From the start in Afghanistan through the Fall of Baghdad, I was assigned to a Special Operations Command Battlestaff. Exactly what my job was isn't relevant right now. We were required to read all Situation Reports (SITREP's) coming out of the Middle East from any branch of service to determine if it was going to impact any of our operations either on-going or future planned. I mostly read the JCS Intel Reports. These were a mix of raw intel reports followed by analyst observations and recommendations.
To say that nobody reported these WMD stashes is not true. I would read daily reports, sometimes two or three a day. It was usually a patrol that found some unusual shells/rocket/mortar, pull out their trusty UXO (Unexploded Ordinance) cheat sheet, and realize they're looking at a mustard gas shell complete with markings, or a sarin gas shell. The initial report goes back via encrypted radio requesting a specialized team to come look at it and verify. The initial request, summary report, digital pictures, analyst report, and recommendations were reaching the JCS within 24 hours of discovery.
We were directed that releasing this information is bad OPSEC, because it would alert the AIF (Anit-Iraqi Forces) or Al-Quada In Iraq that there are indeed stashes of these WMD's and they would go on a massive hunt to find them.
We've all seen on one news story or another the horrific blast when old artillery shells are wired together to make an IED. Now imagine if they were to use chemical shells instead of just high explosives.
So, to answer the questions. Yes there were WMD's. Yes Sadam was manufacturing the even while the UN weapons inspectors were there. Yes these WMD's were reported (Up-channeled via secure communications). No it was not reported to the media.
My personal opinion is that Pres. Bush took a knife in the back to keep the existance of these WMD's a secret to prevent their use as IED's.
I read somewhere that a VX round was used in an IED, but the chemicals didn’t mix prior to detonation. The firing of the projectile breaks one of the vials and the spin mixes the formula. The round wasn’t fired, so no mixing.
Do you know anything about that?
_”My personal opinion is that Pres. Bush took a knife in the back to keep the existance of these WMD’s a secret to prevent their use as IED’s. “
One more reason to respect President Bush...
Have you seen this?
Gruesome photos may show ISIS using chemical weapons on Kurds - what do you think?
I have no problem with the secrecy. What I have a problem about is that these munitions were not destroyed.