Michael Baier says -

the US is not as close as 2000km to Iraq.

Then says -

The second stage consisted also of a SCUD missile, while the third stage
had an SA-2 motor. Only the first stage was able to function, and it is
possible that the second and third stages were dummies. The system,
designated al-Abid, was said to be capable of putting satellites, which
could be used for reconnaissance, communication and control, into low earth
orbit.

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What is 'low earth orbit'?  'Orbit' as in goes around the world once?

Also more by Michael -

Another web-page http://utenti.lycos.it/paoloulivi/alabid.html
even mentions, that the US paid most of the money to Iraq for this program.

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Check this out

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-610145,00.html

In the key period between 1973-91 the US exported a mere $5 million of
weapons to Iraq; more reprehensibly the UK sold
$330 million-worth of arms. Of much greater interest are the arms export
totals to Iraq of the four countries most
against military action: Germany with $995 million, China $5,500 million,
France $9,240 million, and the Russians a
massive $31,800 million. So the claim that we armed Saddam has to be
treated with a degree of care, particularly by those
who would award the moral high ground in this debate to the leaders of
nations such as Germany, France and Russia.

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