Special forces already inside Iraq: Chemical response expected to U.S. Operation Iraqi Freedom

NBC, MSNBC AND NEWS SERVICES ^ | March 18, 2003 | Jim Miklaszewski

[estjohn]

U.S. special forces and CIA agents have already entered Iraq and are scouting potential targets, gathering intelligence and preparing the battlefield for a U.S. invasion that would likely be code-named Operation Iraqi Freedom, military sources told NBC News on Tuesday.

[snip]

They also revealed that intelligence reports were indicating that Saddam was preparing to use chemical weapons against U.S. troops.

Artillery shells with chemical warheads were being handed out to troops of Saddam's elite Republican Guard at Al Kut, southeast of Baghdad, the reports indicated, while preparations were under way to coat bridges and roadways with a lethal VX nerve agent to slow U.S. troops on their advance to Baghdad.

U.S. intelligence reports also indicated that Saddam had as many as 50 unmanned drones he could use to attack U.S. troops with chemical weapons from the air, the sources told NBC News' Jim Miklaszewski.

[Ramius]

Instead of "don't function as a contact poison"... I should clarify that they "aren't *useful* as a contact poison. Sure, they could be deployed as a dried liquid on a surface, but that's not a very useful way to deploy.

[Grampa Dave]

The French make or buy companies with good products. Many are either a basic product or an special exclusive like the Wild Turkey.

[Grampa Dave]

Nestle buys the water from France. That's evil enough for me. No perrier.

Also, knowing the French, they are not giving away that water. How many Frencmen are employed bottling and transporting and whatever for Perrier?

[Grampa Dave]

This is the key to this list or any such list, what you posted: If any transaction I make actually puts a penny into the French, German, Chinese, Canadian or Russian economies, I won't make it. It's a bit of a chore, but thanks to FReepers, it's easier. And worth every second and every penny...

Then if you buy a similiar product that is made in the USA, the UK, Spain, Australia or Italy, you/we are putting our money with an ally not the French or any you listed.

[longtermmemmory]

flamethrowers to sterilize?

[EERinOK]

Thanks. I've been waiting for someone to say this. France is likely not Chirac once you get out of snob central.

There are a heck of alot of American employees of French owned or French/Partnered companies right here. They don't deserve to get canned over one man's desperate attempt to be somebody for 15 minutes of history.

A paragraph will be all Chirac gets in the great history of the 21st century. He's not worth breaking backs of regular working joes here or there.

[longtermmemmory]

have you notice how the democrats are now on the talking point of whining about the expense of after the fact of winning. We will win the war and the democrats are going to complain about the color of the latrines.

[EERinOK]

Suppose you had been working there for 20 years and knew the french are spineless but not the new enemy, and if you got the pink slip you take a huge pay cut and lost a bunch of retirement?

[Mystix]

I'm in total agreement, the french needed us in WW1, WW2, vietnam, and every other military operation they have tried to undertake. they're weak, snivling, and constantly pick fights with my Marines. their country is worthless just like their products, the only reason theyre on the security council is because their close german friends STOMPED THE SHIT OUT OF THEM so many times. We might as well line them up right next to the iraqis.

[longtermmemmory]

Where do the profits go? French companies take their profits to france.

[ApesForEvolution]

Thanks again GD.

[Red Dog #1]

If I remember correctly a mixture of bleach and water very effectively neutralizes most agents.

[JustPiper]

Amazing, thank you for those links!

I especially like the XM104 Wolverine. The "Wolverines" outsmarted the commies in Red Dawn ;)

[RedlegCPT]

And I'm still not 100% sold on the all new "Clintonized" pc military that was not there when I retired in 92-93. I pray for everyone and especially our boys overseas tonight.

There are still alot of us that were not effected by that. As a matter of fact, I can say that most of us dispise the PC military of the 90's.

The Army I came into in 1984 and left in 1988 is much different than the Army I came back into in 1993. The group of young officers I have contact with in a daily basis are much more like what I first came in with. They are truly focused at the task at hand and understand that they are not just here to payoff the ROTC obligation.

[Beck_isright]

Believe me, there are a lot of fine people in the military. The wild card is like that pansy that made the news last night, unable to carry his pack and scared to fight; and saying that on television for the world to see. I do worry about that 10-15% (just a guess on my part) that are there for "college money" or a social program and never had any intention of fighting as they thought it would never happen 2 to 3 years ago. Godspeed to all the troops is all I can say.

[RedlegCPT]

UHMM Have you heard of Lafayette. If memory serves me right he helped bail us out in that thing that happend in 1776. Along with Von Stubben. (German).

[RedlegCPT]

I know what you are talking about but lets remember SGT Alvin York was a CO and went over the hill several time in WWI he turned out all right.

That guy that made the news last night might turn into him or not. We have always had the 10-15%, just that they did not have acces to the press like thay do now.

[FBD]

Some useful sites for following the war.

CIA Maps of Iraq. Including NBC sites, and oil wells

Current time in Baghdad

[CharacterCounts]

Where do the profits go? French companies take their profits to france.

Some maybe. But most profits are probably reinvested right here in America.

[FBD]

Thanks for that list Dave.
I am going to pour out my bottle of Seagrams right now... on second thought...I'll wait til Friday...I might need it to deal with my anger at CNN revealing when our planes are taking off from differant bases. Damn traitors.