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Iraqi Nerve Gas, WMD Find Blows Away Pundits
newsmax.com ^ | May 17, 2004 | Charles R. Smith

Posted on 05/17/2004 3:01:20 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe

The discovery of an Iraqi artillery shell armed with nerve gas has the liberal community and mass media in a panic.

The 155mm nerve gas shell was rigged to kill U.S. troops but it failed. U.S. Brig. General Mark Kimmitt confirmed the discovery during a news conference in Baghdad.

Yet, the discovery of nerve gas was followed by a second revelation. A second shell, equipped with mustard gas was found two weeks ago.

The mustard gas shell identified by the special WMD inspection team in Iraq appears to be one of 550 declared by Saddam to U.N. inspectors during the early 1990s. These shells disappeared later in 2002 when Hans Blix asked to see them.

The sudden discovery of nerve gas and mustard gas in Iraq can be added to two other recent events ignored by the mainstream media.

Saddam and Osama

The first took place during the 9/11 hearings when former Clinton Defense Secretary William Cohen testified that in 1998 Saddam's top nerve gas experts met with several members of al Qaeda in Baghdad. Clearly, such a meeting places the top terrorist with the leading Middle East dictator in the same basket. The dangerous combination of two madmen, mixed with weapons of mass destruction, seems to blow the "no threat here" argument out of the water.

However, that is not enough for the left.

The second event, a foiled gas attack in Jordan, piles more facts higher and deeper. The attack, led by Al Qaeda operatives, reportedly could have killed 20,000 people. The Jordanians were very clear about the foiled attack, the weapon involved was deadly gas and the terrorists, based in Iraq, entered by the Syrian border.

Jordanian diplomats have informed me that the investigation into the foiled gas attack is still under way and that at least two other members of the terrorist team are still on the run. Still, this is not enough proof for the anti-war fanatics.

Kill U.N. Teams

It is very clear from what we have found so far that Iraq did have chemical weapons and was trying to hide its arsenal. The discrepancies between documentation, box markings and actual items found clearly show that an intentional effort was made by Iraqi troops to mislead U.N. inspection teams. In some cases false shipping documents written in English were discovered with the weapons.

The effort to find chemical or biological weapons is being hampered by the vast quantity of conventional munitions stored under dangerous conditions. The Iraqi Army was well known for storing chemical weapons with its conventional explosives.

The Iraqi program to hide its weapons programs from U.N. inspectors was no small effort. Aviation Week and Space Technology noted in an article published in September 2002 that Iraq went to great lengths to conceal its arms technology.

According to Aviation Week, the Iraqis tried to destroy a German aircraft and its crew on a U.N. mission. The Iraqis were trying to prevent documents produced by the U.N. inspectors from leaving the country.

The U.N. documents covered details found on Iraq's nuclear weapons programs and a blueprint for aggressive, military-backed, inspections to root out the underground WMD programs. The documents also contained "rough" details of Iraqi command authorities, weapons production and delivery systems.

France and Russia

Iraq did most of its killing using Russian-made MiG and Sukhoi aircraft equipped with chemical sprayers. In addition, Saddam used French-made artillery and helicopters to dump gas on the Iranians and his own people.

The 155mm shell found outside of Baghdad airport was made for Iraq's arsenal of French made artillery. Clearly, the shell was designed to meet French military standards to fire and used advanced safety techniques to protect Iraqi gunners.

It was that safety technique, of separating the nerve gas into two inert chemicals, and placing them in two chambers inside the shell, that foiled the terrorist attack. The "binary" chemical weapons design has a metal or plastic diaphragm designed to keep the two inert chemicals apart until the massive force or shock of firing it down a cannon bursts the wall, allowing the chemicals to mix.

Ironically, the binary weapons design originated inside the former Soviet Union. Saddam Hussein rose to power backed by Russian weapons and Russian money. Saddam still owes Moscow over $8 billion for the arms he purchased from Russia.

The primary Iraqi chemical weapons are nerve gas and mustard gas, a blistering agent, standard equipment for the 1980s Soviet era military machine.

According to "Russian Military Power" published in 1982, "It is known that the Soviets maintain stocks of CW (chemical weapons) agents." The two primary Russian chemical weapons in the 1982 Soviet inventory were "nerve" gas and "blistering agents - developments of mustard gas used so effectively in World War I."

Iraq obtained Russian chemical delivery systems and the same inventory of Russian made chemical weapons at the same time. Iraqi SU-22 Fitter attack jets have been armed with Warsaw Pact designed bombs filled with chemical weapons.

Iraq used these Russian jet fighters to drop chemical weapons on Iranian troops during the Iran/Iraq war. Iraq tried to use these SU-22 jets during the 1991 Gulf war and was foiled by the allied air superiority.

The Next Attack

We are indeed fortunate that the two weapons discovered so far were not used correctly. However, it is clear, that much like cockroaches - when your find one it is an indication of many more. Saddam did not make just one - he made tons.

Saddam had 220 tons of nerve gas, counted previously by U.N. inspectors that he could not declare to Hans Blix. The deadly gas, and the delivery systems, vanished into the Iraqi desert and points beyond.

U.S. satellite's detected large convoys of unspecified equipment flowing over the Iraqi/Syrian border just prior to the war. The General in charge of our space assets has publicly noted the photos showing what appeared to be weaponry passed from Iraq to Syria.

We all know from the anti-war fanatics that there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq - the leftist media and pundits have pounded that assertion into the American TV fact file. We are told again and again that George Bush lied.

The recent discovery of nerve gas and mustard gas in Iraq is clearly proof that it was Saddam Hussein that was lying. Saddam lied about his weapons and has hidden more than one for future use.

The fact is the left will not be satisfied with the recent discovery. How many need to be found - two - ten - a thousand? The left does not feel that any number of these dangerous weapons reaches the level of adequate proof.

Yet, the one important question they will not answer is: How many have to die from such a weapon to qualify?


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 911commission; 911hearings; alqaeda; alqaida; artilleryshell; aviationleak; aviationweek; baghdad; baghdadairport; binaryweapons; blisteringagent; blix; chemicalweapons; cohen; convoys; deliverysystems; documents; fitter; france; gas; germanaircraft; gulfwar; hansblix; iraniraqwar; iraq; jordan; kimmitt; markkimmitt; mustardgas; mustardgasshell; nerveagents; nervegas; nervegasshell; nuclearweapons; russia; saddam; saddamhussein; sarin; shell; sovietunion; su22; syria; syrianborder; unscom; williamcohen; wmd
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To: TheBigB
Mustard gas? Sarin? That's nothing...now, if somebody had tried to put a pair of women's undies ...

Latest, totally made-up, fictional, rumor...

A pair of used, Hillary!, undies were found draped over the warhead. No confirmation if they were boxers or briefs.

41 posted on 05/17/2004 4:22:37 PM PDT by michigander (The Constitution only guarantees the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.)
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To: gortklattu

On another political forum I enjoy, one leftist went so far as to say it was planted by President Bush.


42 posted on 05/17/2004 4:27:57 PM PDT by k2blader (The equivalent of Nick Berg’s murder happens in our nation every 24 seconds. And it’s legal.)
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To: NutCrackerBoy

Which band of insurgents converted the artillery shell to an IED? Al Qaeda

Did they know it contained Sarin? Yes

Where did they get the shell? From the Stockpiles

Do they have access to weapons depots that the coalition does not know about? Yes


43 posted on 05/17/2004 4:30:29 PM PDT by norwaypinesavage
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To: freeangel

I hate that SOB. Further Fri. nite I was having a discussion with my liberal left coast buddy and I asked him a simple question- what would it take for you to come to my understanding of this threat ? Answer- nuclear attack. Not chem, not bio, nuclear. So I guess it's that difficult to make these left wing idiots understand the seriousness of the Islamic jihadis. Nuclear. By the way my old friend is an unemployed union carpenter living in his truck in silicon valley. Need I say more ?


44 posted on 05/17/2004 4:32:48 PM PDT by fuzzycat
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To: KC_Conspirator

You keep forgetting that the media is more interested in flooding us with "hideous" pictures of panty-pranks at Abu-Grabby, than responsibly reporting on the war on terror.


45 posted on 05/17/2004 4:33:40 PM PDT by BombHollywood
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To: Tailgunner Joe

But David Kay says it's no big deal and he doesn't believe it is part of a stockpile. Who recommended him to Bush in the first place?


46 posted on 05/17/2004 4:33:47 PM PDT by PROUDAMREP (Will the dems apologize for undermining the war effort and harming our soldiers for political gain?)
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To: jla

Dont forget Hans Blix, Scott Ritter, Teddy Kennedy, Hitlery, and all the media pundits that swore there were no WMDs to be found and that Bush lied. Will they apologize?


47 posted on 05/17/2004 4:35:34 PM PDT by Paulus Invictus (4)
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To: Marie Antoinette
Yeah, I was listening to NPR too. I thought they might mention the WMD thing, but Gay Marriage in Massachusetts was just too important a story.
48 posted on 05/17/2004 4:48:59 PM PDT by fhayek
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To: Mudboy Slim
Nope, my FRiend

It will be pesticide like in the drums that were found early on in one weapons dump. What happened to the biochem labs which turned out to be mobile slurpy delivery vehicles or some such nonsense.

Any WMD in Iraq have probably (re)entered Iraq recently.

49 posted on 05/17/2004 4:49:31 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Kerry: The Arrogance of Amerika)
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Dont forget about the recent Anthrax outbreak....

Six die as suspicions of anthrax mount in northern city (Iraq) iraq press ^ | 5/12/04

Posted on 05/12/2004 9:01:55 PM EDT by knak

Mosul, Iraq Press, May 11, 2004 –Six people have died and many other are taken ill due to a disease whose symptoms doctors say resemble those caused by anthrax, according to hospital sources.

The sources, refusing to be named, said doctors in the Republican Hospital, the largest medical center in northern Iraq, suspect that the victims were exposed to anthrax.

They said a whole wing of the sprawling hospital has been cordoned off as doctors fear the disease might spread to other patients.

The sources said the doctors suspect that a patient brought to hospital two weeks ago was the cause of the disease.

Anthrax spreads quickly and the six patients were said to have caught the disease as they were being treated for other ailments in the hospital.

The patient who the doctors believe brought the anthrax was a shepherd and had already died, the sources said.

The hospital lacks means to battle the deadly disease. But the medical staff and support personnel have already been inoculated against anthrax, they said.

There is much confusion in the hospital, the sources said. Hospital officials have declined comment and would not go into details when asked about the causes of the latest deaths.

Iraq had confirmed that it made anthrax in the 1980s along with other germ warfare agents. The former regime produced weapons-grade dry anthrax powder which it claimed to have unilaterally destroyed.

UN weapons inspectors failed to get conclusive evidence that Iraq had scrapped its biological warfare program on its own.

US-led weapons experts have so far failed to uncover any germ warfare agents.

50 posted on 05/17/2004 4:57:38 PM PDT by CharlotteVRWC
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To: Tailgunner Joe

It is now blatantly obvious to anyone with a 2 digit IQ that the UN had a hughe motive to maintain the status quo. Hans Blix was trying to preserve the Oil for Food cash cow the UN was enjoying.


51 posted on 05/17/2004 5:02:25 PM PDT by Natural Law
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Getting wamer...warmer..... you're getting hot....

Soon we will see and know and let the media/UN anti-Amercian conspiracy eat their words....

OOooooh-Rah!
Regards

52 posted on 05/17/2004 5:04:02 PM PDT by Wings-n-Wind (The answers are out there; Wisdom is found by asking the right questions)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

BTTT


53 posted on 05/17/2004 5:07:20 PM PDT by Zechariah11 ("so they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver")
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To: Tailgunner Joe
These shells disappeared later in 2002 when Hans Blix asked to see them.

I see nuthththinkkk!

54 posted on 05/17/2004 5:07:29 PM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: Tailgunner Joe
I have been saying it was gonna happen - guerrillas with WMDs, because we were wasting TIME, playing kinder gentler compassionate Nam type warfare. React NOW with massive force. or get your berkas and prayer rugs ready - cause the whole world is watching how we fight when hit with WMDs. Tomahawk Damascus and Tehran for supplying the guerrillas.
Tell them more is waiting to drop if more WMDs are used against US.
Get Israel to go after Syria, we take Iran.
Mobilize the USA. Draft, close the border, the whole nine yards, MARTIAL LAW.

Unlike what Condi Rice says, doing nothing is exactly what will embolden the enemy.

They have used WMDs against US! Mr. President React or get out of the way.

We are being tested by the enemy and the whole world is watching.

Speak to the American People, mobilize US like WW2. Martial Law, Draft and for Gods Sake Close the Stinking Border!

This is not about winning the WMD debate in the political arena anymore, it is about winning the War on terror, in the field of battle. If the President doesn't make Iran and Syria suffer for this, it will continue unabated. Now our troops are going to have to suit up and still be restricted by Nam rules of engagement and Nam strategy while the enemy runs around with a tee shirt and body armor and WMDs against US.

Use the weapons we have or they will be used against US.

Time is not on our side.
THE ENEMY IS STALLING FOR TIME TO GET MORE POWERFUL WEAPONS AND TACTICS.
Give Sadr 12 hours to surrender himself and all his troops or the "Holy shiite whole" will be leveled. If the Shiite don't like it, they can root him out. Either way, the Shiite can have Sadr or the holy shrine, not both. 12 hours, decision up to them, result up to us.

Mr. President you have been given a nice fat easy pitch right over the plate, take advantage of it or strike out.
55 posted on 05/17/2004 5:08:15 PM PDT by TomasUSMC
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Question:

Back in October, David Kay said that we had checked out 10 out of 130 weapons depots. What's the latest number? 10 of 130? 60/130? Has anyone seen anything on this? Has any of the 4,000 "reporters" over there asked this question?

56 posted on 05/17/2004 5:16:54 PM PDT by cookcounty (LBJ sent him to VN. Nixon expressed him home. And JfK's too dumb to tell them apart!)
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Meanwhile, Hans Blix, interviewed while sitting on both of his hands, was unwilling to set an exact date upon which he would be able to find his own ass.

He did, however, state that it was President Bush's fault that he had, as yet, not found it.

57 posted on 05/17/2004 5:22:55 PM PDT by Col Freeper (Liberals, like cattle, drop their smelly BS on everything and everyone they encounter.)
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To: I'm ALL Right!
But Kay, the former chief U.S. weapons inspector in Iraq, said the discovery does not provide evidence that Saddam was secretly producing weapons of mass destruction after the Gulf War, as alleged by the Bush administration to justify the war that removed him from power. "

----
At some point the apologizing for Saddam becomes a very difficult thing to defend even for the Mediacrats. In fact, the media quit promoting the "Saddam was clean" notion around the time of the Cohen testimony.

I'm sure if the Democrats could they would offer a draw on the WMD issue but Republicans must very soon begin to go on the offensive about it with a "if Democrats had had their way" blitz.
58 posted on 05/17/2004 5:32:50 PM PDT by Jim_Curtis
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To: GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY
You'll be looking for a while since they took the story off the front page.

The Sarin story appeared on Yahoo's home page, but must not have been there very long because when I re-loaded a little while later it was gone. Yahoo seems to find a way to post a lot of anti-Bush stories in its small "In the News" section.

59 posted on 05/17/2004 5:35:24 PM PDT by Starboard
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To: glock rocks
"on to syria? once bitten..."

Forward.

60 posted on 05/17/2004 5:37:28 PM PDT by blam
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