Missing WMDs in Lebanon?

On May 4, we posted on a Debka File report that before the war started, Iraq shipped its chemical and biological weapons to Syria, which buried them in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley.
This story has surfaced again in the World Tribune:
“U.S. intelligence suspects Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction have finally been located.
“Unfortunately, getting to them will be nearly impossible for the United States and its allies, because the containers with the strategic materials are not in Iraq. Instead they are located in Lebanon’s heavily-fortified Bekaa Valley, swarming with Iranian and Syrian forces, and Hizbullah and ex-Iraqi agents…”
The most interesting aspect of the World Tribune report is that it is attributed to U.S. government sources: “U.S. intelligence sources believe the area contains extended-range Scud-based missiles and parts for chemical and biological warheads….The CIA now believes a multi-million dollar deal between Iraq and Syria provided for the hiding and safekeeping of Saddam’s strategic weapons. Not surprisingly, U.S. inquiries in Beirut and Syria are being met with little substantive response, U.S. officials said.”
Speculation has been that the government will release a report on Iraq’s illegal weapons programs and on the fate of its weapons next month. None too soon, in my opinion, but the Administration is understandably erring on the side of completeness and accuracy rather than releasing information piecemeal. It now appears likely that the Beqaa Valley theory may be part of that report. If so, I can hardly imagine that the Administration will accept the premise that “getting to them will be nearly impossible.”

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