Bush administration 
to make certain their prewar intelligence reports conformed to a White 
House agenda on Iraq.
  The allegations that our intelligence agencies failed to detect the 
supposed deception within the Iraqi Government and its weapons programs 
goes to the heart of our problem that many of our colleagues have 
talked about over the years regarding our intelligence ability. We are 
far too short of human intelligence, the exact kind of intelligence 
that can provide what is going on in the minds of our adversaries. CIA 
does not have people on the inside, to the best of our knowledge. 
Satellite coverage is great, electronic signals and intercepts are 
vital, but without human assets on the ground, these intelligence items 
can project an incomplete picture. They cannot tell what the officials 
are thinking and what the mood is on the street, or alert analysts to 
the possibility of deceptive tactics within a particular government.
  As a Nation, we must continuously learn from our success and 
failures. I support President Bush's national security policy and his 
decision to seek a separate intelligence inquiry. Our credibility is 
vital if we are to bring more Nations into this fight against 
terrorism, but we must look at David Kay's statements in their 
totality.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend President Bush for seeking this commission.




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