Posted on 08/30/2007 9:26:05 AM PDT by farlander
Edited on 08/30/2007 9:46:09 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
United Nations weapons inspectors discovered six to eight vials of a dangerous nerve gas, phosgene, as they were cleaning out offices at a U.N. building in New York this morning, federal authorities tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com.
The federal authorities said the office, in a U.N. building near headquarters, was being evacuated and the White House had been notified at 10 a.m.
New York police and fire officials reported to the scene around 12:15 this afternoon.
A U.N. spokesperson said a statement would be issued shortly.
Authorities said the phosgene was believed to have been discovered in Iraq and manufactured prior to 1991.
Former U.N. weapons inspectors told ABCNews.com that vials of phosgene had also been used by inspectors in Iraq to help calibrate air sampling instruments.
“My knowlege comes from reading a long article on chemical warfare in a wargaming magazine plus quick use of the web. Honest.”
Riiight... ;D!
No biggie.
Thu, Aug 30, 2007 at 9:52:38 am PST
UN weapons inspectors have finally discovered some weapons of mass destruction—at a United Nations building in Manhattan: Nerve Gas Scare at U.N. Headquarters.
United Nations weapons inspectors discovered six to eight vials of a dangerous nerve gas, phosgene, as they were cleaning out offices at a U.N. building in New York this morning, federal authorities tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com.
The federal authorities said the office, in a U.N. building near headquarters, was being evacuated and the White House had been notified at 10 a.m. New York police and fire officials reported to the scene around 12:15 this afternoon. A U.N. spokesperson said a statement would be issued shortly.
Authorities said the phosgene was believed to have been discovered in Iraq and manufactured prior to 1991.
Former U.N. weapons inspectors told ABCNews.com that vials of phosgene had also been used by inspectors in Iraq to help calibrate air sampling instruments.
The former inspectors said the remaining vials were supposed to have been destroyed.
“If it is properly sealed, it should not pose much of a threat unless it is dropped,” said former New York City emergency services director Jerry Hauer, an ABC News consultant. [The understatement of the year. – ed.]
“They need to get it out of there and put it in a safe canister,” Hauer said. “It shows immense stupidity to have that kind of thing sitting around as a souvenir.”
Stupidity? Maybe so, but it could also have been something much worse.
UPDATE at 8/30/07 10:02:35 am:
Phosgene is not a “nerve gas,” as ABC’s Blotter reported; it’s technically classified as a “nettle agent” used in chemical warfare. More info at the CDC: Facts About Phosgene.
That would be phosphine - PH3, not phosgene - COCl
“I looked this up on Wikipedia in about 5 seconds - but I guess that my expectations are a bit too high that ABC or any other media outlet would actually get their facts right.”
You need to give those fine folks at ABC a break. They are way too busy to waste five seconds of their time getting actual facts. This is not important for them to spend that much time on—now if it were something about Paris Hilton taking a leak or scratching her butt, that’s different.
She scratches her own butt? I thought she had people to do that for her...
LOL, so MSNBC still has “Breaking News” about a silly "no risk" chem?
ON FNC NOW!
Why is the reporterette on via video phone? It’s not like they’re reporting from overseas.
MSNBC is working on a way to blame Bush now...lol. Reporting that the State Department was told about it last night and did nothing...blah, blah, blah. Reporting that it was found last friday. ????
“Well if they couldn’t find it in Iraq how are we suppose to believe they found it in their own building.”
the quote of the day.
I have some new bumper stickers if anyone is interested...
so maybe sadam insane hid his wmd in the uN building?
She’s tooooo uuuuuuuuuggggggggly for HDTV?
Watching live reports is like watching a comedy sitcom!
Richard Roth of CNN said just one of those silly things that happen at the UN. I think he’s turning blue as we speak.
What kind?
Well- actually it is dangerous- it’s a choking agent- but certainly not nerve gas.
How long would it have taken Brian Ross to do a quick FACT CHECK?
they are all imbeciles - each & every one
So...the reason that there were no WMD in Iraq is because the UN moved it to New York?
The things you find in your attic when you move,,,
This can’t be true because there are no WMD in Iraq...therefore the Phosgene was manufactured by the UN, maybe?
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