Drones hint at Iraq weapons delivery - Pilotless planes could release toxic payloads

SF Chronicle ^ | 9-5-02 | Joby Warrick

[Oldeconomybuyer]

In the waning hours of Operation Desert Fox in 1998, a British missile sheared off the top of a military hangar in southern Iraq and exposed a closely guarded secret. Plainly visible in the rubble was a new breed of Iraqi drone aircraft -- one that defense analysts now believe was specially modified to spread deadly chemicals and germs.

[Ragirl]

Oh, but Iraq is not a threat to the US and its allies after years of sanctions.

[RoughDobermann]

Origin: Czechoslovakia
Type: tandem two-seat basic and advanced jet trainer
Max Speed: 655 km/h / 407 mph
Max Range 640 km / 397 miles
Dimensions: span 10.29 m / 33 ft 9 in
length 10.81 m / 35 ft 5.5 in
height 3.13 m / 10 ft 3 in
Weight: empty 2280 kg / 5,027 Ib ; maximum take-off 3280 kg / 7,231 Ib
Powerplant: one 1,960-lb (890-kg) Motorlet M 701 VC-150 or S-50 turbojet
Armament: provision for two 7.62-mm gun pods, two 220-lb (100-kg) bombs, eight air-to-surface rockets or two drop-tanks, on pylon under each wing

[Diogenesis]

They should be nuked to eliminate their smallpox, anthrax, and WMD
BEFORE they use this evil on our brave troops.

[wretchard]

The Europeans have bet the farm on appeasement in order to protect what a hollow defense establishment beggared by years of parsimony cannot. A commitment to unlimited Islamic immigration, "open borders", a lack of a European federal police coupled with a dismantling of military capability means that they now have no choice but to avoid angering the Islamists.

America can take a tough line because it has the horses to duke it out, but what defense has Europe against intermediate range missiles, chemical weapons and a biological attack? None. Not even a retaliatory capability.

One can understand why Europe wants the US to pipe down and avoid stirring up a hornet's nest. They've already traded their freedom for a little more foi gras and wine. Why can't the US be reasonable and put on its shackles like a nice civilized person?

[maica]

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec1998/t12201998_t1219coh.html

Very interesting link to the briefing by SecDef Cohen and Gen Shelton at the close of Operation Desert Fox.
4 days, many cruise missiles, and piloted bombing raids. They thought Saddam was a threat then. They claim to have 'degraded' his ability to harm his neighbors; not 'destroyed' it.

I wish I could link some of Cohen's statements, but my computer skills are not adequate.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

One can understand why Europe wants the US to pipe down and avoid stirring up a hornet's nest.

The hornets of radical Islam are going to attack in spite of Europe's appeasement. September 11, 2001, proved that we are already in the final battle for civilization. There is now no safe place. We fight or we die.

[Prodigal Son]

Everybody needs to be aware of this. Not just for going to war with Iraq, but simply to drive the point home in the mind of each and every one of us the murderous devotion of the jihadi. They want to destroy us. Beethoven's Ninth- gone. Our missions to the moon- gone, erased from history. All our triumphs, our literature, our art, our language, our entire culture- destroyed, gone, lost....

This is what they want. To be replaced with daily executions and amputations in the soccer stadium. Will the world be safer for your grandchildren because of your involvement or more dangerous for them because of your complacency and lack of outrage?

[MissAmericanPie]

bttt