Mysterious tear gas canister sickens 43 in city [update to yesterday's breaking news]

Johnstown PA Tribune Democrat ^ | 11/20/02 | KIRK SWAUGER and PETE BOSAK

[honway]

Until further evidence is available, I would not rule out that this is another message from Saddam. The last time he sent a message it was through the mail.

I believe that the anthrax mailings were intended to deter a U.S. attack on Iraq.

Deterence equals will times capability.

I believe it is clear if we attack Iraq and threaten his regime, Saddam has the will to use biological and chemical weapons against the U.S.population. The only unknown is does he have the capability?

The intent of the anthrax mailings was a small demonstration of Iraq's capability, in my opinion.

Even if this particular event is unrelated to Iraq, it demonstates our vulnerabiliy considering the very real possibility that some of the thousands of former Iraqi POWs resettled in the U.S. are still loyal to Saddam.

[CDHart]

This was the same gas used on men, women and children at Waco.

Carolyn

[Coop]

Fair enough. But quite frankly this sounds like an isolated incident. Simply a prank, though a harmful one. If this was a terrorist act, it was committed by some extremely stupid terrorists.

[Cicero]

It sounds like a stupid prank to me, too. It remains to be seen where pranksters got hold of the cannister, but I doubt whether every police station in the area is totally security conscious. If a bunch of sailors or lab employees could walk out the door with dozens of computers and other gear, then I imagine that someone with access to a police station could walk off with a small cannister of CS and bring it home with him, where kids could pick it up and start fooling around with it.

[jiggyboy]

"small canister"? It's bigger than most humans (6'2"). Unless that's small in comparison to the size they get at the PX Costco?

[jiggyboy]

doh never mind, 6x2 inches

[jpl]

It was a southern, Christian, redneck Bush supporter driving a white van or box truck.

[VaBthang4]

It actually isnt anything.

CS is handed out like candy in the military. I personally had a trunk full of pop flairs, CS and WP.

It was illegal but it gets done all the time. Some active duty or former soldier either did this or his flunky little brother as a prank.

CS is basically harmless. It causes immediate problems but nothing long term or permanent.