US Said To Find Iraq Nerve Agent Traces

AP/Yahoo ^ | 4-27-2003 | Louis Meixler

[blam]

U.S. Said to Find Iraq Nerve Agent Traces

By LOUIS MEIXLER, Associated Press Writer

BAIJI, Iraq - U.S. troops found about a dozen 55-gallon drums in an open field near this northern Iraqi town, and initial tests indicated one of them contained a mixture of a nerve agent and mustard gas, an American officer said Sunday.

Lt. Col. Ted Martin of the 10th Cavalry Regiment said troops went to the site at midnight Friday after having been alerted by U.S. Special Forces teams, which were suspicious because of the presence of surface-to-air missiles guarding the area.

A chemical team checked the drums, one of which tested positive for cyclosarin, a nerve agent, and a blister agent which could have been mustard gas, Martin said.

"I am satisfied that it is sarin," Martin said, adding that further tests were being conducted.

Soldiers also found two mobile laboratories that contained equipment for mixing chemicals, but they appeared to have been ransacked by looters, Martin said.

Martin said another chemical team was being sent to the site for further testing. In the meantime, the drums have been covered with sand and are under guard by 10th Cavalry soldiers, he added.

Since the collapse of Saddam Hussein 's regime, there have been several reports of possible chemical weapons finds, none of which are known to have panned out.

Initial tests by Army equipment are designed to favor a positive reading, erring on the side of caution to protect soldiers. Further, more sophisticated tests will be necessary to determine whether the find is evidence of an illegal weapons program.

President Bush ordered the attack on Iraq last month after Saddam refused to acknowledge that he was holding weapons of mass destruction. The Iraqis long insisted that they ended their weapons of mass destruction programs after the 1991 Gulf War

So far, no conclusive evidence of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons have been reported by coalition forces.

"There are many sites that we look into every day, and when we have confirmed positive results we will provide that information," said Capt. Stewart Upton, a Central Command spokesman at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar. "We just want to be very cautious that when we go with the information, that when we release nuclear, biological, or chemical information that we're accurate."

Cyclosarin is a variant of the nerve gas that was used in the 1995 attack on the Tokyo subway system by a doomsday cult, in which 12 people died and thousands were sickened.

Exposure to high amounts may lead to loss of muscle control, twitching, paralysis, unconsciousness, convulsions, coma, and death within minutes

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And I just posted this:

IRAQ: Revealed: How the road to war was paved with lies (From the leftist Independent UK)

[Cap Huff]

"So far, no conclusive evidence of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons have been reported by coalition forces."

At last someone words this more accurately. Usually they say that no conclusive evidence has been found. This more accurately leaves open the very real possibility that the evidence has been found, but not yet reported.

[rwfromkansas]

I did not see the word "trace" in any part of the article but the title. I wonder how much liquid was really in the drums, a trace, or more???

I wish people would stop saying "blister agent" also. It makes it sound like "oh, it gives you some blisters; big deal." Mustard gas is no cakewalk.

[Sacajaweau]

I agree we are LIKELY playing with words something to this effect: Conclusive means A,B,C,D & E have to sign off on them. A, B & C have but D & E are waiting for "the right time".

[1rudeboy]

bttt

[Cap Huff]

I wasn't so much thinking about the word "conclusive," but I agree. I was thinking more about "not found" versus "not reported."

[American in Israel]

Arn't all agricultural chemicals guarded with Surface to Air missile systems? DDT is expensive stuff right?
[/sarcasm]

[Samurai_Jack]

I recall in January how Colin Powell went before the Security Council and delivered the evidence of Iraqi:

a. Complicity in Terrorist Schemes
b. Nuclear Programs
c. Chemical Programs
d. Biological Programs
e. Human Rights violations

Before the Security Council delivery there was a big hush regarding the contents of Colin Powells presentation. Not only that but as evidence is collected, it is important that the results and conclusions of these articles of evidence be kept confidential. The greater the impact when the evidence is finally delivered.

I have noticed that as these sites are uncovered there is an initial discovery flurry of news reports, and then silence. Chemical weapons test positive then silence. US Soldier displays symptoms of exposure to nerve agents then silence. High radiation levels discovered at another site then silence. There is a hugh level 'shussher' up there keeping the presentation of evidence under wraps.

The Bush Administration is maintaining the integrity of the data. This administration is known for playing it close to the chest, thats the secret of winning. We are playing to win here arent we?

[El Gato]

What would you say instead of Blister agent which is the term the military uses since it includes mustard and lewisite?

Maybe they should add, such as mustard gas or lewisite.

The problem with the field tests is that they are just not specific enough and will show a positive on things like pesticides.

Relative to nerve agents tests, not blister agent tests, AFAIK. I'm not aware of any agricultural purpose for Mustard gas or Lewisite? Lewisite may have some industrial applications, but not in conjunction with any pesticides.

[whadizit]

TESTS PROVE NEGATIVE AGAIN!!

Just heard that on coast-to-coast news (ABC).

What is going on? I do wish they would JUST SHUT UP unless they get something already tested! My goodness!