[AntiGuv]

Let's suppose for the sake of argument that they were sent to Syria, and let's ignore the time limitation on efficacy for most of the hypothesized WMDs, do you think that the Syrians would have a big fat MADE IN IRAQ label on them? So, if the answer is no, let's pretend that we conquer Syria within a time frame that any of Saddam's WMDs would still be viable and kept around, how do suppose we would distinguish the once-Iraqi WMDs from Syrian produced WMDs?

[WonkyTonky]

Found this article, UN also says Iraq had WMD
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/breaking_1.html

[Treader]

All WMDs leave a traceable signature of manufacture, even after usage. Didn't know that did ya? The big question is where and when- not if...

[Straight Vermonter]

The time limitations you mention would apply only to poorly manufactured unitary chemical weapons. Well manufactured chemical weapons have a long shelf life while binary chemical weapons have a nearly unlimited shelf life.

Biological weapons can be reduced to seed stocks and stored indefinitely.

The tracibility issues you mention, however, are absolutely correct. Without documentation we will never know if any found weapons were Saddam's.

[endthematrix]

I understand that Syria does not want WMD trail and posses anything that sways world opinion against them. I'm skeptical that anything will be left. However, the trail does exist.

Confirming Iraq origin can be achieved because we have the comparable sample signatures to match against. And if we are able to gain home manufactured samples from Syria then we can eliminate those. Iraqi Anthrax is different from Syria's. The formula for botulism and weaponed nerve and bioagents are different.

[CGVet58]

let's also suppose that a terrorist attack is launched from within Syria against Jordan, via ground (truck) borne delivery, and this attack is thankfully prevented, vermin captured, etc. The ensueing investigation shows the lethality of the attack enough to take out something like 20 square blocks and was targetted against government buildings. The composition of the bio-chem agents are of such a nature that no intelligence agency in the world shows documentation that the Syrians were working on that particular type of weapon, but that Iraq was. Let's then suppose that the media squashes this story for about 10 days, whereas Patriot internet like Free Republic report it almost immediately - and when they finally get around to reporting it, key elements of the story are slushed around in typical leftist/MSM, "hide-it-below-the-fold" manner

Oh, wait... this actually DID happen, just the way I'm "supposing..." above.

CGVet58

[Wonder Warthog]

"...and let's ignore the time limitation on efficacy for most of the hypothesized WMDs..."

Uh, just FYI, binary munitions don't "have" a "limitation on efficacy", and neither do MOST non-binary types. US WMD stocks from WWII are still viable and quite dangerous--which is why it has been so slow and difficult to destroy them.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"Let's suppose for the sake of argument that they were sent to Syria, and let's ignore the time limitation on efficacy for most of the hypothesized WMDs, do you think that the Syrians would have a big fat MADE IN IRAQ label on them? "

No, everyone is concerned that the WMD's say "MADE IN THE USSR" or "MADE IN FRANCE."

This is what held us up in the 6 months leading up to the war.