Powell briefing: The intercepts

Powell provided slides of the translated intercepts

One of the most compelling aspects of the US's evidence of Iraqi non-compliance was the telephone conversations intercepts presented by Colin Powell to the Security Council.

Below are the translations of the intercepts provided by the US authorities.

Intercept 1

The 'modified vehicle'

Mr Powell said this conversation took place on 26 November 2002. An Iraqi colonel is asking a Republican Guard general what to do with a "modified vehicle" from the al-Kindi company if inspectors ask to see it.

Mr Powell said the al-Kindi company was "well-known to have been involved in prohibited weapons activity".

Colonel: Peace. We have just a few questions.
General: Yeah.
Colonel: About this committee that is coming...
General: Yeah, yeah.
Colonel: ...with Mohamed ElBaradei [director, International Atomic Energy Agency].
General: Yeah, yeah.
Colonel: Yeah.
General: Yeah?
Colonel: We have this modified vehicle.
General: Yeah.
Colonel: What do we say if one of them sees it?
General: You didn't get a modified... You don't have a modified...
Colonel: By God, I have one.
General: Which? From the workshop...?
Colonel: From the al-Kindi company.
General: What?
Colonel: From al-Kindi.
General: Yeah, yeah. I'll come to you in the morning. I have some comments. I'm worried you all have something left.
Colonel: We evacuated everything. We don't have anything left.
General: I will come to you tomorrow.
Colonel: Okay.
General: I have a conference at headquarters, before I attend the conference I will come to you.

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Intercept 2

'Make sure there is nothing there'

Mr Powell said the second intercept was recorded on 30 January 2003, and was a conversation between Republican Guard headquarters and an officer in the field.

Headquarters: Sir.
Field officer: Yeah.
Headquarters: There is a directive of the [Republican] guard chief of staff at the conference today.
Field officer: Yes.
Headquarters: They are inspecting the ammunition you have, yes?
Field officer: Yes.
Headquarters: For the possibility there are forbidden ammo?
Field officer: Yes.
Headquarters: For the possibility there are by chance forbidden ammo?
Field officer: Yes.
Headquarters: And we sent you a message yesterday to clean out all of the areas, the scrap areas, the abandoned areas. Make sure there is nothing there.
Field officer: Yes.
Headquarters: After you have carried out what is contained in the message, destroy the message.
Field officer: Yes.
Headquarters: Because I don't want anyone to see the message.
Field officer: OK, OK. Thanks.
Headquarters: Goodbye.

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Intercept 3

'Remove the expression 'nerve agents''

Mr Powell said the third intercept was taken in late January and shows a captain in the Second Corps of the Republican Guard being ordered by a colonel to "remove the expression 'nerve agents' from wireless instructions".

Colonel: Hello.
Captain: Hello.
Colonel: Hello.
Captain: May I help you sir?
Colonel: Who is this?
Captain: Captain Ibrahim.
Colonel: Captain Ibrahim. How are you?
Captain: God bless you sir.
Colonel: How is your health?
Captain: May God preserve you.
Colonel: How are you?
Captain: Good, praise God sir.
Colonel: Captain Ibrahim.
Captain: Yes sir.
Colonel: Write this down.
Captain: Yes sir.
[Long pause]
Captain: Hello.
Colonel: Hello.
Captain: Go ahead sir.
Colonel: Hello Ibrahim.
Captain: Yes sir.
Colonel: Captain Ibrahim.
Captain: I am with you sir.
Colonel: Remove.
Captain: Remove.
Colonel: The expression.
Captain: The expression.
Colonel: Nerve agents.
Captain: Nerve agents.
Colonel: Whenever it comes up.
Captain: When it comes up.
Colonel: In the wireless instructions.
Captain: In the instructions.
Colonel: Wireless.
Captain: Wireless.
Colonel: OK buddy.
Captain: Done sir.