Here's a link to an article written by the CIA in Oct. 2002: "Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs". This article was previously available at www.cia.gov, but has since been removed from publicly accessible areas of their website.
Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs
In retrospect, most of the claims in this document appear contentious rather than informative, as no evidence of WMD's has been found in the aftermath of the US-led invasion of Iraq. However, some interesting conclusions can be sifted from the compiled data:
1) Nuclear weapons capability: As of 10/02, Iraq had no nuclear weapons. To produce any such weapons in the near term, it would have had to acquire fissionable material from foreign sources.
2) Chemical weapons capability: Iraq's last documented use of CW was in 1988. These weapons were used exclusively against Iranians and Kurds in the Iran/Iraq War. Since the Gulf War, UN inspectors have destroyed over 2 million liters of CW agents and precursors. As of 10/02, there was no evidence of non-civilian chemical production facilities in Iraq.
3) Biological weapons capability: There is no evidence that Iraq has ever deployed BW. The last time Iraq tested biological weapons was in 1991. As of 10/02, there was no evidence of BW production facilities in Iraq.
4) Ballistic missle capability: After the Gulf War, Iraq was permitted by the UN to maintain short-range ballistic missiles with a range no greater than 150 km. The longest range missles Iraq has possessed had a maximum range of 900 km, and these were last tested in 1991. As of 10/02 there was no evidence of anything but short-range ballistic missiles in Iraq.
In short, the CIA never claimed to have conclusive evidence of WMD's in Iraq.
Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs
In retrospect, most of the claims in this document appear contentious rather than informative, as no evidence of WMD's has been found in the aftermath of the US-led invasion of Iraq. However, some interesting conclusions can be sifted from the compiled data:
1) Nuclear weapons capability: As of 10/02, Iraq had no nuclear weapons. To produce any such weapons in the near term, it would have had to acquire fissionable material from foreign sources.
2) Chemical weapons capability: Iraq's last documented use of CW was in 1988. These weapons were used exclusively against Iranians and Kurds in the Iran/Iraq War. Since the Gulf War, UN inspectors have destroyed over 2 million liters of CW agents and precursors. As of 10/02, there was no evidence of non-civilian chemical production facilities in Iraq.
3) Biological weapons capability: There is no evidence that Iraq has ever deployed BW. The last time Iraq tested biological weapons was in 1991. As of 10/02, there was no evidence of BW production facilities in Iraq.
4) Ballistic missle capability: After the Gulf War, Iraq was permitted by the UN to maintain short-range ballistic missiles with a range no greater than 150 km. The longest range missles Iraq has possessed had a maximum range of 900 km, and these were last tested in 1991. As of 10/02 there was no evidence of anything but short-range ballistic missiles in Iraq.
In short, the CIA never claimed to have conclusive evidence of WMD's in Iraq.