You notice the white lettering on the barrel in the first pic, the chemical name and then the letters "UN". Ill bet those barrels were found during the first inspections just after Gulf War 1, so this would be on the list of declared stuff. Im not trying to burst anyones bubble or anything, just dont get too excited, believe me if we found anything the administration would definately get it out there.
Iraq was supposed to have destroyed the older wepaons material.
One way or another, dangerous chemicals that have been used as chemical warfare agents in the past were in that warehouse with other boxes labeled "Ministry of Defence" in Iraq.
If the UN found them in 91, why would they still be in Iraq?
No the UN 1595 is part of a classification system for hazardous chemecals.
Re: believe me if we found anything the administration would definately get it out there.
They sure are keeping a soft voice on what we DID find.
"Im not trying to burst anyones bubble or anything, just dont get too excited"
You aren't busting, just misundstand what you're seeing.
There is a scheme in place to make it possible to ship hazardous materials worldwide and to communicate the hazzards associated with materials deemed hazardous.
Accordingly, all such materals are assigned a "UN" number, a univerally accepted index number, which has nothing what-so-ever to do with the UN inspectors.
A look at the US Dept. of Transportation hazmat tables indicates the following:
Proper Shipping Name: DIMETHYL SULFATE, TOXIC-INHALATION HAZARD ZONE B
Hazard Class: 6.1, 8
UN/NA: UN1595
Packing Group: I
Information reported for product/size: 500G
The name shown above is how the material must be described on shipping documents and the "mark" which is what you are seeing on the barrel.....actually that name plus the UN number is the legal "making".
(Note: this is very nasty stuff)
The Zone B indicates that this material is designated as an toxic inhalation hazard. This tells us that anyone near should have a breathing apparatus and the material requires "extra special handling" beyond other toxic materials.
Hazad class 6.1 indicates that the material is toxic, the 8 indicates that it is also corrosive. The 6.1 appears first which tells us that the toxcity is a greater hazard than the corrosivness of the material.
The packing group indicates that this material must be packaged in a UN tested/specification container of the most stringent requirements. There are three packing groups, 1-3 and 1 being the most dangerous of materials.
Finding this material doesn't in and of itself indicate a "WMD" but it could be used to harm others with devestating effects.
"You notice the white lettering on the barrel in the first pic, the chemical name and then the letters "UN". Ill bet those barrels were found during the first inspections just after Gulf War 1, so this would be on the list of declared stuff."
You know, that raises another whole set of interesting questions. Think about it. You're a brutal dictator. The UN has "stockpiled" your declared WMDs. What does it matter whether they are in your warehouse or the UN's? You know where they are. If you need them you just in and take them. Bottom line, if they are not destroyed, and they are still in your country, there nothing stopping you from taking them and using them if you so decide.
Not to pat myself on the back, but I've never seen that concept discussed. Could the argument not be made that Saddam's WMDs were in essence being kept by the UN and were at his disposal any time he decided it was no longer necessary to play the game?
"the white lettering on the barrel in the first pic, the chemical name and then the letters "UN". "
i tend to agree with your assessment. however, saddam is not that stupid. he very well could have marked the barrels himself.