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LINDSEY HILSUM

Read more about life in Iraq from our correspondant Lindsey Hilsum:

Mar 12: Shown the drone

Mar 10: "Shock and Awe"

Mar 07: With inspectors

Mar 05: The Military Parade

Mar 04: The Human Shields

Mar 02: Bulldozers in action

Feb 24: The human impact

Feb 18: Waiting in Baghdad

Feb 15: Day of Protests

Feb 13: The first "Canine Shield"

Feb 12: Eid in Mosul




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The Real Killer Drones
After seeing the pathetic sight of Iraq's WMD 'drone' on tv tonight, I thought people should know about the really scary US UAV/UCAVs that will allow politicians to shoot their enemies from behind the secure bubble of Fylingdales 'Son of StarWars'
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Baghdad diary
Iraq



Published: 12-Mar-2003
By: Lindsey Hilsum



Lindsey Hilsum, the Channel 4 News diplomatic correspondent, writes from Baghdad on what it's like there ahead of a possible war.


The Iraqis took us on a Magical Mystery Tour this morning. We were told there was "an activity" just outside Baghdad, so off we all careered in a crazy car chase heading north at breakneck speed.



It turned out that we were to be shown the "remotely piloted vehicle" or drone which American officials have suggested could be the "smoking gun" to prove that Iraq continues to develop weapons of mass destruction.



We arrived at a complex of buildings near the Al Taji military facility, and were led up a long driveway to see - well, it looked like a model plane. Not a very good one.



The wings were stuck together with duct-tape, and the fuselage was made from an old aircraft fuel tank.



It was what those in the aeromodelling trade call a "push-me-pull-you", with a wooden propeller at each end. The servos were connected to the carburettor with bicycle cables.



The engine was smaller than a garden implement the Americans call a "weed whacker". An Iraqi driver slid up to me. "This plane very big problem for the Americans?" he asked in some amazement.



The Americans say the drone could potentially be used for spraying chemical and biological weapons.



Certainly, in the '80s, according to the weapons inspectors, Iraq did attempt to develop pilotless planes which could disperse biological agents, but they appear to have later abandoned the programme.



The inspectors say they have questions - Iraq initially declared the drone had a wing span of 4.4 metres whereas in fact it is 7.4.



A typing error, according to the General who showed us the prototype. He said the drone was for reconnaissance, aerial photography and radio jamming, certainly not for chemical and biological weapons.



The inspectors are now investigating. I don't know who's right, the Americans or the Iraqis.



The Prime Minister clearly thinks the little plane matters - he's made explaining the drone one of his six key 'tests' for Iraq to demonstrate commitment to compliance with the UN Security Council.



But I have to say that to the untrained eye, this little plane held together with tape didn't look like much of a threat to the world.


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