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

MSNBC | 3/23/03

[kattracks]

Nothing follows.

[kattracks]

There was a former weapons inspector (not one of Blix's) on MSMBC earlier who said that the first plant the troops found was not inspected by Blix's team. In fact, it wasn't even on the list that Iraq submitted to the UN.

[hole_n_one]

So did anyone actually see the MSNBC report?

I think it's safe to say that kattracks did.

[UncleSamUSA]

The MSNBC reporter Steve Handelsman mentioned a possible second chem weapons site had been found but said they (MSNBC that is) had not had the chance to seek confirmation from their sources.

Whatever the heck that means.

They are interviewing Mr. Combover, the idiotic Iraqi ambassador to the UN right now, so I flipped him the bird and then flipped the channel.

[Aaron0617]

What's the deal with the second facility? Where is it?

Jeannie said Pentagon isn't releasing location of this 2nd site yet.

[Jeff Chandler]

>>For proof beyond a doubt, we are going to have to find actual weapons. I hope we do.


Saddam's thugs maintain such extensive documentation on everything, you'd think they were German. There will be paper proof.

[CatOwner]

Okay, my use of the word backpedeling seems a little extreme (although I swear I heard it on the News report). I would say that catching an Iraqi General in the area was very important.

[abner]

I think it's safe to say that kattracks did.

Ya' think? Yikes! I believe her.

LOL!

[Jeff Chandler]

>>They were talking on Fox also about how the Arab press is already spinning this as a Zionist conspiracy.

The Arab muslim mindset is psychotic.

[Steve_Seattle]

The fact it had a military commander, barracks . . . is suspicious in itself.

I think it is suspicious there were only thirty soldiers there. This could be a ploy to make us look foolish by claiming a fertilizer plant (or whatever) is a chemical weapons site.

[concerned about politics]

If the Pentagon is now backpedaling it is either because they want to wait for official confirmation of what chem weapons it is, or because they got too far out in front of a story that now may have some doubtful elements.

Worse yet, they know what it is, and it's terrifying. (Now I scared myself)

[abner]

Okay, my use of the word backpedeling seems a little extreme (although I swear I heard it on the News report). I would say that catching an Iraqi General in the area was very important.

You are not crazy, you heard 'backpedaling'. I heard it too.

[pgkdan]

There's little doubt that the first is a chemical plant, it's just a question of whether it makes chemical weapons.

They make plastic baby bottles there...that's why there were 2 Iraqi Generals running the place.

[Destro]

Who knows why its camouflaged? During Kosovo Clinton had the military bomb cigarette making factories because we wanted to get at Slobo's business allies or some such thing.

[UncleSamUSA]

Having read this latest news item about Central Command saying the story is "premature" -- I do NOT interpret this as backpedalling.

I think it is an indication that CentCom (which is onsite as opposed to the Pentagon) is the entity in charge of getting people out there to verify the chemicals and that until they can do so, CentComm cannot confirm the weapons.

That means if there is any positive confirmation to come on this story it will come from CentComm reporting on what their field teams report.

[abner]

Worse yet, they know what it is, and it's terrifying. (Now I scared myself)

Ewwwww.... Not a nice thought.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

There was a chemical expert on Fox who said that if it is a chemical factory, we don't want to go charging in willy-nilly. There may be contamination or who-knows-what in there. Gen. David Hunt is saying we have a special task force to go in (probably in HazMat suits). I don't think Iraq has a very vigilant OSHA agency to protect their scientists and workers.

[Destro]

I did not say backpeddle in anyway did I?

[kcvl]

US find chemical weapons factory - reports

5.38AM GMT, 24 Mar 2003

US forces have found what they believe to be a huge chemical weapons factory near the Iraqi city of Najaf, about 100 miles south of Baghdad, according to reports.

The reports also suggest that thirty Iraqi soldiers and their commander surrendered as the factory was seized.

And a second factory is thought to have been found, although officials are not sure yet as to what the factories produce.

Fox News and the Jerusalem Post, which had a reporter travelling with the US forces, cited unidentified Pentagon officials as saying the facility was seized by the First Brigade of the US Army's 3rd Infantry Division as they advanced north toward Baghdad.

The 100-acre sheetmetal-lined complex is adjacent to military barracks and surrounded by an electric fence.

It was not immediately clear what chemicals were being produced at the facility, but reports said the Iraqis had tried to camouflage the facility so it looked like the surrounding desert and would not be spotted from the air.

American ABC News cited one unidentified official as saying of the captured Iraqi general: "He is a potential gold mine of evidence about the weapons Saddam Hussein said he does not have."

Earlier on Sunday, US Lt. Gen. John Abizaid told reporters at Central Command headquarters in Qatar that there had been reports that some Iraqi units in the vicinity of Al Kut "may have some type of chemical weapons."

Abizaid refused to confirm the report about the Najaf discovery.

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

Fox News reported from the United Nations late on Sunday that UN weapons inspectors had been unaware of any factory in the area of Najaf that might be capable of producing chemical weapons, citing a spokesman for the inspectors.

The United States and Britain launched their war on Iraq last week to oust President Saddam Hussein because they said he had stockpiles of banned chemical and biological weapons.

[meisterbrewer]

There was a chemical expert on Fox who said that if it is a chemical factory, we don't want to go charging in willy-nilly.

Since we are all speculating, think about this scary scenario.

Say the Brass believe the only thing holding back the Iraqi military from using chem/bio weapons is that they don't want to give away that they have them.

So, what if we all-of-a-sudden discover a factory that manufactures them and prove it to the whole world, BEFORE we know where all of the actual weapons are.

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

[abner]

I did not say backpeddle in anyway did I?

You didn't, but Bret Baier did.

He had a really long day reporting from the Pentagon. Maybe he is just tired. Why is this even being argued?

I'm going to bed. Night all.