MSNBC- American Troops Have Found A Second Chemical Plant In Iraq

MSNBC | 3/23/03

[kattracks]

Nothing follows.

[CatOwner]

"I did not say backpeddle in anyway did I?"

No you didn't, I did. Backpedel, caution, confirm, whatever, we are less sure now than a couple of hours ago. But please let it be true, anything to drive the stake into the UN.

[Busywhiskers]

"Doubtful. You can't have a second chemical weapons factory siting until you confirm the first. As is, the Pentagon is backpedeling on the first story."

Seems to me that before one accuses the military of backpedaling there are a couple questions to be asked.

For example, what is the original source of the information that the facility captured was a chemical weapons plant, the Pentagon, or speculation from troops in the field communicated via embedded reporters hungry for a story. As much as I admire and respect our frontline troops, I doubt they have the technical knowledge to make a determination whether a facility is a chemical weapons plant. Very likely the Pentagon is being cautious until they get a definative expert determination. That is not backpedaling. It's prudence.

[eat it, gore]

"that is probably why they booed Michael Moorer"

To what is this referring? Hadn't heard about it. Can't believe the Hollywood elites would ever boo that guy.

[Nayt2]

underestimation? we've lost less than 40 men, unless you believe a russian news web site quoting iranian sources. they've lost thousands. we've lost less than 10 vehicles. their armor, artillery, sam sites, and communication facilities have been decimated. they have 12 POWs. we've captured thousands. thousands more have surrendered. why is everyone acting so depressed today?

[Destro]

I did not argue on this--I was just helping out with the story link.

[republicanwizard]

Well said Busywhiskers.

Don't worry Freepers. We'll find WMDS. I just hope we find them sitting on a shelf and not heading towards our soldiers.

[Paraclete]

Camoflage, soldiers, and an electric perimeter are a lot of trouble for fertilizer.

[doc]

Exactly! The first story was bogus.

[BurbankKarl]

London Express UK


'Weapons of mass destruction found'

US Forces may have found Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, it has been reported.

A Jerusalem Post reporter 'embedded' with a US unit said the site had been discovered about 90 miles from Baghdad.

Later US officials confirmed the find of a suspected chemical facility in southern Iraq. Two generals are reported to have been captured at the site, near the city of Al-Najaf.

Experts were trying to determine whether the site was involved in making chemical weapons, US officials said. Troops from the US 3rd Infantry reached Al-Najaf on a push to Baghdad.

President George Bush says ridding Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's regime of chemical and biological weapons is the main objective of the war.

Saddam's government denies it has any chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or programmes to produce them.

Al-Najaf is a holy city containing the Shrine of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib. The splendid golden domed structure used to house great quantities of priceless objects, gifts of potentates and sultans. It was pillaged by Saddam's troops after the 1991 uprising when they burned, destroyed and systematically looted Al-Najaf's treasures.

Asked at a news conference in Qatar about reports of the chemical plant, Lt. Gen. John Abizaid of US Central Command declined to comment. He said top Iraqi officers have been questioned about chemical weapons.

"We have an Iraqi general officer, two Iraqi general officers that we have taken prisoner, and they are providing us with information," Abizaid said.

He suggested that the Iraqis may have chemical weapons near the city of Kut, south-east of Baghdad.

[concerned about politics]

What, then, would be holding back the Iraqi army from using them? Nothing.

Yeh. Hanz Blix said, in his opinion, ( i.e., "Hey Saddam - hint, hint, wink, wink," ) that using Chem or bio weapons would not be a wise thing to do.
Soooooo. I don't think he would unless we already found them or he had to, either.
I think you're right.

[kcvl]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/23/sprj.irq.iraqi.plant/

[cyncooper]

Where is Ashley Bandwidth?

Well, since you ask, Ashleigh Banfield actually was about to go on air yesterday to cover a pro-America rally when news came down of the 101st grenade incident. She did a great job speaking with people who actually knew people in that division.

Today she hammered away at the guy having adopted his Muslim name.

She's doing fine. I kind of like her.

[denydenydeny]

Carolyn Glick on MSNBC now.

[kattracks]

According to the former weapons inspector speaking on MSNBC, the troops all have a sheet with directions of what to look for. He also said that they have a special unit in the field that can make determinations as to what kind of chemicals were being produced at the plant.

They may have to wait for this unit to arrive.He said they should know something definate within 24 hours.

[concerned about politics]

For example, what is the original source of the information that the facility captured was a chemical weapons plant, the Pentagon, or speculation from troops in the field communicated via embedded reporters hungry for a story.

Fox said they got the info from the JP earlier in the day, but had to hold the story until it was verified. Then they ran with it.
I didn't catch who "verified" it, though.

[babygene]

Why would you have a General in the Iraq army involved if the chemicals where NOT being used for sinister purposes?

[hole_n_one]

FNC interviewing Jerusalem Post reporter who is/was at the first suspected site.......

Huge facilty, well camoflauged
Appeared to be recently abandoned

[kcvl]

Two British soldiers missing; Pentagon downplays reports of Iraqi ''chemical'' weapons factory discovery

24-03-2003, 05:51


Two British soldiers were missing Monday after vehicles they were traveling in were attacked in southern Iraq, British defense officials said.

The Ministry of Defense said the attack took place on Sunday, but it declined to give details of where the attack happened. "Every effort is being made to find and recover them," the ministry said in a statement.

A spokesman said the ministry was being deliberately vague about the suspected location of the soldiers for safety and operational reasons.

Meanwhile, Baghdad came under bombardment again at about 3:00 am on Monday (0000 GMT). Big explosions could be heard in the city, though the bombing was not precipitated by the usual air raid sirens, and anti-aircraft guns did not go into action.

Elsewhere, coalition forces have found a "huge chemical" weapons factory at An Najaf, some 360 kilometers south of Baghdad, Fox News Channel and ABC News reported Sunday, citing a senior defense official.

Coalition troops are said to be holding the general in charge of the facility, the networks said. But a Pentagon spokesman called the reports "premature," saying: "We are looking into sites of interest."

Pentagon officials so far have said that no weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq since the US-led war was launched on Baghdad early Thursday. (Albawaba.com)

[BurbankKarl]

The former weapons inspector Scott Ritter said the find was likely to be "much ado about nothing". However, the claim came as British troops, mopping up Iraqi opposition outside Basra, also discovered cruise missiles and warheads hidden inside fortified bunkers.

[meisterbrewer]

What, then, would be holding back the Iraqi army from using them? Nothing.

Seriously, if I were in the chain-of-command that made decisions about what to release, and I thought there was even a chance that releasing this information might remove a barrier to WMD use, I would not let anyone say anything until AFTER we took down the regime. But, with embedded reporters, its hard to control info. There is only so much you can do.

My guess is, the initial report was correct, then the Pentagon say heavily on the reporter and "explained" the situation to him/her.