Washington, 30 May 2003 (RFE/RL) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the United States had "good intelligence" about Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction before the war and says he believes the weapons will still be found. Rumsfeld made the remarks yesterday in an interview with a U.S. radio station. He spoke amid growing controversy as to why the U.S. has not yet found the alleged weapons, which were used by the U.S. and Britain as the main justification for the U.S.-led war.
Rumsfeld said the war was not fought under "any false pretext." He said there are several reasons the weapons have not yet been found and "number one it's not because they're not there."
He said Iraq is a large country, there are hundreds of sites to search and that Saddam Hussein hid the weapons.
He also noted that U.S. forces have identified two trailers found in northern Iraq that U.S. intelligence officials say are mobile biological-weapons-production facilities.
Earlier this week, Rumsfeld said Iraq may have destroyed the alleged weapons before the war began.
Rumsfeld said the war was not fought under "any false pretext." He said there are several reasons the weapons have not yet been found and "number one it's not because they're not there."
He said Iraq is a large country, there are hundreds of sites to search and that Saddam Hussein hid the weapons.
He also noted that U.S. forces have identified two trailers found in northern Iraq that U.S. intelligence officials say are mobile biological-weapons-production facilities.
Earlier this week, Rumsfeld said Iraq may have destroyed the alleged weapons before the war began.