Jordan King says WMD Vx gas attack stopped. Al Qaeda/Syrian connection suspected.

WABC Radio | 4/19/04 | John Bachelor

[Fedora]

Thanks.

[rudypoot]

VX gas is very nasty.

It's a clear, oderless liquid. It has the consistancy of motor oil and is a good adhesive. VX gas can persist in the environment for days but it does break down in water or moist soil. It's binary so that means you need to mix two liquids together just prior to use.

The LD50 (lethal dose to kill 50% of the exposed) for humans is 10mg for skin contact. It's twice as lethal if inhaled. It takes up to 2 hours to take effect, 4 to 18 hours for death.
The only known antidote is another toxin, atropine. It is normally injected into the arm or thigh but for gaseous attacks the atropine must go immediately into the heart.

The known countries to possess VX are U.S., France, Russia and Iraq. England after inventing it abandoned the thought for thermonuclear warfare.

How many people trust Saddam Hussain with VX gas raise their hand... How many people think that international sovereignty gives Saddam Hussain the right to possess VX raise their hand...

[Shazolene]

This morning on KSFO (San Francisco talk station) they had on Gen. Thomas McInerney (sp), author of Endgame. He stated very matter-of-factly that Saddam had paid Syria $30M right before the war to store his weapons.

I've read elsewhere that there are satellite photos of convoys going to Syria, possibly/probably taking WMDs.

Why doesn't info like this get out to the public??? (Never mind, I know...)

[Barlowmaker]

I believe VX was invented in the early 50s by the English as a WMD. The forumula and production methodology was stolen by a spy and delivered to the Russkies. The only folks who had the technology to manufacture it, I believe, were the Americans, Brits, Russians and Iraqis (by Russian scientists).

[talleyman]

Isn't this just damn interesting? Not old news to some of us - first I've heard of it! Keep posting - thanks!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[oceanview]

Loftus said it was 50 million dollars, but whatever, the end result is the same. The stuff is in Syria, and they gave some to AQ. Let's see where it goes from here.

[swarthyguy]

Very nicely explained!

[happygrl]

there has to be another way to make it happen, similar to what happened with Libya.

What happened in Libya was intense back-channel discussions which went on for months before the open revelation by Libya.

What was the precipitating factor in persuading Libya to come clean is unknown. It was speculated here on FR that Libya knew that radioactive dirty bombs were out there, and that the finger might point to Libya as the source if and when they are used, with the obvious results for Libya.

We don't know at this time what back-channel discussion are being held with Assad, or if not him, with his advisors, some of whom are reputed to be ready to chart a different course for Syria.

[happygrl]

There are direct flights from London to Johannesberg, South Africa everyday.

Yes, these aircraft can fly that distance.

[Political Junkie Too]

Isn't it interesting how the media can, on the one hand, rund wall-to-wall coverage of the 9/11 commission where the debate is why we weren't prepared for an attack by terrorists, and on the other hand spike stories of potential acquisition of WMDs and the foiling of a WMD attack?

Isn't the media equally culpable in not announcing to the world the news of foiled WMD attacks and/or the discovery of WMD stockpiles? Are they that partisan that they would fail to inform their audiences of such an important story because of the political benefits that the president might receive?

Can the media ever be trusted again?

-PJ

[happygrl]

because part of his entourage for D.C. was arrested in the mustard gas sweep

If true, then perfidy is next to the throne in Jordan.

He is in a very dangerous postion; this is a direct threat to him.

[happygrl]

King Abdullah's mother is British, English I believe.

She was King Husseins' first wife, whom he divorced. King Abdullah's first language is English, and he has had to work to improve his Arabic.

All this I learned from posts on FR.

[oceanview]

the arabs who are terrorists could care less about their own civilians. this is like saying if we had nuked Kabul before 9/11, Ben Laden would have called off the WTC attack from his cave at Tora Bora.

the terrorists, Sadr, they want the US to rack up civilian body counts. It helps their cause.

Now, if you can kill 7000 terrorists, or 7000 people from Sadr's militia, without killing 20,000 civilians in the process - I'm all for it. Can we?

[jimt]

Accurate, I presume, to .00000006 inches, or 1/211000th of a hair.

[TomasUSMC]

It is true that the arabs who are terrorists could care less about their own civilians. this is like saying if we had nuked Kabul before 9/11, Ben Laden would have called off the WTC attack from his cave at Tora Bora.

Lets discuss this shall we. If we had leveled Kabul before 9/11, Bin Laden would have had a reason to stop and think and ponder, what we would do if he attacked the WTC. As it was he didn't have ANY reason to fear ANYTHING.

Now Bin Laden is not the only factor. What about the arabs in the rest of the middle east. If they see that the USA is going to respond with 7000 dead muslims for every American killed, the "Arab Street" is going to pass the word that - even though they sure would like to get a hold of those 72 virgins, they ain't ready just yet. The Arab in the street, as soon as he hears anybody even thinking about attacking Americans, is going to go Ape SH*t and tell him:

Abdul are you crazy? Don't mess with those Americani, they will leave a grease spot where you and your family and their friends used to live. No, no, no.... go shoot the Spainish or the French but not the Americans. AND, if I ever hear you say anything against America again, I will kill burn mutilate and hang you myself.

[mtbopfuyn]

London & Paris are now on high alert for chemical attacks.

Paris shouldn't worry about a few little terrorist attacks, more will die from the heat this summer.

[mtbopfuyn]

I heard that the King O' Jordan is rightly concerned that he'll be targeted by AQ and that's why he really cancelled his trip to D.C.

The Clintoon Network News was reporting last night he cancelled because he was ticked at Bush...

[mtbopfuyn]

Unfortunately, step-mom Queen Noor, didn't go out of her way to bring Western culture. I'm not impressed with her.

[wimpycat]

You've got all bases pretty much covered--except for the man-sized canvas bag containing 4 live, pissed-off badgers (or wolverines).