Posted on 06/26/2004 12:19:17 PM PDT by wagglebee
A day after the head of the CIA weapons inspection team warned that terrorists in Iraq are trying to get their hands on the Saddam Hussein regime's chemical weapons of mass destruction, Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin reports the first attack with these weapons of mass destruction has been launched inside Baghdad's Green Zone.
Few details are available, including any casualties associated with the attack using mustard gas.
The sources say the munitions were old, but still potentially lethal.
"I think it's safe to say our little friends know where the cache is now," said one source sardonically.
The Green Zone is the area of Baghdad where the U.S.-led coalition authority established its headquarters in the immediate aftermath of the invasion in April last year.
On Thursday, Charles Duelfer, the head of the CIA weapons inspection team, said terrorists in Iraq are seeking chemical arms and expertise left over from the Hussein regime for possible use against U.S. and allied troops. He added that his team has so far found as many as a dozen chemical-filled bombs far more than previously reported.
"What we are finding is that there are some networks that are seeking to tap into ... this expertise, and try to use it against the United States," Duelfer told Fox News Channel's Brit Hume. "And we are very concerned about that. That is a problem."
Duelfer said that investigations into arms laboratories in Iraq and interviews with former Iraqi arms specialists revealed that "former experts in the country's weapons of mass destruction program are being recruited by anti-coalition groups."
"They are being paid by anti-coalition groups," he said. "We're seeing interest in developing chemical munitions."
Asked whether anything suggests that insurgents actually are getting the expertise or may be ready to use it, Duelfer said: "We want to follow that very, very closely."
Duelfer expressed special concern that al-Qaida associate Abu Musab Zarqawi will acquire and use chemical weapons. Zarqawi, he said, "is one bad actor, and if he gets his hands on it, he'll use it."
The Jordanian-born Islamist, believed to be the leader of the foreign insurgents in Iraq, is known to be a specialist in bomb making. U.S. officials believe al-Zarqawi was behind the coordinated attacks earlier this week that killed at least 100 people and wounded about 320.
Duelfer said his inspection team has uncovered bombs filled with blistering mustard gas or the nerve agent sarin.
"We're not sure how many more are out there that haven't been found, but we've found 10 or 12 sarin and mustard rounds," he said. "I'm reluctant to judge what that means at this point, but there's other aspects of the program which we still have to flush out."
In May, U.S. military officials found a bomb containing chemicals to form sarin gas and another with a mustard agent weapons Saddam was required to destroy under U.S. sanctions and terms of the cease-fire from the 1990-91 Gulf war.
The Washington Times reports military officials have uncovered about 8,700 weapons depots and continue to find new ones. They estimate the weapons depots in Iraq contain between 650,000 and 1 million tons of arms, which are believed to be a source for anti-coalition forces.
And ... they have to be ready to launch an attack within 45 mins ... wasn't that what the Demoncrats disingenuously gleaned from the President's warnings .. while valiantly holding their tongues in their cheeks????
"That is definitely newsworthy, front page newsworthy"
Front page of the Washington Times, classified section next to the Viagra ads in the New York Times ("All the news that fits our slant")
Because the liberal media enablers want Kerry to win and do everything they can to support that effort.
Well, they are wrong - it could NOT be mustard or sarin because there are just not any there. Bush would have told us if there were mustard or sarin there. Afterall - the press would have told us and they said there was NONE THERE. Now fergit it!!!!!
You rang??
An even worse thread killer is the mere mention of the name of the Russiam Tennis Model (RTM.)
You mean Anna Cornacopia?
"Maybe the media will now massively cover this story and admit that the President and the administration were right along on?"
I understand the sarcasm of your query. And I see what you mean. Good point. Unfortuneately the reality is that the "mainstream" media and even some naysayers among us will STILL continue to dismiss this revelation as "no solid proof" there were WMD's in Iraq.
Just a little mustard gas here people...nothing to see...move along.
"some naysayers among us will STILL continue to dismiss this revelation as "no solid proof" there were WMD's in Iraq."
LOL! How fitting. No sooner do I make that statement, then I continue to scroll down the thread and BANG! rwfromkansas proves my point.
Are there any additional stories confirming this report?
"Well, there you go again." - RR
This is going to turn into a cheese thread. I'm going to take a shower...
5.56mm
This is going to get good. The left will now say that if Blix & co. were allowed to continue to work there, they would have found the weapons.
So it is now Bush's fault that Blix & co. left Iraq.
It probably has something to do with the Yankees who got spanked by the Mets today. :)
Old stocksLeftover from before the Gulf War
Saddam somehow missed destroying them
Doesn't qualify as a "stockpile"
These are not an "imminent threat" to America, never were
If we hadn't invaded Iraq, this would not be a problem
Saddam had these under his control, now he is gone terrorists got them - it's our fault!
(did I miss anything?)
Running joke by FReepers with nothing to contribute to the conversation, but they have a need to be noticed. Best ignored.
If anyone ever mentions "AYB".... run!
I was talking to a liberal the other day who was, of course, aghast that we were in Iraq. He made the mistake of stating he was worried about the terrorists getting their hands on WMD over there. I quickly said "Why, Ted Kennedy has assured us that there are none." He quickly changed the subject.
LOL. Spoken like a true Domocrat strategist.
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