Not long ago, ABC News broadcast a number of tapes that recorded meetings of Iraqi officials before the American invasion, including Saddam Hussein and his inner circle. After the tapes aired, the general opinion was that the tapes had some historical and contextual interest but provided no smoking guns on Saddam's instransigence. The DoD and DNI have now posted transcripts of all the tapes, and the information contained within them may change that evaluation.

Ray Robison has begun a blogswarm to highlight the review of the documents. Be sure to read his ongoing commentary on the transcripts. For instance, page 6 of this document shows that Saddam was kept informed of the status of three German scientists working in the employ of Saddam:

We still have two issues Sir (Saddam-RR). Very simple. What the doctor said about the experts. There held in Germany. They have detailed knowledge of our weaponry. So we should go and give the information that they gave already.

The three scientists in question were Karl Schaab, Dietrich Hinze, and Bruno Stemmler, and Ray links back to more information on their detention. In fact, Schaab admitted in an interview the work he had done for Saddam, and even late in his regime still worried about what Schaab would reveal to inspectors if captured. That doesn't sound like a man who had discarded his nuclear program.

Keep an eye out for further developments.

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