Posted on 06/01/2013 9:08:53 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Iraq uncovers al-Qaeda 'chemical weapons plot'
The authorities in Iraq say they have uncovered an al-Qaeda plot to use chemical weapons, as well as to smuggle them to Europe and North America.
Defence ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Askari said five men had been arrested after military intelligence monitored their activities for three months.
Three workshops for manufacturing the chemical agents, including sarin and mustard gas, were uncovered, he added.
Remote-controlled toy planes were also seized at the workshops.
Mr Askari said they were to have been used to release the chemical agents over the target from a "safe" distance of 1.5km (0.9 miles), reports the BBC's Rami Ruhayem in Baghdad.
All of the arrested men had confessed to the plot, and said they had received instruction from another al-Qaeda offshoot, he added.
As the defence ministry spokesman spoke on Iraqi TV, footage was shown of four men with black hoods on their heads, our correspondent adds. Three of them were wearing bright yellow jumpsuits and a fourth was in a brown jumpsuit.
Their arrests were possible because of co-operation between Iraqi and foreign intelligence services, Mr Askari said. Chlorine bombs
Al-Qaeda in Iraq is believed the only offshoot of the Islamist militant network to have used chemical weapons.
It detonated a 16 crude chlorine bombs in Iraq between October 2006 and June 2007.
Chlorine inhalation made many hundreds of people sick, but no deaths resulting from exposure to the chemical were recorded, US officials said at the time. Instead, the bomb blasts are believed to have caused the fatalities.
At the time, US officials said al-Qaeda appeared to want to use debilitating agents like chlorine in their bombs to cause casualties beyond those hit by the initial explosion.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Geeze, I kinda took that speech as a surrender.
Barry meant it’s only over as far as the fighting goes. His speech was given from the parking lot of Toys-R-Us where he purchased remote control planes for immediate shipment.
Impoverished, ignorant, unenlightened Muslims will hate America until their dying breath. They are numerous and cross all borders.They don’t need any central authority to operate. Eternal vigilance is necessary. What Americans don’t seem to grasp is that the terrorists have no legal or moral restraints and will do virtually anything to cause mahem. The West however is restrained by the rule of law and the whims of its leaders. Find it odd that Obama can stand a third trimester abortion but not waterboarding.
Mustard is a fantastic terror weapon, and extremely difficult to guard against.
Chemical holocaust, and the muslims will love it. Just wait.
Darn good thing we’ve got Napolitano as our Homeland Security Chief.
The borders have never been safer and there are no Muslim terrorists over here/sarc
We have been fortunate that most of the muslims that are evil enough to inflict death on innocents are complete morons. If intelligent and educated individuals were to pursue this terror route, then we would have real problems. In fact if the islamists push things too far, some smart and desperate individuals may start to really strike back.
We already have hundreds, if not thousands of terrorist cells here, hiding in plain sight. When they get their “go orders” from Iran, America’s “soft targets” will get a terrible beating. The Beslan School Massacre will become the ‘new normal’, until thousands of us find, root them out and kill them. And the DHS and DoInJ will take the murderous, subhuman muslims/islamists filth’s side, as will 0traitor.
“Remote-controlled toy planes were also seized at the workshops.”
I’m expecting a ban on remote controlled toys. All you’d have to do to take down a plane is fly one close to the engine inlets with an explosive on board. You don’t even have to get dead on target as the engine will likely suck it in without it being really close.
The little trucks could be used to deliver remotely activated bombs.
Soon as I stop barfing I can start laughing...or crying.
But there are no WMDs in Iraq. Everybody knows that.
Question: How would you even get a toy RC plane within miles a plane traveling 150+ knots on the ground let alone in the air?
“Question: How would you even get a toy RC plane within miles a plane traveling 150+ knots on the ground let alone in the air?”
You’d go to the airport runway and catch it on takeoff or landing. Remember, you’ve got a chunk of explosives onboard.
I assume you’re talking about a jet liner.
Here in Las Vegas you can park and watch jets take off from McCarran on Sunset Rd, puts you about 300 yds away.
There is no way you could even get an RC plane close let alone a remote chance of succeeding.
It would be like hitting a bulls eye with with a pellet gun at a 100 yrds.
“It would be like hitting a bulls eye with with a pellet gun at a 100 yrds.”
At our local airport you can get much closer. But I pray you’re correct. The point is that I think it would be fairly easy to weaponize toys because the toys are awesomely capable.
Meh, I just don’t see it.
Not only is it improbable, it’s too easy to get caught.
“Not only is it improbable, its too easy to get caught.”
Everything is improbable until it happens and people willing to blow themselves up are not concerned about getting caught. 9/11 was improbable too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.