Iraqi regime reportedly plans attacks with WMD from the air

Kuwait News Agency ^ | KUNA

[#1CTYankee]

The Iraqi regime is equipping aircraft with weapons of mass destruction to attack coalition forces that have reached approaches of the embattle Iraqi capital of Baghdad, according to Iraqi opposition sources.

The well-informed sources said the regime prepared several warplanes, including MIGs, Mirages and Sukhois to attack the attacking forces when they reach a certain line close to the heart of Baghdad.

These warplanes are being equipped with chemical and biological weapons to attak the coalition forces in the event they reach some sensitive axes of the city, the sources told KUNA.

They said that Saddam Hussein would order such attack when he feels that his safety is threatened.

The coalition commanders have affirmed that the allied warplanes have supremacy of the skies over Baghdad.

[Moby Grape]

I have been considering this as a possiblity for days...from the start of the war, I have been wondering why NO Iraqi planes have taken to the sky....they still had their other war machines in the battles, and didn't seem to mind that they were all getting destroyed, so why would they car that their planes got shot down?....I have had the thought that they would wait until our troops are concentrated and bring out the air force with chemical weapons...of course, I pray it is not true.

[scott7278]

This is April 3rd.

[wingster]

Where are they gonna take off from?

It ain't gonna be any of their airports. Correction, now our airports!

[CygnusXI]

Understand Saddam.

Saddam IS Iraq
Iraq IS Saddam

If he is to go, Iraq goes too.
Fortunately, he is dead or extremely sleepy (Fletch reference). I don't know if his top guys think like him-- enough to do it.

[Moby Grape]

They may have helicopters underground, or they may use drones.

[holdmuhbeer]

Thats why we have patriot batteries up at the front too.

[aristeides]

Rashid Military airport is in the southeast of Baghdad, just a few miles from the center of town.

[aristeides]

Bahgdad has 3 airfields that the Iraqis could strike from.

Maybe now would be a good time to heavily bomb the runways.

[DannyTN]

"I don't know if his top guys think like him-- enough to do it. "

Hopefully not, but his sons if they are alive might.

[mattdono]

Well, that is a good question, isn't it?

I don't know. I can only hope that we can. I think that we can. Needless to say, it is one of those hypotheticals that I would like our troops to be prepared for, but never have to confront.

[Goodman26]

I think they could get a pilot to do just about anything including suicidal attacks. Like with the people trying to run our checkpoints, they just round up the pilot's kids and say, if dad flys the kids get lots of money, if dad doesn't fly, the kids die.

How did Saddam distribute the gas against the Kurds. Aircraft, artillary shells, vehicles driving around with crop sprayers...?

[#1CTYankee]

"How did Saddam distribute the gas against the Kurds. Aircraft, artillary shells, vehicles driving around with crop sprayers...?

Artillery shells.

After some episodes where they gassed their own troops they became quite adept.
Knowing topographical locations and weather conditions are essential

[veryconernedamerican]

fat chance of planes flying over from syria, can you say fireball as it crosses the border and act of war at the same time.

[veryconernedamerican]

ultralights can take off from any field, they fly slow as to disperse well, this is the danger we face.

[raw_nerve]

I'm more concerned that he will go way behind his enemy lines, and use these WMDs on the US population. What does he have to lose? If he has agents here in the US, that would cause the most damage.

[Scarlet_Pimpernil]

Drones...
Think your right. Hans Blix found those drones (the ones he buried in the report and deleted from the US's copy) designed for spraying chem bio agents. They are essentially less sophisticated predator aircraft that can be launched without an airfield, essentially fired like a missile.
Still, they need to control them and I'm sure we have denied them any means to do that with our jammers and e-bombs etc.

[El Gato]

I heard on the radio 45 minutes ago that we have control of the Baghdad airport.

That would be Saddam International, there are a couple of other, purely military, fields in Greater Baghdad. One is right "downtown". Of course it's runways and taxiways probably resemble a bowl of lumpy oatmeal by now. It's hangers and other facilities just so much smoking ruin.

[HamiltonJay]

They'll be destroyed the minute that take off... if this story is true at all...

If this regime has a last gasp of defiance it will be a WMD against itself... IE releasing WMD throughout Baghdad (if we can't have it no one can)... a last middle finger to the world.

[veryconernedamerican]

if he is alive i think the coutnry harboring him might have something to say about that, in that we undoubtably know where he is, and would immediately attack that country. we will leave him i assume if he keeps his head down

[jerseygirl]

I hope our people are safe. I was reading an article about Saddam having some kind of fine powder that could pass through chem suits- will try to find the article.