Denmark: Possible Iraqi Blister Gas Weapons Found

Yahoo (Reuters) ^ | 1/10/04 | Reuters staff

[The_Victor]

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -

Danish troops have found dozens of mortar rounds buried in Iraq (news - web sites) which initial tests show could contain blister gas, the Danish army said on Saturday.

The tests were taken after Danish troops found 36 120mm mortar rounds on Friday in southern Iraq. The Danish army said they had been buried for at least 10 years.

"All the instruments showed indications of the same type of chemical compound, namely blister gas," the Danish Army Operational Command said on its Web site, cautioning that further tests were needed.

Blister gases, such as mustard gas, are used in chemical weapons.

Blister gas, an illegal weapon which former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) said he had destroyed, was extensively used against the Iranians during the 1980 to 1988 war.

Although it can kill if it enters the lungs, its use is primarily to debilitate infantry by causing the skin to break out in excruciatingly painful blisters.

The United States launched its war to oust Saddam on March 20 saying the Iraqi leader violated U.N. resolutions by developing weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological weapons.

Teams of international weapons inspectors however have so far been unable to locate those weapons.

[Dog Gone]

It's really hard to imagine that they had new chem suits, but no arms younger than stuff buried during the Reagan administration.

We may not find it for another 20 years, but it's somewhere.

[Ranger]

Thanks for the good analysis. Was there any use of anthrax by Iraq in the Iran-Iraq war or any anthrax discovered this year in Iraq? I'm not aware of any though it seems certain that they conducted research on it especially since the US gave them the initial specimens. Odd then that it hasn't turned up at all. I am aware of botulism samples and it is no secret that Iraq used chemical warheads in the last conflict. The whole thing remains a perplexing mystery. When you sit back and look at the situation, one has to conclude based on available evidence that their WMD programs didn't seem to be a grave threat to the U.S. as represented to us. If Clinton were in office we'd be calling him a liar over this. I've been willing to give Bush the benefit of the doubt but in candor it isn't looking good. I wish something meaningful had turned up with regard to WMD because the Democrats will have a field day over this during the election debates.

[Lessismore]

Don't know where the term WMD came from. It seems to be a mass media popularization.

My first recollection of it is from the early Clinton years. It seemed to be a deliberate propaganda ploy to create the impression that chemical, biological and nuclear weapons were somehow in the same category.

One indication that there is no real difference between the Clinton and Bush administration's foreign policy is that the Bush administration continues the deliberate obfuscation.

[MJY1288]

OK, I'm here, now take me off the gassing list :-)

BTW, I agree with you, The media will have an easy time excusing this, Their hero Saddam was a victim of great satin America

[MJY1288]

I read the David Kay report and in it he compared Iraq's WMD programs to a Japanese manufacturing system where everything neccessary to put a product together was at hand and ready for immediate assembly. I forget the name that was used. I also remember reading a story about the Tigris River testing positive for nerve agents, I wonder what happened with that

[U S Army EOD]

It is hard to compare what Clinton would have done vs what Bush did do. If you look at the facts and the times that Clinton used the military, it would be safe to assume that should Clinton were able to get back in office, that whenever Clinton got caught with another woman or something he would attack somebody to take the media pressure off of his personal life. If he were in office today and an announcement was made he had been caught in another compromising sexual situation, there would be thousands of people trampled to death in the Middle East and Eastern Europe running for the bomb shelters.

I do not know the answer to you questions. I was under the impression that the main assistance we gave the Iraqis in their war with Iran was satellite intel on troop movements and a lot logistical equipment such as trucks. I don't know how much combat equipment we gave them.

[Ranger]

I don't know how much equipment we gave them either, but it is a matter of record that we did give them anthrax in the 80s. I agree with your comments on Clinton. He wouldn't hesitate to send us into conflict to divert attention to his own scandals.

[Ranger]

a victim of great satin America

Far be it for me to comment on grammar, but it's Great Satan, not satin (like the sheets).

[MJY1288]

No Problem, LOL, And I'm not even a graduate of "Hooked on Phonics" I really should proof read things a bit more, because I do know the difference between satin and Satan, but at least I know the book of Job isn't in the New Testament :-)

FReegards,

Mike

[U S Army EOD]

I once knew a Satan like girl that had satin sheets.

[Eagle Eye]

What if someone found barrels of mustard, NBC gear and mortar equipment all in the same bunker?

I know, it's a stretch, but humor me. But what if?

[MJY1288]

Satin sheets go well with Satan like girls :-)

[alnick]

That in the past Iraq had chemical weapons is in dispute by precisely nobody.

You have to admit that the anti-war people have repeatedly claimed that Saddam disposed of all of his OLD WMD before we attacked last year. This proves them wrong.

I think the significance of this find, if the liquid is indeed some form of WMD (and yes, that includes chemicals) is that it shows Saddam's proclivity to hide these things rather than destroy them.

[Squantos]

Call yer friendly EOD team and let em render it safe........no brainer !

As to WMD issue I am of the opinion that we have found em and are tracking their sources vs showing our hand early per se......

Just my SWAG on the WMD thang but call my Bros if ya find the NBC goodies !

Stay Safe !

[U S Army EOD]

We don't make house calls anymore, sorry.

[Squantos]

Uhh sorry we do.......

[Eagle Eye]

We're being strickly hypothetical, dontchyaknow?

[Squantos]

.........:o)...........Yep ! Regardless the SOP is the same.

Stay safe EE !1

[U S Army EOD]

Well then bring it over in the light so I can look at it.

[Squantos]

LOL........I'll give you the coal mine canary and the end of the rope for the remote pull.......tell me how it goes !

Hope yer well Sir !