The Search for WMD in Iraq

(01) US Biologist Tests DNA Samples in Iraq. A U.S. biologist with the 75th Exploitation Task Force tests DNA samples at their base in the Victory Palace complex outside Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, May 9, 2003. The American invasion broke up a program capable of producing Iraqi chemical and biological weapons, contends the U.S. weapons-hunting chief. But he acknowledges his teams have found no such weapons thus far. The shift of focus to 'capability,' instead of weapons, marks a lowering of expectations from prewar days, when U.S. leaders said war wasnecessary to root out an unconventional arsenal in Iraq. (02) A Chemical Lab of the 75th Exploitation Task Force. A view of a chemical laboratory where samples found in the field are tested by the 75th Exploitation Task Force, at their base in the Victory Palace complex outside Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, May 9, 2003. The American invasion broke up a program capable of producing Iraqi chemical and biological weapons, contends the U.S. weapons-hunting chief. But he acknowledges his teams have found no such weapons thus far. The shift of focus to 'capability,' instead of weapons, marks a lowering of expectations from prewar days, when U.S. leaders said war was necessary to root out an unconventional arsenal in Iraq. (03) Mobile Lab Discovered in Iraq. This is a mobile lab that could have been used for manufacturing biological weapons north of the city of Mosul, Iraq, Friday May 9, 2003, according to US forces. (04) Part of an Iraqi Mobile Lab. This is part of a mobile lab that could have been used for manufacturing biological weapons north of the city of Mosul, Iraq, Friday May 9, 2003, according to US forces. (05) An Exploitation Team Examines a Mobile Iraqi Lab. Members of a mobile exploitation team examining a suspected mobile biological weapons facility that was recovered by US Forces in northern Iraq. The trailer resembles one of the mobile laboratories described by US Secretary of State Colin Powell . (06) Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash, aka "Mrs. Anthrax". Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash, believed to be one of Iraq 's top biological weapons scientists, is shown in this Feb. 19, 2003 photo. Ammash was taken into custody by coalition forces on Sunday, May 4, 2003, according to U.S. Defense Department officials. (07) U.S. chemical experts examine a suspicious pod. U.S. chemical experts of the 101st Airborne Division, Capt. Bryon Galbraith, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Murry, and Sgt. 1st Class Luis Vega, examine a suspicious pod that may have been intended as a delivery system for a chemical biological agent, inside the al-Kindi rocket and missile research center near Mosul on May 9, 2003. U.S. forces in northern Iraq found a suspected mobile biological weapons production laboratory in the compound that a top commander described on Tuesday as almost identical to another found nearby last month. (08) U.S. Army officer and al-Ameer artillery factory manager. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Keith Harrington of Site Survey Team 5, right, discusses with Jamil Ali, manager of the al-Ameer artillery factory which was part of the former nuclear program, outside Fallujah, 40 miles west of Baghdad, Iraq , Saturday, May 24, 2003. (09) U.S. weapons hunters test for biological weapons. U.S. weapons hunters of Site Survey Team 5 test for the presence of biological weapons at a suspected storage facility in Rutbah in the Western Iraqi desert, 250 miles from Baghdad, Iraq , Friday, May 23, 2003. (10) U.S. chemical team member questions a Kurdish shepherd. A member of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division chemical team sent to inspect a suspected mobile biological weapons lab questions a Kurdish shepherd about similar equipment that may be found elsewhere in the compound, inside the al-Kindi rocket and missile research center near Mosul on May 9, 2003. U.S. forces in northern Iraq found the suspected mobile biological weapons production laboratory that a top commander described on Tuesday as almost identical to another found nearby last month. (11) Experts examine a former base of "Chemical Ali". Chemical weapons experts examine a former base of Saddam Hussein 's cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, nicknamed 'Chemical Ali', near Basra in this April 9, 2003. (12) The Fallujah II chlorine plant and chlorine canisters. The Fallujah II chlorine plant and chlorine canisters in the plant's yard in Mulahimah, Iraq. The CIA had previously designated the plant as the 'best example' of a disguised weapons program. (13) Vials recovered by the CIA from an Iraqi scientist's residence. In a photo released by the Central Intelligence Agency a total of 97 vials, date and location unknown, including those with labels consistant with the al Hakam cover stories of single-cell protein and biopesticides, as well as strains that could be used to produce BW agents, were recovered from a scientist's residence, according to the CIA.