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

MSNBC | 3/23/03

[halfdome]

The Pentagon has said that the media's portrayal of a chemical weapons plant are pre-mature.

[meisterbrewer]

I like the Palestinians who are characterizing the plant as a "pesticide storage facility." Guarded by 30-some Iraqi troops, 2 generals, and an electric fence. They must have some MEAN mosquitos over there!

There is going to be a significant problem in confirming any of this to those that don't want to accept Hussein was producing chem weapons. The problem is, many of these facilities are "dual use", which means they can produce perfectly legal products most of the time, and with a slight modification, can be turned into weapons producing facitilites. All the Iraqis have to do is claim it was only being used for legal chemicals and the dupes will believe anything Iraq has to say. (Ironically, these are the same idiots that won't believe ANYTHING US officials have to say.

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

[hole_n_one]

Chemical weapon find report 'premature': US

[LibertyThug]

No one asked you to stick the story in the face of anyone until it's verified.

Usually, a person hears of something, posts it, it is discussed, and then
repeated to Blix after it is verified.

[CougarGA7]

"All chemical plants in Iraq make only salt for de-icing our highways"

Why dont they just sand the roads for de-icing? They have a ton of that sh!* and it doesn't require a 100 acre, camoflagued, guarded, chemical facility like salt manufacturing apparently does. /sarcasm off/

[abner]

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

Same ol', same ol' smoking gun or no, the sides have been drawn, and it will be tough to get anyone to budge.

Personally, I don't need any more evidence.

[socal_parrot]

Tip of the iceberg. As we get closer to Baghdad, we'll find much more.

[WKB]

"They" will say we should given Blixy, Pixy and Dixie more time.

[Terriergal]

Good one.

[Jean S]

Thanks for the link.
Jean

[Durtrider]

<> Reporter who broke the story that the Pentagon has not confirmed yet. Mar. 24, 2003 US TROOPS CAPTURE CHEMICAL PLANT By CAROLINE GLICK About 30 Iraqi troops, including a general, surrendered Sunday to US forces of the 3rd Infantry Division as they overtook huge installation apparently used to produce chemical weapons in An Najaf, some 150 kilometers (90 miles) south of Baghdad. Asked to confirm The Jerusalem Post's exclusive coverage of this development, US Lt. Gen. John Abizaid, Deputy Commander of Central Command, told reporters: "I'm not going to confirm that report, but we have one or two generals officers who are providing us with information." Other US officials have since confirmed that the site is indeed a suspected chemical weapons factory. One soldier was lightly wounded when a booby-trapped explosive went off as he was clearing the sheet metal-lined chemical weapons production facility. The huge 100-acre complex, which is surrounded by a electrical fence, would be the first illegal chemical plant to be uncovered by US troops in their current mission in Iraq. The surrounding barracks resemble an abandoned slum. It wasn't immediately clear exactly which chemicals were being produced here, but clearly the Iraqis tried to camouflage the facility so it could not be photographed aerially, by swathing it in sand-cast walls to make it look like the surrounding desert. Within minutes of our entry into the camp on Sunday afternoon, at least 30 Iraqi soldiers and their commanding officer of the rank of General, obeyed the instructions of US soldiers who called out from our jeep in loudspeakers for them to lie down on the ground, and put their hands above their heads to surrender.

[Antoninus]

This is beginning to get uncomfortable. I think even Hollywood is beginning to sense the seriousness

Uncomfortable? No one expected a "comfortable" victory with no casualties. The Iraqis had months if not years to prepare for this. We are going to take losses--it's a war and our soldiers, valiant heros though they be, are still human.

Relax. The final outcome is not in doubt. In football terms, we're ahead 28-2 in the first quarter. Don't let that safety get you down.

V

[xm177e2]

Bullsh-t. The Pentagon hasn't "backpedalled" on anything. Unnamed sources say there is a chemical plant on a 100-acre plot, surrounded by an electric fence, camoflauged from the air, with a 30 soldiers surrenderring inside--including an Iraqi general! If even half of that is true, it would be an extremely suspicious plant. That is the first; this new plant discovered is the second.

[yukong]

And besides, I thought salt was mined, and not manufactured. Did I miss something in chemistry 101?

[PianoMan]

I guess what the Pentagon said is true - those Iraqi commanders in charge of the first plant ARE talking

[TheSpottedOwl]

Iraqi radio says "All chemical plants in Irac make only salt for de-icing our highways"

Took me a minute to get that. Hehehe, I'm thinking they make all of the soap for france...french milled ya know...

[rwfromkansas]

Let's not get carried away. The first has not been confirmed by the Pentagon as a CHEMICAL WEAPONS...just a factory of some sort.

[rwfromkansas]

they did...where?

[Maedhros]

I can't claim credit.

[CougarGA7]

I was always under the impression the NaCl was a very common, natural occuring substance.

Is it just me or is the Iraqi information ministry full of crap?