Tests Confirm Sarin Gas in Baghdad Bomb

They found one WMD in Iraq?? Now on to the STOCKPILES!!

http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20040525/D82PQV681.html?PG=home&SEC=news

Comprehensive testing has confirmed the presence of the chemical weapon sarin in the remains of a roadside bomb discovered this month in Baghdad, a defense official said Tuesday.

The determination, made by a laboratory in the United States that the official would not identify, verifies what earlier, less-thorough field tests had found: the bomb was made from an artillery shell designed to disperse the deadly nerve agent on the battlefield.

The origin of the shell remains unclear, and finding that out is a priority for the U.S. military, the defense official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Some analysts worry the 155-millimeter artillery shell, found rigged as a bomb on May 15, may be part of a larger stockpile of Iraqi chemical weapons that insurgents can now use. But no more have turned up, and several military officials have said the shell may have been an older one that predated the 1991 Gulf War.

Only 49,999 point some random number more tons of Sarin to find.

to go to war for wasn't it?

"...several military officials have said the shell may have been an older one that predated the 1991 Gulf War"

I bet that is the reason the press has not really picked up on it and the WH has not yet said "I told you so." They would have to admit that some of that stuff was Made in USA.

turns out to be some trumped-up event.

...even wilder.

I'd pay to see that!

We found the WMDs! Let's go home now.

as in the singular, not plural. I feel so much safer now.

Battlefield chemical weapons, though horrible and illegal, are not technically WMD. Nuclear and biological weapons are, because they affect a vastly greater number of people, including noncombatants.

...wmd*.

I believe it is a "weapon of mass destruction;" it can, and demonstrably has, killed non-combatants in battlezones.

See also:
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Weapons_of_mass_destruction

"The modern use of WMD to refer to NBC weapons was coined by UN Resolution 687 in 1991. This resolution refers to the "threat that all weapons of mass destruction pose to peace and security", and mentions in particular nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, and the three relevant treaties:

* Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
* Chemical Weapons Convention
* Biological Weapons Convention"

right before the election, probably

Over the past few days, in the wake of the bombings in Karbala and the ideological disputes that delayed the signing of Iraq's interim constitution, there have been reports that U.S. forces have unloaded a large cargo of parts for constructing long-range missiles and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in the southern ports of Iraq.


He said they are quite aware that the White House in cooperation with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has directly tasked the Defense Department to hide these weapons. Given the recent scandals to the effect that the U.S. president was privy to the 9/11 plot, they might try to immediately announce the discovery of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in order to overshadow the scandals and prevent a further decline of Bush’s public opinion rating as the election approaches.

http://www.rense.com/general50/unlad.htm

The right wingers just got a new talking point.

And some of the sheeple will buy it.

How do we know this for a fact? We've still got the receipt.

I've seen two reports regarding the confirmation of sarin in the shells (one came from Fox)...both quoting anonymous sources. Not that I think this is the "smoking gun," but I would think if the tests were completed, Kimmitt, Rummy, or even the Shrub in his speech last night would've mentioned it.

I've also noted that no one has officially confirmed the alleged mustard gas finding from a couple of weeks ago either.

Just wondering.

coincide with his low poll rankings. 911 happened at a low point Saddam was found at a low point and now BOOM ,a WMD at a low point.What will happen right before the election?

maybe it's under the couch?

Yawn.

They're one SNAFU operation.

Anyone verify that Ollie North wasn't seen in the vicinity with a duffel bag recently?

Wait until the last week in October, when there won't be enough time to confirm the origin of the massive stockpile we'll find, before the election.

I think they will be able to tell where the shell came from but they won't tell us. I'm betting it was part of the weapons we gave Saddam to use against Iran he used them against the Kurds and this one was a dud.

After a war there are shells that did not work. They get coverd over in time but later work their way up to the surface, especially if they are on a hill side.

I worked in remediation of a WWII gunnery range and there were still live shells there and that was in the 1990's.

in other words it was pretty much useless as a WMD since the half-life was 10 fucking years ago!!!!!

I'm SO scared!!! :puke:

who thinks it's part of a batch of 150 tested (out of 170 made, by Iraq themselves) before 1991. Because it's a true binary shell (ie the 2 components are kept separate) it would have a long shelf life. But as a shell it has to be fired for them to mix; or you'd have to empty it of each chemical and then mix them by hand - a highly dangerous operation (probably best suited to a suicide bomber).

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0521/p09s01-coop.html

..."Stay where you are...I must mix the chemicals"!!!

I refuse to mention the obvious ways here but if anyone here thinks these binary shells are nothing to be concerned about should spend some more time in the classroom instead of basking on the banks of de Nile.

the goofball who rigged it had no idea what it was, but betcherass there's a serious treasure hunt underway to find any more of these that might be laying around.

Trumpeting this was seriously stupid. If they find (or have) another it won't get wasted like this one :(

- OMG, talk about denial. Maybe you can educate us how one leftover and unserviceable shell is a threat to the national security of the United States of America.
- We caused massive death and destruction, ruined our Nation's reputation, and destroyed our alliances for this shell. I don't deny that this proposition is absurd.

check out the guy in the pinstripe shirt. Ewwwwwwww

http://www.brook.edu/FP/projects/nucwcost/155mm.htm

The irony is we are free to make fun of those that made the medium on their very own media.

I just got home from a busy day and is this what our Liberal Media is running right now.

500 tons of sarin, mustard gas and VX yet to be found. Plus the 25,000 liters of anthrax; 38,000 liters of botulinum toxin; and 30,000 munitions (now 29,999?) capable of delivering chemical agents. Fortunately, people in our government have told us that they know where they are.

This discovery can be described only as a triumph of Bushian proportions.