'Proof' of biological weapons found

BBC ^ | March 27th, 2003, 15:31 GMT

[Sabertooth]

'Proof' of biological weapons found

Coalition forces fear Iraq may use chemical weapons

UK troops have found evidence "categorically" proving Iraq is ready to use chemical and biological weapons, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon says.

Mr Hoon said it had first become known from Iraqi PoWs that protective gear had been issued to troops in the south of the country.

But he said fresh evidence turned up over the last few days had proved the regime's willingness to use weapons of mass destruction.

Mr Hoon showed footage of British troops from the Royal Irish Regiment uncovering gas masks and protective suits, said to number more than 100, in a command post in the Rumaila oil field.

US and UK officials have consistently suggested that precautions against chemical and biological attacks among Iraqi soldiers are clear pointers that the regime plans to use such weapons.

Officials argue that precautions were not to counter the threat of coalition attacks, as the Iraqis would know the UK and US forces in the Gulf do not possess chemical and biological weapons.

There's an outside chance [the Iraqis] were preparing for somebody else to use weapons on their troops.

Andy Oppenheimer
Weapons expert

Mr Hoon said: "We do have evidence that the Iraqi regime is prepared to use weapons of mass destruction.

"We already knew from Iraqi prisoners of war that protective equipment was issued to southern Iraqi divisions.

"British forces have made significant discoveries in recent days which show categorically that Iraqi troops are prepared for the use of such horrific weapons.

"I want to make it clear that any Iraqi commander who sanctions the use of such weapons of mass destruction is committing a war crime and will be held personally responsible for his action."

"Paperwork and other equipment" had been found in the command post search, Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Michael Boyce said.

He added: "This kit is effective, well cared for and in good working order."

'Clearly indicative'

Mr Hoon conceded the discovery of the suits was "obviously not conclusive" proof Iraqi forces were set to use chemical or biological weapons.

But he added: "It's clearly indicative of an intention, otherwise why equip his own forces to deal with a threat which he knows we do not have?

"So it must only be to protect his forces from his own use of those weapons which we know he has."

A search in Rumaila turned up 100 suits

Mr Hoon said no non-lethal chemical weapons, such as CS gas, had been used in the campaign and that Britain was fully signed up to the Chemical Weapons Convention which prohibited the use of such weapons in conflict.

On Tuesday US marines said they had found crates full of nuclear, biological and chemical protection suits at a hospital complex near Nasiriya which had been used by Iraqi soldiers.

Andy Oppenheimer, an expert on chemical and biological weapons with Jane's Information Group, said there could feasibly be a number of reasons for Iraq keeping suits, although Mr Hoon's interpretation was the most obvious.

He told BBC News Online: "Everybody is trying to find the smoking gun that wasn't found earlier.

"There's an outside chance [the Iraqis] were preparing for somebody else to use weapons on their troops.

"But neither the US or Britain is supposed to have any of those weapons."

But Mr Oppenheimer said the US was known to have agents that could incapacitate troops.

He added: "You could say the Iraqis want to make it look like they could use a chemical weapon. It could be part of the policy of producing as much disruption as they can."

Anti-aircraft fire

Speaking at a press briefing in the Ministry of Defence, the defence secretary also said it was possible 15 deaths in a Baghdad marketplace could have been caused by Iraqi fire.

"Although investigations continue into this tragic incident, it could clearly have been caused by fallout from the regime's anti-aircraft fire or the failure of one of the regime's own missiles," he said.

He condemned the release of footage of dead British troops and captured POWs.

"This is a flagrant and sickening breach of the Geneva Convention," he said.

"Sadly, this is typical behaviour of Saddam Hussein and his regime."

[kevao]

The proof is in the pudding.

You mean, the "proof" is in the pudding.

[John H K]

We have no bioweapons and I believe we're still in the process of destroying our chemical weapons. We don't have any chemical weapons in theater or near the theater.

[Sabertooth]

I think the title of the article stinks, I pressumed they had actually found the WMD's.

Agreed, that's why I asked that it be pulled from Breaking News. The article doesn't have the meat the headline promises.

[jerseygirl]

Agreement here. Al Jazeera will say deaths were due to SARS.

[ClearCase_guy]

The only evidence they'll accept would be dead Americans or dead Israelis. Even then, it's only a "maybe".

Those dead soldiers with smallpox boils all over their body? That's caused by those depleted uranium shells you eeevil Americans use. Move along, please.

[kegler4]

"We have no bioweapons and I believe we're still in the process of destroying our chemical weapons. We don't have any chemical weapons in theater or near the theater."

As I said in my post I don't personally believe we would have such in the theater. But forgive me if I remain skeptical when I'm told we have no bioweapons -- or at least the capability of putting some together pretty fast.

I do, however, think that most on our side are smart enough to realize that there's no controlling bioweapons if they are released.

[knak]

that's ok, it happens to all of us news junkies!

[blanknoone]

We won't reveal any real proof we find until after the war is over. The claim he doesn't have it is his main reason for not using them. We would try not to take that away from him as this would only encourage their use.

[Carry_Okie]

Getting a little jumpy are we?

Goodness knows why.

[SkyPilot]

Paging Hans Blix---

"These weapons are in VIOLATION of UN Security Counsel Resolutions!!!"

_{Oh my! What a shocker!}

[MeekOneGOP]

Paging Jacque Chirac . . .

See Zee monkey

French Military Victories

Spot the Difference

Separated at birth/one and the same?

[MeekOneGOP]

Whoops ! s/b JacqueS Chirac . . .

Must be Alzheimers setting in. I do that a lot here lately, lol !

[Captain Beyond]

I'm sure the Carmike, AMC, United Artist, Magic Johnson, & Regal theaters are glad of that. 8-)

[GulliverSwift]

You could say the Iraqis want to make it look like they could use a chemical weapon. It could be part of the policy of producing as much disruption as they can."

yeah, that's it. Spend massive amounts of money on 3,000 brand new suits soley to cause disruption.... These liberals will jump through hoops a hundred feet high to protect their man. Kind of sick sent he'd force them to jump through machinary 100 feet high.

[dark_lord]

Strictly speaking, this is proof of nothing. Saddam did not buy all these suits from the Russkies just to fight the USA. I doubt these are all recent purchases - (an assumption, but a likely one.) And so when they were purchased - Saddam was not thinking he was going to be fighting the USA. He probably got them because he has already fought a war with Iran where both sides used chemical weapons. So of course he has suits, masks, and injectors. Even if he doesn't have the weapons, he has to assume the Iranians do.

That said - I'll stand on my head and whistle Yankee Doodle if he doesn't have chemical weapons.

[bassmaner]

As I said in my post I don't personally believe we would have such in the theater. But forgive me if I remain skeptical when I'm told we have no bioweapons -- or at least the capability of putting some together pretty fast.

I do, however, think that most on our side are smart enough to realize that there's no controlling bioweapons if they are released.

You're right, they're very difficult to control once they're released, especially in light of the bad weather conditions in the area. Because of this quality, I believe that it is inaccurate to call chemical and biological weapons "weapons of mass destruction" -- "weapons of mass terror" would be a better description. For that reason alone, it's a safe bet that we DO NOT have any such weapons deployed.

An accurately placed MOAB, or even a nuke, sends a much clearer message to the enemy without risking blowback to our own troops.

[My2Cents]

I also note that they refer to evidence that "categorically" (meaning, "according to the Coalition, but we sincerely doubt it").

I saw the press briefing yesterday from Kuwait by the British Air Minister, and was completely blown-away by how rude and adversarial the British press was to him. It makes US media representatives appear "fair and balanced."

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Saw Hans Blix already making excuses for this gear. Stated it proved nothing.. that for all he knew, they could have the suits to protect themselves from OTHERS using them agianst THEM!!!

Hans Blix needs to keep his worthless mouth shut. He has not even condemned the terrorists in Iraq for the way they are treating POW's..and using women and other citzens as human shields, or even killing them.

What a coward!!

But I'm not surprized..as Saddam Hussein only agreed to inspections if Hans Blix led them!! Blix is Saddam Husseins HAND PICKED weapons inspector!!

Nuff said.

[Victoria Delsoul]

"British forces have made significant discoveries in recent days which show categorically that Iraqi troops are prepared for the use of such horrific weapons.

Good find, Saber. I wish the media would report this more frequently.