© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
A trading company led by the cousin of Syria's dictator, Bashar Assad, smuggled millions of dollars worth of sophisticated arms and equipment to Saddam Hussein for three years prior to the Iraqi leader's overthrow, reports the Los Angeles Times.
At least one shipment of arms was completed with the help of the Syrian government in violation of a U.N. arms embargo.
Just prior to the U.S.-led effort to oust Hussein, SES International Corp. signed at least 50 contracts to supply weapons and gear to Iraq, the paper reports, saying the arms transfers included 1,000 heavy machine guns and up to 20 million bullets for assault rifles.
Among the Times' findings:
- A Polish company shipped up to 380 surface-to-air missile engines to Baghdad through Syria;
- A South Korean firm shipped $8 million in telecommunications equipment for "air defense";
- A Slovenian firm shipped 20 battle tank barrels to the Syrian firm early in 2002;
- Two North Korean officials went to Damascus to discuss an Iraqi payment of $10 million for components for ballistic missiles.
In March, the Bush administration accused Syria of supplying Iraq with night-vision goggles, but the Times reports the White House was unaware of how extensive the smuggling was.
The reports says another company, Al Bashair Trading Co., a Baghdad firm, also was involved in the smuggling, with executives of the firm meeting with North Korean firms before the war began.
The Los Angeles daily's three-month investigation included the translation of 800 signed contracts found in the Al Bashair Trading Co. office shortly before U.S. troops entered Baghdad.
Not all the weapons were delivered, but some may still be in use by terrorists battling the U.S. occupation forces, the newspaper said.
SES International Corp. denied any wrongdoing, while Syria's foreign ministry refused to comment to the Times.
As WorldNetDaily reported, a Russian company, Moscow-based Aviaconversiya Ltd., supplied a portable GPS-jamming device to Iraq prior to the war and helped personnel there operate the technology, according to U.S. intelligence reports.
The owner of the firm denied any wrongdoing but suggested a third party – such as Syria – could have passed along the equipment to Iraq.
