Posted on 11/04/2004 6:49:55 PM PST by Right Wing Professor
The Los Angeles Times this morning ran an article on the alleged looting of the Al QaQaa explosives. Pivotal to the article, whcih relied on unidentified GI alleged witnesses to the looting, was this:
One soldier said U.S. forces watched the looters' trucks loaded with bags marked "hexamine" — a key ingredient for HMX — being driven away from the facility. Unsure what hexamine was, the troops later did an Internet search and learned of its explosive power.
"We found out this was stuff you don't smoke around," the soldier said.
The trouble is, it's completely bogus. Hexamine isn't an explosive, and has no 'explosive power'. It's a urinary antiseptic. It is used in the synthesis of RDX and HMX - but without a chemical plant and a number of other chemical ingredients, some dangerous and hard to obtain, you can't make RDX or HMX from it. All the explosive properties of RDX and HMX come from the fuming nitric acid which is another ingredient in the manufacture. I doubt you could even get hexamine to burn decently, let alone explode. I wouldn't be at all surprised that Saddam was manufacturing RDX and HMX, and that's why he had sacks of hexamine, but no terrorist is going to be able to do anything with hexamine (except, maybe, treat his gonorrhea).
I'm befuddled how the LA Times could have used a second-hand google search as a source for the most element on the story. I contacted them, and their 'reader representative' gave me an implausible story of how they'd checked their chemical information with the Encyclopedia Britannica, but promised to tell their editors. I'm not holding my breath waiting for a correction.
In case I need to establish my credentials on this, just google 'hexamethylenetetramine harbison' and look at the first hit. Hexamethylenetetramine is the correct chemical name of hexamine. I've done quite a bit of published research with the stuff.
well i am not surprised. the amount of fact checking now required for an anti-Bush story is now ZERO. the really big news is that they were not able to get this into print two days ago. I am sure that the delay was not caused by "vetting the story" but by waiting for someone to make it up.
You, sir, are da man.
Better than buying surplus Trioxane- although I have fond memories of watching our Doc gas himself out of his bunker while cooking his lunch with the stuff. Burning trioxane gives off a gas that affects people like CS (tear gas).
"Please don't eat the large, white mint."
And written over the condom dispenser:
"Don't buy the gum. It tastes like rubber."
Great post and effort. Thanks. I hope Powerline Blog gets it.
Excellent post Doc, thanks. And as a native Nebraskan, I think "Go Big Red" takes on new meaning when I look at the electoral vote map!
Not unless you eat urinal cakes. From http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/eclectic/ellingwood/hexamethyl.html
Synonyms—Urotropine; uritone; helmetol (proprietary).
This compound is the result of a chemical action between ammonium hydrate and formaldehyde. It is crystalline, colorless and odorless; dissolves in one and one-half parts of water. The influence of the agent within the system depends upon the fact that the formaldehyde is liberated and is dispersed throughout the entire system. It is found in the blood, in the spinal fluids, and in all the secretions, especially in the urine.
If its influence upon the stomach is desired, it can be given in a crystalline form, as the normal gastric acids will produce the desired chemical change. If its influence upon the intestinal tract or upon the bladder is desired, it must be given in some form. in which the stomach acids will not immediately act upon it. The dose is from five to thirty grains, three times daily in a little water. From five to fifteen grains is about the ordinary dosage.
Therapy—The agent acts directly upon any infections within the system as would be inferred because of its invariable, active, antiseptic influence. In its elimination, through all the secretory glands, it thus influences the mucous membranes, and among the first of these are those of the urinary apparatus and bladder. Its first effect is thus seen in inflammation of the bladder or in pyelitis, where the urine is heavily charged with ammonium; where there is an abundance of uric acid and amorphous urates, with triple phosphates and pus. Alkaline urine in the aged, seems to be its most conspicuous indication.
Another possible Freerepublic MSM expose.
Hope you don't mind. I posted it here:
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=dd55fa50887460b7215d01579c3f7515&threadid=775782
On the bottom of a bottle of "Uday Hussein - Insurgent Ale" there is another label:
"Open other end"
http://www.angelfire.com/ia/education/AOCHB.txt
Read number 5
Flu-raspy LOL!
I was just wondering about Al QaQaa today. The media had a week-long conniption fit about the lost explosives, and now just drop the story. Jeesh, it almost seems like the media used this story to advance the cause of ousting the President.
Thank you RWP for posting this information about the hexamine.
Might make one a bit more apprehensive about smoking in the boy's room.
Why would anyone make their own explosives in Iraq?
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