Saddam plans chemical attack, says British official

Hindustan Times ^ | March 22 2003 | AFP

[knighthawk]

Iraqi soldiers in the country's south were found carrying new gas masks, a sign that Saddam Hussein might be planning chemical attacks, a British officer said on Saturday.

The discovery was reported by Lieutenant Colonel Buster Howes of the 42 Commando Royal Marines who are currently securing the Fao peninsula on the third day of their drive to oust Saddam.

Among the rundown weapons, ammunition and machinery found with the dead or captured Iraqis were some new respirators, with an expiry date of 2007, Howes said.

"This is a dark discovery and a stark warning to my men," the officer said. "But we are all very well drilled against the threat and cannot let it stop us in our mission."

US and British military officials have said their biggest fear is a possible chemical or biological attack despite warnings to Iraqi commanders to refuse any such orders or face war crimes charges.

Dozens of gas masks were taken off the Iraqis, but none owned any chemical protection suits, British officers said.

[knighthawk]

MIraqi soldiers in the country's south were found carrying new gas masks, a sign that Saddam Hussein might be planning chemical attacks, a British officer said on Saturday.

iddle East list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[mewzilla]

Quick, someone relay this to the idiot Chinese spy...er, correspondent who was trying to give Gen. Franks a hard time today.

[Maeve]

Praying for divine protection from untold horrors.

[Terry Mross]

Prayers indeed. I'm afraid these people are "afraid" not to use the chemicals. Think about this: the Iraqi troops out on the front lines have no contact with Bagdad. They have no idea Saddam may be dead. All they have is our "propaganda", which is what they think it is. So, if they don't know we're winning and Saddam will be deposed, they're afraid NOT to use the chemicals as they were ordered.

[goldstategop]

But but but... Hans Blix just assured us Iraq was as innocent as driven snow!

[piasa]

I just saw some photos of Brit soldiers inspecting some of these masks on-site. They did indeed look brand spanking new.

[mewzilla]

If those 39 Frogs who are on their way have anything to do wit it, Iraq will be as clean as the driven snow. I hope we put somebody on those guys.

[rageaholic]

You are right, the guys closer to Bagdad, so deeply implicated in the Saddam regime, know they will answer for crimes against humanity, those are the types who will not hesistate to use poison gas. They have nothing to lose.

On the other hand, I am sure the military is well prepared to deal with them.

[xm177e2]

Iraqi soldiers in the country's south were found carrying new gas masks, a sign that Saddam Hussein might be planning chemical attacks, a British officer said on Saturday.

Or that they think George Bush is planning a chemical attack </kidding>

[NewRomeTacitus]

It would be the first time our troops latest Nuclear/Biological/Chemical gear & tactics were tested against an organized threat. My concern is decon H2O.

[happydogx2]

Besides the chemical/bio connection you'll are missing the next important point: Who made the @$%&*@ masks???

happydogx2

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

He is gonna try it!

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[BamaFan69]

Did the mask have made in France on it ? Being a former Chemical Weapons Specialst in the Army, I feel quite confident as our troops march closer to Baghdad and Saddam runs out of options, HE WILL USE CHEMICAL WEAPONS !

[Sofa King]

What do you think Jacques-Ass's excuse will be if Saddam DOES use chemical weapons for still not supporting the war?

[BamaFan69]

The French Leader knows that they have been supplying the Bi-Products to Iraq to manufacture these weapons. I can't wait till MADE IN FRANCE becomes the most hated phrase in the Free World.

[RummyChick]

I think this is a very important find. If you look at the soldiers who have been surrendering you can see that they have not been outfitted with much. So for Saddam to expend the money on these masks means that he has every intent to hit us with NBC.

[jerseygirl]

I agree with you. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain. (Prestige...standing up to Imperialist US, etc.)

[knighthawk]

I fear that too.

[knighthawk]

He will deny France ever was an ally of Iraq (he tried that too with him signing a treaty with Saddam to deliver a nuclear plant).

But what will Chirac say when we dump the total UN in France.