EVIL PROOF [Brits Find Bunker Full of WMD's in S. Iraq Oil Fields]

The Daily Telegraph ^ | March 28, 2003 | Bruce Wilson

[k2blader]

EVIL PROOF
By BRUCE WILSON in London
28mar03

BRITISH troops have uncovered a bunker full of weapons of mass destruction in the southern Iraqi oilfields.

The Ministry of Defence released a dramatic video it said showed more than 100 chemical warfare protection suits and mounds of dozens of artillery rounds it said contained suspected "weapons of mass destruction".

It was not immediately clear if the weapons contained chemical or biological warheads. They were not believed to be nuclear.

The bunker had been recently deserted by fleeing Iraqi troops attacked by a unit from the Irish Guards, a spokesman said.

The film showed Guardsmen turning over chemical suits and standing beside piles of shells said to contain the deadly warheads.

For security reasons, the MoD would not locate the bunker beyond saying it was in the middle of an oilfield.

It added that British troops had managed to put out some of the fires started by the Iraqis as part of their "scorched oil" policy.

British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said the find "proves categorically" that Iraq is ready to use weapons of mass destruction against allied forces.

The issue of protective gear to Iraqi troops in the south of the country had already indicated that Saddam Hussein may be considering the use of chemical or biological weapons, but fresh evidence uncovered over the past few days had proved it beyond doubt, Mr Hoon said.

He tried to contrast Saddam's readiness to use such weapons with the coalition's efforts to avoid civilian casualties, and repeated claims that missiles that killed at least 14 civilians in Baghdad yesterday may have been Iraqi rather than allied.

Reporters in Baghdad said the missile had almost certainly come from an allied aircraft.

The discovery of the weapons of mass destruction came at a time when British armour was preparing to fight what defence officials said was its biggest tank battle since World War II.

There has been a fear since the campaign started that elite Iraqi troops would be ordered to use chemical or biological weapons.

The well-built bunker shown in the film looked as if it had been occupied by well-equipped soldiers. However, they apparently fled without a fight.

Mr Hoon urged the public not to allow individual setbacks and delays to distract them from the overall picture of the campaign, which, he said. was unfolding successfully.

He said: "Coalition forces are making good progress in overcoming the resistance of the Iraqi security forces with great courage and resilience.

"This campaign is only in its eighth day. We all wish to see a speedy end to conflict.

"The campaign is going to plan. We are, with our coalition partners, involved in a deliberate and cautious endeavour. We will not stop until Saddam Hussein and his appalling regime has fallen from power and weapons of mass destruction are dismantled.

"We have time to see this through. Saddam Hussein's time is running out."

[PISANO]

They have this on FILM? Anyone hear this from another source. Haven't heard a thing about this.

[Ragirl]

Didn't some reporter from the CBN (Pat Robertson's orgainzation)report this yesterday? Or is this ANOTHER supposed find? I hope it's true!

[k2blader]

I just found out about this story from a friend in Australia. First I've heard of it too!

[Ruger1099]

It won't matter to anyone. If the Brits found it, it means they planted it. Americans could die from chemical attack and the Arabs would say we launched them on ourselves.

[Orangedog]

Why the hell isn't Fox News all over this one? Something doesn't smell right.

[Porterville]

Emailed Drudge, lets see if he puts it up.

[Mister Baredog]

Very interesting, calling Dr. Blix, uhoh. Did anyone else hear that the troops that took a large airport in Northern Iraq yesterday have named it BUSH INTERNATIONAL

[VMI70]

EVIL PROOF [Brits Find Bunker Full of WMD's in S. Iraq Oil Fields]

Is this the true headline?

Now stay with me on this--Are there any inconsistencies in the following quotes from the article?

"EVIL PROOF [Brits Find Bunker Full of WMD's in S. Iraq Oil Fields]" (That is the headline) then the following from the story:

"It was not immediately clear if the weapons contained chemical or biological warheads"

"...piles of shells said to contain the deadly warheads."

"British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said the find "proves categorically" that Iraq is ready to use weapons of mass destruction against allied forces."

Strange

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[Grand Old Partisan]

The Pentagon wants the focus on the war. There's plenty of time to get the word out about the Iraqi WMDs afterward.

[Porterville]

Didn't you hear, Blix is retiring; he doesn't care.

[Dark Wing]

ping

[Spunky]

"Didn't some reporter from the CBN (Pat Robertson's orgainzation)report this yesterday?"

Yes it was reported by CBN (not sure if I saw it yesterday on FreeRepublic or this morning) and Mike Savage said he will wait for another source to report on it before he gets excited.

I wonder if this source will be good enough for him?

[Happygal]

Ivan...didn't you post something about this yesterday?

[tiki]

They ran it on Fox. One soldier was in the bunker and they mentioned the chemical suits but not chemical weapons.

[Green]

Reporters in Baghdad said the missile had almost certainly come from an allied aircraft

I'll surmise that the reporters have about as much qualification to make this determination as I do (which is none at all! ).

[EaglesUpForever]

Blix is "retiring" to get back to his "international law work". I guess as he didn't manage to keep Iraq's WMD from our "inspections" he will now try to make them "internationally legal."

[k2blader]

This looks like another (earlier) article on the same story:

BBC News - 'Proof' of biological weapons found

[Eva]

Interesting that the BBC report left out the mentions of artillery rounds or warheads. The BBC insinuated that the chemical suits and gas masks were not necessarily "proof".