Posted on 08/04/2004 5:54:08 AM PDT by Flightdeck
I have been strongly criticized in a newspaper for mentioning the sarin shells found in Iraq as evidence of the existence of WMD. Here's one paragraph of the reader's response:
"Any sort of follow-up to the television watching Mr. XXX did which led to his rant would have let him in on the fact that the sarin gas shells that were found by the Poles and Americans were either left over from the Iran-Iraq War 25 years ago (in which case there is a possibility that the shells actually belong to us) or left over from the first Gulf War. Surely we didn't invade Iraq just to reclaim some of our lost property."
He then accused me of playing a political contest over the bodies of dead soldiers.
Any links with factual information would be greatly appreciated.
Whata load of crap. We never gave Iraq any chemical wepaons period.
He's a lair, America never gave Iraq CB shells of any sort. In fact, he's probably a lunatic. But as for the binary shells that were found, they could kill this guy and thousands more just as easily as one manufatcured yesterday. Binary shells do not degrade.
Didn't resolution 1441 demand that Iraq turn in or destroy all of these, and the 10 thousand page Iraqi book claim to do so?
Yes.
Don't know the size (of the shell that the Poles found) but that would prove that the shell couldn't be US: (Never mind the fact that we didn't send any over there.....)
The French WERE selling recently-built arms to Iraq though. We've found many photo's of arms/ammo boxes with French labels and 1996-2000 dates on them
See your local UN-Oil-for-Food salesman for pricing details ...
I don't care how old they were or what they were left over from. They were VIABLE. I'm not sure if the shells found by the Polish troops were even sarin, but there were sarin shells (35 total, according to Duefler, I think). If the person who made this "point" were attacked with said sarin, it would kill him just as dead as if it were new or not "left over."
Saddam was not supposed to have shells filled with sarin, regardless of age or origination.
3. Decides that, in order to begin to comply with its disarmament obligations, in addition to submitting the required biannual declarations, the Government of Iraq shall provide to UNMOVIC, the IAEA, and the Council, not later than 30 days from the date of this resolution, a currently accurate, full, and complete declaration of all aspects of its programmes to develop chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and other delivery systems such as unmanned aerial vehicles and dispersal systems designed for use on aircraft, including any holdings and precise locations of such weapons, components, sub-components, stocks of agents, and related material and equipment, the locations and work of its research, development and production facilities, as well as all other chemical, biological, and nuclear programmes, including any which it claims are for purposes not related to weapon production or material;
Why haven't we heard any more about the chemical shell that was fashioned into an IED? If the insurgents are accessing chemical shells without even knowing it, there could be thousands of the things that are painted with regular HE markings. In that case, we may never "find" what is hidden in plain sight.
thanks. I'm typing up my response to this leftist POS now. He said I should be ashamed for my comments implying that I used the soldiers who have died. !? Considering I have family being shot at every day over there, he has no clue.
Also, whether they were 25 years old or 25 days old, does not change the fact they were not suppsoed to be there period.
The extend of 'military' sales or weaponry provided by the US to Iraq consisted of 60 civilian Hughes helicopters and 10 Bell helicopters. to be fair, the US provided military intelligence to Iraq to fight Iran which we regarded as a much bigger threat at the time.
Well, I just went through chem warfare refresher training yesterday and the instructor said that the facts of the case are that the chemical was not sarin but VX. I don't know why he would lie.
I should mention that the incident was the one involving two U.S. Marines.
Have him refer to these pages and see where the equipment is from. Lets just saw the majority of it had to have red stars wiped off.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/ground-equipment.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/air-force-equipment.htm
Did Iraq ever use sarin?
Yes. Iraq began producing sarin in 1984 and admitted to possessing 790 tons of it in 1995. Saddam Hussein used sarin on the Kurds in northern Iraq during a 1987-88 campaign known as the Anfal. The worst attack occurred in March 1988 in the Kurdish village of Halabja; a combination of chemical agents including sarin, mustard gas, and possibly VX killed as many as 5,000 people and left 65,000 others facing severe skin and respiratory diseases, abnormal rates of cancer and birth defects, and a devastated environment. Experts say Saddam Hussein also launched about 280 smaller-scale chemical attacks against the Kurds.
Which states have sarin?
Only Russia and the United States have officially declared that they have stockpiles of sarin. The United States began developing sarin as part of its chemical weapons program in the 1950s; it now has more than 5,000 tons of sarin stored across the country. Russia has about 11,700 tons of sarin.
Other countries may also have sarin stockpiles. India and South Korea have chemical warfare agents, but we don’t know whether they have sarin. In May 2002, the Bush administration accused Syria of having a sarin stockpile. Experts also suspect Egypt, Iran, Libya, and North Korea of having sarin.
Have any states, other than Iraq, ever used sarin?
No.
Thanks for the help. I typed up a response, so I guess I'll post it here, as well.
I used your phrase "tap-dancing, dog-and-pony show" in my response, I hope you don't mind. I left out the "head up his rectum" part.
XXX claims in his August 4 XXX that I do not have the facts correct on the sarin shells in Iraq and that I should be ashamed for politicizing an issue over which hundreds of Americans have died. He's dead wrong. Here are the facts:
The extent of the US military support of Iraq 25 years ago was 60 civilian Hughes helicopters, 10 Bell helicopters, and strategic intelligence. NO chemical or bio weapons, as XXX suggested. According to weapons inspector Charles Duelfer, 35 Sarin and mustard gas shells have been found in Iraq as of July 21, and counting. Many of these are binary shells which do not degrade, and contain millions of lethal doses of the nerve agent, each. At least two American soldiers have been attacked with one of these weapons. Their presence is a black and white violation of UN res 1441, article 3, which gives the US legal standing to depose Iraq's murderous dictator.
I have family in each branch of the military and am well aware and grateful of the sacrifices and risks taken to keep America safe. I expected to be attacked with hypocrisy and straw men, and I was not disappointed. People like XXX can do all the tap-dancing and dog-and-pony shows they want, but the facts remain: deadly chemical weapons have been found in Iraq. I should point out, however, that history will consider the mass graves more of a sticking point, when in hindsight it vindicates this war as the latest global humanitarian gift from the United States.
me
As you can see, I plagiarized several of the posted comments, so consider this a response from FR.
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