Obviously they didn't know what it was. Hooking it up this way as an IED made sure that it would be completely useless as a WMD.
They're still sick basturds for setting IED's. Damn them all to Hooters. That would serve them right. All those half neeked women strutting around. They're so fond of making their women wear burkas.
Thank God they were ignorant.
No, it is the ideal IED. It means it will kill in a large area plus the area will be contaminated. The main problem with one of these is that EOD teams can not blow them in place and probably can not use a robot on them due to the chance of dispercing the chemical agent.
Even during WWI, chemical land mines were used. They are very, very effective.