Reports: Iraq Could Use Chemical Weapons on U.S. (red line around Baghdad)

Reuters ^ | March 24th, 2003

[Sabertooth]

Reports: Iraq Could Use Chemical Weapons on U.S.

Mon March 24, 2003 07:13 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. officials say the Iraqi leadership has drawn "a red line" around the map of Baghdad and once American troops cross it Iraqi Republican Guards have been authorized to use chemical weapons, CBS reported on Monday.

The report, by National Security correspondent David Martin in Washington, did not name the U.S. officials or give any further details.

The NBC network also reported that chemical weapons would be used against U.S. troops in Baghdad.

The reports were not confirmed. Reuters was checking the Pentagon for any information on the reports.

U.S. war commander General Tommy Franks said at a news conference in central command in Qatar earlier that his forces had not found weapons of mass destruction, but that it was "a bit early" to expect them to.

American and British invasion forces hit Iraqi Republican Guards defending the approaches to Baghdad on the fifth day of the war Monday.

The Pentagon said U.S. forces had advanced more than 200 miles into Iraqi territory and were beginning to confront an elite division of the Republican Guards deployed to defend the capital.

[Brownie74]

From what I am hearing on TV we are closing in on Baghdad. (The red circle)

Heavy sandstorms are going to limit operations on both sides for the next 2 to 4 days.

After that I wouldn't put anything past Saddam.

[MeekOneGOP]

I tell ya, I'm still convinced Hans could have inspected them into compliance . . . < /sarcasm > < / France > < /Russia > < /Hans > < /Kofi > < /AnybodyElseThatGetsInOurWay >

[SubMareener]

Heavy sandstorms are going to limit operations on both sides for the next 2 to 4 days.

Heavy sandstorms will also make Bio and Chemical weapons relatively in effective. But, the sun is always shining at 30,000 feet! ;-)

[Right_in_Virginia]

May God bless and protect the brave fighting men and women of America, Britain and all coalition forces.

[jwalsh07]

I believe our troops are as prepared as they can be.

If the commanders are doing their job, which I'm sure they are, then they will have to setup decon stations with plenty of water available. The Euphrates would be a fine source but they have to have the tankers and the pumps ready to go.

The logistics would necessarily involve large amounts of replacement BDU's, weapons and ammo depending on the amount of CB delivered.

Praying that don't have to deal with it though.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Any ideas anyone?

This MOAB's for you?

[Fury]

Heavy sandstorms are going to limit operations on both sides for the next 2 to 4 days.

Why does this not favor the Blue side? We have superior technology and with heavy winds, would that not be to our advantage with dispersing chemical and biological agents, depending on wind direction, etc?

[chainsaw]

May God bless and protect the brave fighting men and women of America, Britain and all coalition forces.

My prayers, my heart, and my tears go with them.

Vaya con el dios, soldados valientes.

[Ken H]

I heard the US proposed a French air reconaissance unit for US troops called "The Canaries".

[Sabertooth]

Iraqis 'set chemical war trigger'
By staff writers and AFP
March 25, 2003

THE Iraqis have drawn a red line around a map of Baghdad and are ready to unleash chemical weapons when coalition troops cross it, an American TV network has reported.

CBS said its correspondent David Martin had been told of the threat by US officials.

He said Saddam's Husseins Republican Guards were authorised to use chemical weapons once the Allies reached the line.

Earlier today, a separate report, quoting a senior American official said Iraqi commanders had been authorised to use chemical weapons against Shiite Muslims in the south of the country and blame the attacks on US forces.

The State Department official said reports led Washington to believe Saddam had given the authority to one of his top generals, Ali Hassan al-Majid, who is also known as Chemical Ali.

He was blamed for the poison gas attack 15 years ago in the Kurdish town of Halabja.

"We have reports that would indicate the Iraqis intend to or could use chemical weapons in the south," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

"Chemical Ali, the general who carried out the Halabja massacre, is reported to have authority to use chemical weapons against the Shia and then try to blame it on us."

Today's reports come after US Apache helicopters fired on Republican Guard positions to soften them up for ground forces heading north to Baghdad.
LINK

[Ken H]

One of the questions addressed to General Franks in his first press conference was, "What will happen if the Iraqis use Chemical Weapons?

Franks replied confidently, "We win."

What did Franks mean? Besides the obvious public relations win, I think there was something else to his answer. Any ideas anyone?

I think he just meant that the US knew going in that these weapons might be used and that they're ready for such an event.

[lasereye]

I wonder if we've got any plans to fool the Iraqis about the location of our units especially at night when an attack would begin. I seem to recall in WWII there were fake tank formations including sound effects etc. to fool the Germans.

[lasereye]

Today's reports come after US Apache helicopters fired on Republican Guard positions to soften them up for ground forces heading north to Baghdad.

I don't understand why we didn't drop B52 payloads on their positions. Or did we?

[TLBSHOW]

We need to bomb bagrag back to the stone age.

[RightOnGOP]

Well, actually, we are not supposed to precisely know where any of these troops are..........this info might be helpful (interesting) to us as we follow along, but devastating in the hands of the enemy. (If I've misinterpreted your question, pardon!)

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

do it Iraq and you better get some of this



apply repeatedly prior to kissing your ass goodbye

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!