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To: AmericanInTokyo
Also, didn't he have chem/bio stashed near the border with Syria? Al Quayum? Excerpt from old article (U.K. Telegraph)




Saddam's poison gas kills 20 of his men
By Jessica Berry
(Filed: 02/09/2001)


AT least 20 specially-trained Iraqi soldiers are dead and up to 200 have been admitted to hospital after taking part in a chemical weapons exercise that went wrong.


Curbing BaghdadUnited Nations workers prepare to destroy Sarin tipped Iraqi rockets in 1988
News of the training accident emerged last week amid concerns that Saddam Hussein has rebuilt his chemical weapons arsenal. The soldiers, based in the Zaafarnia region south of Baghdad, were suffering from severe respiratory problems, according to intelligence received from Iraq.

A diplomat said: "They were training in the Al Suwayrah and Basmaya camps three months ago. We know that the accident has not stopped the training. Fresh soldiers were brought in soon after." The Al Suwayrah camp has been rebuilt since it was attacked in February by American and British aircraft.

Saddam last used chemical weapons against the Kurds in March 1988 at Halabjah causing thousands of injuries. In December 1998, American and British warplanes mounted Operation Desert Fox in an attempt to destroy Iraq's chemical weapons capability.

However, evidence surfaced last week that Iraqi scientists are working around the clock to rebuild the Iraqi leader's conventional weapons and self-defence arsenal as well as his chemical capability.

In the past three months, eight military factories have begun working at almost full strength. The most significant, in the unpopulated Syrian border area of Al Qayem, is said to be building chemical weapons and missiles.

A Western military observer said: "The Al Qayem base has only recently expanded. It has just passed under the total control of Saddam's son and heir Qusay. To ensure total secrecy, each scientist has been hand-picked by Qusay."

23 posted on 04/03/2003 12:20:16 PM PST by jerseygirl
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To: jerseygirl
The most significant, in the unpopulated Syrian border area of Al Qayem, is said to be building chemical weapons and missiles.

Thanks for posting this amazing report. Did Blixie and his inspectors ever look in Al Qayem?

31 posted on 04/03/2003 12:30:58 PM PST by PoisedWoman (Fed up with the liberal media)
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