Report Cites Al Qaeda Deal For Iraqi Gas

Washington Post ^ | 12/12/2002 | Barton Gellman

[ppaul]

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BOMB

SADDAM

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[Imal]

Do beware, however, as atropine is itself extremely toxic and can kill you. It's one of the active ingredients that makes belladonna poisonous.

Atropine has medical applications other than as a treatment for nerve gas exposure, but the doses are usually in the micrograms, and messing around with it can be very hazardous to your health, causing temporary symptoms such as mydriasis, tachycardia, decreased salivation and sweating, diminished bowel sounds, urinary retention, hypertension, vasodilation, anxiety, disorientation, hallucinations, hyperactivity, and convulsions or coma. In practice, however, an adult has to really overdo it to risk permanent death.

The NAAK instructions rather dryly state: "If you are told that your pupils are getting very small or if you are having trouble breathing and your chest feels tight, use the atropine nerve agent antidote kit (NAAK), Mark I". Long ago, they used to tell you that nerve gas smelled like almonds, but that's not always a reliable indication of exposure, and I guess they stopped saying this after a few paranoids stuck themselves unnecessarily.

The subsequent warning states: "If within 5 minutes after the administration of any set of injections your heart beats very rapidly AND your mouth becomes very dry, DO NOT give yourself another set of injections". Those are some of the symptoms of atropine overdose.

There are other antidotes that are used to improve resistance to a nerve agent attack. In a NAAK/Mark I kit, both an atropine autoinjector and a pralidoxime chloride (2-PAM Cl) injector are included. The 2-PAM is an important counteragent for fast-aging nerve agents such as Soman (GD). The Army also uses pyridostigmine supplementation in tablet form for such agents, issued as the Nerve Agent Pyridostigmine Pretreatment (NAPP) Tablet Set. And there are others.

I believe it is currently possible for civilians to obtain a NAAK by prescription, but good luck getting a doctor to go along with that. If a nerve gas attack occurs, however, I expect that to change instantaneously.

The government is, of course interested in protecting us from ourselves as much as from terrorism, and, frankly, for every x number of NAAKs in civilian hands, y number of people will use them improperly and wind up in an emergency room. Some may die.

But I am hopeful that, ultimately, the paternalistic stance of restriction imposed on us by the feds will be relaxed. This should happen by necessity, if nothing else.

Stay safe.

[Travis McGee]

Even when one survives an encounter with even traces of nerve and other chemical agents, the long term health consequences are DIRE.

It is not like recovering from a bullet wound. Don't plan on having normal children, for starters.

[Int]

This article is strange (no one wants to go on the record) and seems to be talking around something. Could it be that this "Al Qaida-linked" group is within the territorial space of Iraq but is actually a Kurdish organization affiliated with the US that will receive (or already is receiving) aid, funding and training for the attack on Baghdad? Ansar al-Islam perhaps? I think so.

Would the Iraqi central govt. risk giving weapons to Al Qa'ida types? No way. I agree with Richard Butler: regimes with WMDs are very protective of their supplies and will not let anyone get their hands on them - definately not ideological/political enemies.

[C210N]

Could it be that this "Al Qaida-linked" group is within the territorial space of Iraq but is actually a Kurdish organization affiliated with the US that will receive (or already is receiving) aid, funding and training for the attack on Baghdad? Ansar al-Islam perhaps? I think so.

So, if your rationale is based on Saddam keeping these WMD's to himself, and away from ideological/political enemies, they why would a Kurdish organization have them? If one of his enemies DID manage to get hold of these WMD's, I'd think it more likely to be an org directly opposed to the US and/or Israel rather than one not directly opposed to the US and/or Israel...

[OXENinFLA]

This can't be true. I was watching "HardBall" last night w/ Al Gore. Gore was asked if he thought Saddam and AlQada were connected. And Gore said he has not see any evidence that there is/was any type of connection.

OH Wait!!!!! Gore is a DUMB**S.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Unfortunately, going to the border won't do you much good since there are probably plenty of Islamofacists here in America.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

What in G_d's name is in VX gas that makes it so deadly?

[Int]

I'm thinking the group is al-Qaeda-ish but they would willingly join the line-up for US aid. The US can't dissect each group it is helping - it's focused on ousting the Baathists in Baghdad.

The group may not be wholely Kurdish - just that it is located in "Kurdish territory" - and that it nabbed the weapons from some ex-Iraqi forces.

These are just some guesses. The rest of the WP article says the original reports are vague and possibly even false. All the off-the-record stuff is odd, as is the lack of the group's name. Hopefully there will be some more info out on this soon.

[steveegg]

VX primer. One thing not mentioned in the link is that this agent is quite persistent (i.e. it does not disperse quickly).

[steveegg]

It also would be the most concrete evidence to support the charge, aired for months by President Bush and his advisers, that al Qaeda terrorists receive material assistance in Iraq. If advanced publicly by the White House, the report could be used to rebut Iraq's assertion in a 12,000-page declaration Saturday that it had destroyed its entire stock of chemical weapons.

I would have already emptied the launch tubes of the nearest Ohio-class SSBN on Iraq (and Mecca/Medina).

[Man of the Right]

If Centcom or the intel idiots can present credible proof, that's the casus belli.

[steveegg]

Understatement of the year, especially since the only two places the ComPost wants nuked are the WashTimes' offices and the New York Slimes' offices.

[twigs]

Few crimes in the history of the human race are as vile as whatever it was that Lott did.

Fortunately, Republicans have a higher standard than the worst of vile historical crimes. Lott is not just any Republican, who are free to believe or say whatever they choose. He is the LEADER of the Senate Republicans. And words mean something. He needs to go. Yes, the media will continue to play this in disgusting fashion. Lott knows that; but he handed them the issue.

[steveegg]

Should I schedule a cruise ship for the trip to Freeper Island <VBG>?

[hchutch]

Man, that is some scary stuff...

[twigs]

Absolutely! Wish I could join it! We argue in a nice way--you know, fierce but we shake hands in the end. We don't take care of those with whom we disagree like the Clintons did, the way Laura Ingraham said yesterday they ended up--indicted or dead. Attend and post pictures for those of us stuck at home!!

[justshutupandtakeit]

Nonsensical theories. Al-Queerda is NOT an enemy of Saddam nor he it. They are definitely allies against the U.S. After the Great Satan is dealt with then differences could become important.

Why has AQ been warning against an attack on Iraq if there is anything to your theory?

[steveegg]

Next stop, FReeper Island

[finnman69]

here it comes......