IRAQI CHEMICAL WARFARE KIT FOUND

The Sentinel ^ | 12:00 - 29 March 2003

[Freedomsfriend]

Battlefield intelligence increasingly points to the possibility the Iraqis might use chemical weapons, US officials said last night. Iraqi troops have been spotted between US and Iraqi battle lines wearing full chemical outfits, hoods, gloves and boots, US officials familiar with military planning and intelligence said.

This gear would allow them to survive on a battlefield where chemical weapons were employed.

Some were also seen unloading 50-gallon drums from trucks. US intelligence is unsure what is in the drums, but officials are concerned.

The officials noted US intelligence has determined Iraqi troops are carrying antidotes for chemical attacks.

These two disclosures have raised fears of a chemical attack on allied troops, who have been told to be ready to don chemical gear on a moment's notice.

Chemical-protective suits have been found at other battle sites taken by US and British forces. However, they have not reported finding any chemical weapons in their push toward Baghdad.

The information comes as allied forces continue to bomb units of Iraq's Republican Guard, which intelligence believes are most likely to be equipped with chemical weapons.

These include artillery shells and rockets that can hit targets within a few dozen miles.

Saddam has arrayed most of his Republican Guard units around Baghdad, officials say. Of his six divisions - each numbering between 10,000 and 12,000 troops - three encircle Baghdad.

A fourth is mostly at Tikrit, Saddam's hometown, to the north of Baghdad A fifth is further north to oppose the Kurds a sixth is at Kut, south-east of Baghdad.

The units' stockpiles are believed to include sarin, cyclosarin and VX, as well as First World War era mustard gas, US officials said.

[Faraday]

US intelligence is unsure what is in the drums, but officials are concerned.

You don't suppose it's salt water taffy?

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

If Saddam dares to use chemicals or biological weapons, Takrit will become a smoking hole in the ground!

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Tomato Sauce?

[Bernard]

Let's not forget that Harry Truman had to make a difficult decision 58 years ago, about the loss of life using conventional warfare methods compared to the alternative. We spent decades after that in the cold war, and now we are at the brink of a new age, where WMD may soon be used live on CNN. Alas Babylon!

[MEG33]

Lousiana hot sauce

[netmilsmom]

Hommous.

[Russell Scott]

MOAB will turn those chem weapons into the one thing this regime has an endless supply of, hot air!

[U S Army EOD]

I still say the biggest indicator that chemical warfare is coming is the civilians buying up canaries. This means that Iraqi soldiers have been telling their families to be ready. Sooner or later its coming. I wonder if the human shields have gas mask?

[tazman3]

/CNN BS on

It's water for the troops! or Gas for the tanks in defense of the innocent people of Iraq! Couldn't be anything else. Those Chem suit are just in case WE use chem weapons. DUH! I know the French, Germans, and Russians would agree with me. Nobody else would. Maybe the muslims but I won't go there.

I doubt they would be any good if we NUKE them after they 'accidently fire' a chem warhead they don't have at out troops.

/ CNN BS off

[Bubba_Leroy]

Some were also seen unloading 50-gallon drums from trucks.

I certainly hope that they were then seen getting their butts bombed off.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Aren't most chemical agents and biotoxins rendered inert after the ambient air has been raised to a temperature of 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit?

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

...now we are at the brink of a new age

[gortklattu]

OH, sunrise over Baghdad!

[gortklattu]

Who is that? Monot-Yanni?

[r9etb]

Chemical-protective suits have been found at other battle sites taken by US and British forces. However, they have not reported finding any chemical weapons in their push toward Baghdad.

Just because they haven't "reported" anything doesn't mean they haven't found anything.

[Bob J]

Hussein is not stupid enough to use chemical weapons. World opinion would immediately turn harshly against him, vindicate the US and GB, humiliate France and Germany including their toadie Blix, and create a justification for scorched earth tactics from the coalition.

Hussein's WMD are well hidden in underground bunkers. He is creating these false scenes so the US will report them and look silly when they don't pan out. Hussein is drawing the coalition into a seige of Baghdad where he can use time and daily scenes of starving Iraqi children to influence public opinion, which will force Bush to a cease fire and negotiations that end up keeping the Baathe party in power...and in control of their WMD.

Reports have already been made about Hussein spiriting his people and family out of Iraq and into Syria, who will offer polical asylum at the critical moment. Saddam will negotiate a move to Syria where he will continue to pull the strings of the puppets left in power in Baghdad.

[Zipporah]

You think Saddam cares what opinion is outside of the middle east? I honestly do not.. he and they would justify it.. THEY asked for it as they started this.. blah blah yada yada.

[templar]

You don't suppose it's salt water taffy?

No, but it could be just empty drums. To keep our attention diverted and looking in the wrong direction.

[templar]

Hussein is not stupid enough to use chemical weapons

Then why would he be even more stupid to waste resources making weapons he had no intention of ever using? No one has ever thought as some kind of MAD deterrent against the U.S. as far as I know. And a MAD deterrent weapon would have to have credible and open possession and threat to use it to be worthwhile.