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Wednesday, March 26, 2003
OPERATION: IRAQI FREEDOM
U.S. troops capture
chemical warheads?
Report: Russian weapons sent for testing, specialist with Medina unit also nabbed
Posted: March 26, 2003
6:20 p.m. Eastern
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
U.S. troops south of Baghdad believe they have captured Russian chemical warheads along with a launcher and a chemical warfare specialist, according to a reporter embedded with the 3rd Infantry Division.
The warheads – discovered in a confrontation with Saddam Hussein's Medina division about 60 miles south of Baghdad – have been transferred for testing, according to Paul Strand of the Christian Broadcasting Network.
A spokesman for the U.S. Army Central Command in Kuwait, Dani Burrows, told WND that her office could not confirm the report. Diane Perry said her Pentagon office had not heard the report but noted that embedded reporters often are getting stories ahead of the Defense Department.
Strand, quoting a "highly placed source," said by telephone that the American troops are not certain they found all of the Medina division's chemical weapons and fear they might be "hit by chemical shells any time now."
The captured warheads had Russian writing on them, he said.
The reporter noted a report several days ago that Saddam Hussein has pushed the level of authority for using these weapons down to the level of commanders on the front lines.
"That means young officers have the orders now that they can go ahead and use these things if they feel like they are about to be overtaken," he said.
Strand said the 3rd Infantry troops are fully equipped with gear to protect from chemical agents.
"The soldiers I have talked to seem very comfortable about getting hit with this stuff," he said. "The only thing is, nobody wants to live in those masks for weeks."
Concerns were raised Monday by a report that Saddam's Republican Guard units are authorized to use chemical weapons once American troops cross a red line the Iraqis have drawn around a map of Baghdad.
News reports Sunday indicating that U.S. forces had discovered an Iraqi chemical weapons facility have not been verified.
''It's a bit early for us to have any expectation of having found [any weapons],'' Gen. Tommy Franks said Monday at U.S. Central Command in Qatar. ''We'll wait for the days ahead.''
The Bush administration has insisted that Iraq is concealing an extensive biological and chemical weapons program. While making its case for the necessity of disarming Saddam by force, U.S. officials claimed Iraq has 1.5 tons of VX nerve gas, nearly 20,000 liters of anthrax and 30,000 artillery shells or rocket warheads capable of carrying chemical or biological agents.

Discovery of 3,000 chemical suits fans U.S. concerns Last Updated Wed, 26 Mar 2003 14:07:14 DOHA, QATAR - Coalition troops are bracing for more than a tough fight as they approach Baghdad and the elite Iraqi troops defending the city. Their fears of chemical or biological attack are growing. U.S. forces advancing through central Iraq found 3,000 chemical protection suits, U.S. Brig. Gen. Vince Brooks said on Wednesday. The discovery in a hospital south of An Nasiriyah "reinforces our concern," said Brooks. Coalition forces are concerned that Iraqi forces defending the Iraqi capital will use chemical weapons. "The danger does increase as we approach Baghdad," Brooks said. "We are well prepared to deal with the potential use of chemical weapons." Marines searching the hospital also found gas masks and antidote injection kits. There have been reports that coalition intelligence officers believe Iraqi commanders have drawn a line around Baghdad and if U.S. forces cross the line it would trigger the use of chemical or biological weapons. The hospital was apparently being used as a military staging site, Brooks said, saying it's another example of the Iraqi military using civilian sites to hide and house military equipment. Written by CBC News Online staff