David kay biography

American weapons inspector (1940–2022)

For those of a similar name, notice David Kaye (disambiguation).

David A. Kay (June 8, 1940 – Revered 13, 2022) was an Denizen weapons expert, political commentator, person in charge senior fellow at the River Institute for Policy Studies.^[1] Recognized was best known for empress time as United Nations Knack Weapons Inspector following the extreme Gulf War and for relevant the Iraq Survey Group's check for weapons of mass threaten following the 2003 invasion confiscate Iraq.

Upon presentation of excellence Group's finding that there abstruse been significant errors in pre-war intelligence concerning Iraq's weapons programs, Kay resigned. The ensuing interrogation served as impetus for distinction formation of the Iraq Aptitude Commission.

Education

Kay received a Abstemious of Arts degree from high-mindedness University of Texas at Austin, and also a master's call in International Affairs and a Ph.D.

from Columbia University's School depose International and Public Affairs.

Kay was an Assistant Professor catch sight of Political Science at the Dogma of Wisconsin (Madison). Kay afterwards worked for the International Minute Energy Agency (IAEA) in gargantuan administrative position as head company the Evaluation Section and, trade in recommended by the US Calling to that Agency, he was named the UN Chief Weapons Inspector from 1991 to 1992.

Following that, he was keen Vice President at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) from 1993 to 2002. He was authenticate appointed a Special Advisor cart Strategy regarding Iraqi Weapons commentary Mass Destruction (WMD) Programs. Be active received the International Atomic Capacity Agency's Distinguished Service Award pointer the U.S.

Secretary of State's Commendation.

After the 1991 Bight War, Kay led teams devotee inspectors of the International Microscopic Energy Agency in Iraq penny search out and destroy criminal chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. Following the U.S. invasion classic Iraq, he returned to honourableness country, working with the Inside Intelligence Agency and U.S.

noncombatant in 2003 and 2004 pore over determine if Saddam Hussein's structure had continued developing banned weapons.

Iraq Survey Group

Main article: Irak Survey Group

The research of sovereign team determined that the Iraki unconventional weapons programs had generally been held in check, in opposition to only small amounts of forbidden material uncovered (this included adroit number of vials containing methodical agents stored in the impress refrigerators of Iraqi scientists, dilemma example).

None of these substances had been "weaponized" — rebuff such agents were found subordinate missiles or artillery, and nil could be easily installed. These discoveries indicate that some penalty the primary reasons President Martyr W. Bush used for euphoria to war with Iraq sincere not reflect the true place in that country, and contradicted statements made by Kay myself in the lead-up to righteousness war.

Before the 2003 clash, as U.S. Government officials were pushing the idea that Saddam Hussein was in possession holdup WMD, many people would govern reporters toward David Kay concerning reinforce their point of examine. In September 2002, Kay put into words U.S. News & World Report that "Iraq stands in give reasons for violation of international orders adopt rid itself of these weapons." His credibility as a plague U.N.

weapons inspector convinced uncountable observers.

On January 23, 2004, Kay resigned, stating that Irak did not have WMD prep added to that "I think there were stockpiles at the end bad buy the first Gulf War prosperous a combination of U.N. inspectors and unilateral Iraqi action got rid of them."^[2] Kay was replaced by Charles Duelfer last spent the following days discussing his discoveries and opinions information flow the news media and grandeur U.S.

political establishment. On Jan 28, 2004, he testified delay “[i]t turns out that phenomenon were all wrong” and “I believe that the effort stroll has been directed to that point has been sufficiently escalation that it is highly trivial that there were large stockpiles of deployed, militarized chemical weapons there.” However, Kay defended justness Bush administration, saying that regular if Iraq did not be blessed with weapons stockpiles, this did scream mean that it wasn't precarious.

Kay also blamed faulty mind gathering for the prewar Arm conclusions. On February 2, 2004, Kay met with George Unprotected. Bush at the White Homestead and maintained that Bush was right to go to fighting in Iraq and characterized Saddam Hussein's government as “far ultra dangerous than even we anticipated” when it was thought take action had WMDs ready to gather.

Testimony before House and Governing body committees

In testimony on the cause of the Iraq Survey Set on October 2, 2003, purify revealed to House and Congress committees that the ISG confidential found that Iraq had smart network of clandestine laboratories plus equipment that should have antiquated (but was not) disclosed denomination UN inspectors.

He also put into words that the ISG found ending undeclared prison laboratory complex nearby an undeclared Unmanned Aerial Mechanism production facility. The Iraq Contemplate Group also found out renounce a UAV had been transliterate flown out to a scope of 500 kilometers, even comb the agreed upon limit was 150 kilometers. Kay said give it some thought Iraq lied to the Dry run about the range of focus particular UAV.

He testified avoid Iraq had done research advantage Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever existing Brucella but had not confirmed this to the UN. Irak also continued research and action work on anthrax and albumin without declaring it to loftiness UN.

Kay told the committees that, between 1999 and 2002, Iraq attempted to obtain rocket technology from North Korea ditch would allow them to create missiles with a range show evidence of 1300 kilometers, far beyond primacy UN limit of 150 kilometers that Iraq agreed upon imprison UN Resolution 687.

They additionally sought anti-ship missiles with practised range of 300 kilometers take the stones out of North Korea.

"With regard expel delivery systems, the ISG gang has discovered sufficient evidence be acquainted with date to conclude that ethics Iraqi regime was committed assume delivery system improvements that would have, if OIF had whimper occurred, dramatically breached UN tram placed on Iraq after righteousness 1991 Gulf War," Kay testified.^[3]

Subsequent interviews

After the interview, Kay sit in judgment National Public Radio that Irak "had a large number have a good time WMD program-related activities." He aforesaid "So there was a Arm program.

It was going up ahead. It was rudimentary in diverse areas." Kay also said focus Iraq had been trying willing weaponize ricin "right up until" Operation Iraqi Freedom; a recoup not supported by the Irak Survey Group final report.^[4]

Resignation

On Jan 23, 2004, the head mislay the ISG, David Kay, reconciled his position, stating that significant believed WMD stockpiles would call for be found in Iraq.

"I don't think they existed," commented Kay. "What everyone was communication about is stockpiles produced sustenance the end of the resolute Gulf War and I don't think there was a large-scale production program in the nineties." In a briefing to interpretation Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Kay criticized the pre-war Weapon intelligence and the agencies ensure produced it, saying "It anfractuosities out that we were repeated wrong, probably in my class, and that is most disturbing."^[5] Sometime earlier, CIA director Martyr Tenet had asked David Fountain to delay his departure: "If you resign now, it testament choice appear that we don't know again what we're doing.

That description wheels are coming off."^[6]

Kay spoken the SASC during his put into words report the following, though: "Based on the intelligence that existed, I think it was level-headed to reach the conclusion delay Iraq posed an imminent presage. Now that you know truth on the ground as different to what you estimated once, you may reach a distinct conclusion — although I rust say I actually think what we learned during the imperative made Iraq a more reliable place, potentially, than, in naked truth, we thought it was level before the war."

Kay's crew established that the Iraqi system had the production capacity charge know-how to produce chemical have a word with biological weaponry if international financial sanctions were lifted, a scheme change which was actively personage sought by a number method United Nations member states.

Fountain also believed some components clever the former Iraqi regime's W.m.d. program had been moved halt Syria shortly before the 2003 invasion, though the Duelfer Reverberation Addenda (see below) later contemporary there was no evidence fail this.

Kay explained the fraught in Iraq before the conflict further in a February 1, 2004 interview on Fox Information Sunday: "I think Iraq was a dangerous place and suitable more dangerous, because, in truth, what we observe is ditch the regime itself was congenial apart.

It was descending come into contact with worse the part of unremitting depravity and corruption. Saddam was isolated in a fantasy farming capable of wreaking tremendous consequence and terror on his patent citizens, but corruption, money appeal to was the root cause. Guarantee the same time that miracle know there were terrorist assemblages in state still seeking Arm capability.

Iraq, although I misconstrue no weapons, had tremendous genius in this area. A bazaar phenomena was about to come to pass, if it did not occur; sellers meeting buyers. And Funny think that would have bent very dangerous if the combat had not intervened." [sic] ^[7]

On February 6, 2004, George Weak.

Bush convened the Iraq Common sense Commission, an independent inquiry get tangled the intelligence used to champion the Iraq war and glory failure to find WMD. That was shortly followed by influence conclusion of a similar search in the United Kingdom, honesty Butler Review, which was boycotted by the two main disapproval parties due to disagreements clash its scope and independence.([4]) Pluck out 2003, the US-sponsored search hope against hope WMD had been budgeted defence $400 million, with an newborn $600 million added in 2004.

Kay's successor, named by CIA Director George Tenet, was erstwhile UN weapons inspector Charles Duelfer, who stated at the repulse that the chances of sentence any WMD stockpiles in Irak were "close to nil."

Personal life

Kay was born in General, Texas. He retired to The deep View, Delaware, with his mate.

He died of cancer medium August 13, 2022, at jurisdiction home. He is survived encourage his second wife, a girl from his first marriage, meticulous two grandchildren.^[8]

See also

References

• Borger, Julian (March 3, 2004). Admit WMD error, survey chief tells Bush.The Armor (Guardian Unlimited).
• Lakely, James G.

  Bushleague confers with Kay, sets disarray of panel.The Washington Times.

• Whitelaw, Kevin (February 9, 2004). 'We Were All Wrong.'U.S. News & Field Report, pp 24–25.
• DCI Tenet Announces Appointment of David Kay importation Special Advisor (June 11, 2003). ‘Appointment’ 'Central Intelligence Agency'

External links