U.S-Led Forces Occupy Baghdad Complex Filled With Chemical Agents

New York Times ^ | 4/24/2003 | JUDITH MILLER

[ArcLight]

American-led forces have occupied a vast warehouse complex in Baghdad filled with chemicals where Iraqi scientists are suspected of having tested unconventional agents on dogs within the past year, according to military officers and weapons experts.

The officers and experts declined to comment on the source of the information that led them to the warehouse, given the sensitivity of both the source and current operations.

Weapons experts and officers who have seen the warehouse said it was heavily looted before members of Mobile Exploitation Team Alpha and other allied forces seized and secured it. They described it as filled with broken parts and remnants of equipment consistent with a full-scale laboratory.

This reporter was not permitted to visit the warehouse but heard descriptions of it from Americans who went to the site.

In one portion of the vast warehouse complex were rows of shelves containing chemical precursors and other materials that could be used for both peaceful and military research. Another part of the complex contained the remnants of what Iraqi and Americans said was the laboratory.

Iraqis have told American weapons experts that Iraqi scientists tested various agents on dogs and other animals at this site, the experts said.

There was no immediate way to verify this claim.

[CobraJet]

PETA should immediately denounce Saddam for performing cruel research on animals.

[PoisedWoman]

In one abandoned building still under construction, American weapons experts found liquid chemicals boxed for transport in containers identified as containing "instant full cream milk powder." The cartons were printed in English.

...

One weapons expert familiar with the warehouse said international inspectors could have searched for years in Iraq without seeing any telltale signatures of an unconventional weapons programs or anything particularly suspicious about the warehouse. "Everything we've seen tells us that Iraqis were masters of deception and concealment," he said. "Some of these facilities were hiding in plain sight."

Excellent article by Judith Miller, a rare trustworthy NYT reporter. You don't suppose the Iraqis were trying to fool anyone with milk carton printed in English, do you? They're not only rotten fighters, they're lousy liars.

[AgThorn]

One weapons expert familiar with the warehouse said international inspectors could have searched for years in Iraq without seeing any telltale signatures of an unconventional weapons programs or anything particularly suspicious about the warehouse. "Everything we've seen tells us that Iraqis were masters of deception and concealment," he said. "Some of these facilities were hiding in plain sight."

Kinda says a lot, Mr Blix. Perhaps a little more negative comments directed at Saddam's poor cooperation during your team's time in Iraq, and less complaints about "intelligence" from America, might have made your team more effective.

[MizSterious]

Remember in Gulf War I? The guys wearing t-shirts with "Baby Milk Factory" printed on them--also in English? I believe that was a chem factory we bombed, which Peter Arnett and the Iraqis all claimed was a baby milk factory.

[sam_paine]

Please, if you post an excerpt from a pasworded site, please leaver the freeper courtesy user/pw pair. Annoying/annoying didn't work. I can't remember the others.

[FreePaul]

...Mr Blix. Perhaps a little more negative comments directed at Saddam's poor cooperation during your team's time in Iraq, and less complaints about "intelligence" from America,...

Comrade Blix was getting paid by Iraq either directly or through the UN oil scam. He wasn't about to blow the whistle on Saddam or any of his thugs. Part of the billions that the UN was skimming from the "Oil For Food" was being distributed to those who could help perpetuate the scheme.

[Grut]

The all-important "could" crops up again. Please, God, not another warehouse full of Tide!

[Bigg Red]

Weapons experts and officers who have seen the warehouse said it was heavily looted before members of Mobile Exploitation Team Alpha and other allied forces seized and secured it.


Uh-oh

[alnick]

For NYT user name/password try:

User name: Hildabeast

Password: isaliar

If memory serves, that will get you in. :-)

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

I think we need to allow the embeddeds IN to witness this stuff. If they are willing to take any risk and sign off on that.. then we should let them FILM away..as long as the US CONTROLS when they release the information, in order to protect those who led us there. Just MHO

[Lady In Blue]

Thanks!

[Lady In Blue]

ping

[deport]

Slowly they'll complete the inspection of the hundreds of locations that they've been alerted to as possible WMD sites.... Heck who knows maybe a dog kennel will be the one that breaks things open....

[Utah Girl]

Judith Miller ping

[okie01]

"They're not only rotten fighters, they're lousy liars."

Not so fast. "Baby milk factory" fooled Peter Arnett...

[blackie]

Chemical Agents ... Bump!

Be Ever Vigilant!