FAS (Fed Am Scientist) Report: Iraqi Precursor Chemicals Stored Separately for Weapon-side Mixing

FAS.org ^ | Federation of American Scientists

[HatSteel]

The sarin produced was also of poor quality (maximum purity of 60 per cent when solvent is taken into account) and so too could only be stored for short periods. In order to overcome this problem, Iraq resorted to a binary approach to weaponization: the precursor chemicals for sarin (DF 2/ and the alcohols cyclohexanol and isopropanol) were stored separately for mixing in the munitions immediately prior to use to produce a mixture of two G-series nerve agents, GB and GF. Given that the locally manufactured DF had a purity of more than 95 per cent and the alcohols were imported and of 100 per cent purity, this process could be expected to yield relatively pure sarin.

[HatSteel]

There is no doubt regarding the Iraqi use of wmd's prior to Gulf War I, nor is there any doubt that Iraqi wmd's were found/admitted in the Unscom period.

Weapon-side mixing, missile-side mixing, just-in-time productions --- whatever you choose to call it --- would be an excellent strategy for Hussein who never wanted to get caught with provable chemical weapons.

That is why we should look for the PRECURSOR chemicals and NOT JUST for the pure CHEMICAL WEAPON.

That is why we should begin to educate the American public on this issue.

Incidentally, that is why there also are MOBILE anthrax labs. They never had stocks. Instead, the point was just-in-time, missile-side production of their deadly agent.

[MizSterious]

The regular media and the Bush-haters will probably ignore this--as they have the roving chem labs, the mustard and sarin in the Tigris River, and other WMD finds (that they keep insisting were never found).

[HatSteel]

In the same way that DESKSIDE PUBLISHING made the home computer such a revolutionary tool, so has WEAPONSIDE MIXING made chemical/biological weaponry the easiest WMD to deny the existence of by a guilty country. Missile-side mixing. Just-in-time production

[HatSteel]

Why don't you post what links you have or can remember/research? I've always found the threads which compile links to be really useful.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"WEAPONSIDE MIXING made chemical/biological weaponry the easiest WMD to deny the existence of by a guilty country. Missile-side mixing. Just-in-time production."

Yeah, especially when the precursors are so benign. Isopropanol = rubbing alcohol. I have WMD in my bathroom cabinet!

[HatSteel]

ping

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for finding this and posting it.

[HatSteel]

Of course you realize that other chemicals are used in addition to the alcohols. The question is this: what ingredients are necessary? What is the mixing process? How long does it take?

The other serious precursor chemicals are plausibly denied as insecticide or drug production.

[Grampa Dave]

A few weeks ago, I posted reply to one of our threads that it was very obvious that the Iraqis with their mobile chem 101 labs had a matrix/template of how to make WMDs on demand.

The mobile lab would drive up to a hidden missile or artillery site, the precursors from pesticides to herbicides would be in barrels by the missile/artillery.

The Iraqi Chem 101 grads would make the bad stuff. It would be transfered to the missiles/shells.

Then, the Mobile Chem 101 Lab would drive away to the next site.

[HatSteel]

No problem. If the process required, say, 10 chemicals that are otherwise not violations; how long would it take the US military (if they had such a program) to bring 10 chemicals from separate sites to various specific sites that also had delivery systems for wmds?

If you have 100 delivery sites, you'd need 1000 vehicles, a coordination plan, and a recipe for mixing on site, and perhaps, machinery/technology for mixing on site.

[Grampa Dave]

More than likely the products needed would be at the site or close by in the basement of a hospital. One truck could get the material from there to the site if needed.

First, they would get the barrels there. Then the mobile chem 101 lab would show up. The stuff would be processed and transferred. The mobile chem lab would probably leave and the trained post chem lab guys would load the stuff into the containers of the missiles/shells.

Massive amounts of the finalized product would not be necessary. A couple of barrels of final product would be enough for that site.

Remember all of those WMD suits that were found all over Iraq in the early part of the war. This is why they were stored all over.

[HatSteel]

However they organized it, it really wouldn't be that hard to do. It also makes perfect sense in terms of avoiding detection. It is a program that turns the legal into the illegal in a matter of hours. It's the perfect get-around.

[Grampa Dave]

You nailed it with this last reply of yours: However they organized it, it really wouldn't be that hard to do. It also makes perfect sense in terms of avoiding detection. It is a program that turns the legal into the illegal in a matter of hours. It's the perfect get-around.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Well sure. My point is that, as far as the NY Times is concerned, the most we'll find will be a barrel of "rubbing alcohol" and a barrel of "insecticide" and maybe some "baby milk".

[Ben Hecks]

"The Iraqi Chem 101 grads would make the bad stuff. It would be transfered to the missiles/shells."

Unless I'm mistaken, I think we found "mixing" equipment at a site along with missiles. The missiles used liquid propellants - UDMH and nitrogen tetroxide.....which are NOT mixed prior to fueling the missile therefore the mixing equipment had another purpose.

[HatSteel]

Excellent points. I just missed them the first time around. :>) (My wife says you gotta hit me in the head before I "get it.")

[HatSteel]

I remember that, too. You don't recall the links for that, do you?

[Grampa Dave]

I think that you are correct.

SOS Powell spent a lot of time at the UN documenting and showing pictures of the suspected Mobile Labs during his UN session.

At that time, I thought, "Why is he spending so much time on this!"

Now we know.

[prairiebreeze]

We also have found several suspicious missiles / munitions with plugs in the end for instilling substances. Some of them with up to three plugs, Russian made. Might fit with the one-stop mobile lab approach.

Prairie