Imagery of storage bunkers at Al Qa Qaa (DoD image does not match) [View All]

[Skinner]

This is pretty complicated, so I'm going to try to explain. Earlier today, DoD declassified a satellite photo, "showing two trucks outside one of the dozens of storage bunkers at the Al-Qaqaa munitions base." See Rumsfeld Suggests Explosives Were Moved (spin baby spin), posted on DU earlier today.

But here is an analysis of the photo from GlobalSecurity.org:

The International Atomic Energy Association inspectors identified bunkers in this complex as containing High Melting Explosive. According to the IAEA Action Report on the facility, the HMX was being stored in only nine bunkers at the site. All of the HMX bunkers were sealed by the IAEA after verification, using metal seals on the front entrance doors.

DoD released on Oct. 28, 2004, imagery showing two trucks parked outside one of the 56 bunkers of the Al Qa Qaa Explosive Storage Complex approximately 20 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq, on March 17, 2003. According to the release: "It is not believed that all 56 bunkers contained High Melting Explosive also known as HMX. A large, tractor-trailer (yellow arrow) is loaded with white containers with a smaller truck parked behind it.

However, a comparison of features in the DoD-released imagery with available commercial satellite imagery, combined with the use of an IAEA map showing the location of bunkers used to store the HMX explosives, reveals that the trucks pictured on the DoD image are not at any of the nine bunkers indentified by the IAEA as containing the missing explosive stockpiles.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iraq/al_qa_qaa-imagery4.htm

CAPTION: DoD-released imagery taken on March 17, 2003, showing two trucks parked outside one of the 56 bunkers of the Al Qa Qaa Explosive Storage Complex.

A much larger version is here: ?click



CAPTION: Imagery showing location of the HMX-stockpiled bunkers and those in the DoD imagery. The locations do not match.

(Note: The red circles say "Bunkers containing HMX." The Green rectangle says "DoD Image. Note that they are in different places.)

A much larger version is here: ?click

Much more at the GlobalSecurity.org website:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iraq/al_qa_qaa-imagery4.htm