[DittoJed2]

My understanding is that the Russians sold a whole lot of stuff to Iraq and other mid-east nations during the cold war and probably beyond. If these chems were purchased before Saddam had the capability of making his own, they could easily have been stored up as well. Saddam's capability has increased since Desert Storm, but I think he is still behind Russia and is DEFINATELY behind the US.

[Poohbah]

My understanding is that the Russians sold a whole lot of stuff to Iraq and other mid-east nations during the cold war and probably beyond. If these chems were purchased before Saddam had the capability of making his own, they could easily have been stored up as well. Saddam's capability has increased since Desert Storm, but I think he is still behind Russia and is DEFINATELY behind the US.

Actually, Saddam wanted to buy chemicals from Russia, but got turned down during the Cold War. That's why he worked so hard to get his own.

Seems Ivan didn't want to take a chance on non-controlled terrorists getting ahold of Russian chemicals and using them in Western Europe. That might have been enough to start World War III back in those days.