Quote:
|
Originally Posted by VRM
Rdorman,
Check out the chapter titled:
"Residual Pre-1991
CBW Stocks in Iraq"
It says:
However, ISG believes that any remaining chemical munitions in Iraq do not pose a militarily significant threat to Coalition Forces because the agent and munitions are degraded and there are not enough extant weapons to cause mass casualties. However, if placed in the hands of insurgents, the use of a single even ineffectual chemical weapon would likely cause more terror than deadlier conventional explosives.
|
Yep, I read that and, repeating myself, aware that they degrade over time.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by VRM
Anybody who runs around saying that Hussein’s chemical weapons are still effective are playing into the terrorists hands. The only way that terror can be caused by ineffectual chemical weapons is if people think they are still effective.
There is also a section saying the chemical munitions were mixed in with other munitions during the Iran/Iraq war, and that we should expect to continue finding those - even though the chemical in them is now useless goo.
|
Tell that to the NGIC (how many times do I have to mention this document!)
"While they degrade over time, chemical warfare agents remain hazardous and potentially lethal"
http://politicscentral.com/audio/200...MDs_083106.pdf
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by VRM
Hussein learned from Gulf War 1 that anything he sent to Iran/Syria was not going to be returned, and it might possibly be used against him.
|
Who said he thought he was going to get them back? Also, repeating again, much was moved without his knowledge or permission. It is a proven fact that weapons where moved out of Iraq in the days leading up to the war. Here is just one small example from the UN Security Council:
http://www.un.org/Depts/unmovic/new/...s-2004-435.pdf
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by VRM
Hussein/Iraq was an annoyance, but they were hardly a real threat to us. Iran was countered quite a bit by Iraq, and we removed that counter. That ends up making Iran stronger, and that is a bad thing if the radicals in Iran ever manage to consolidate power (there is a lot of turmoil in Iran between various factions).
|
You will get no argument from me that Iran is a problem. Like I said before, the powers that be in Iran are scared $hitless that they are next. Recent events I consider to be a 'shot across the bow'. Iran is not dealing from a position of strength. I am not happy to be at war anywhere, at any time. However, I do understand that sometimes it is unavoidable. Was this one? Not so sure
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by VRM
It's also interesting that you mention Sada. He has stated that what is going on in Iraq right now is an internal matter, and is best solved by Iraqis, with American help only from a distance.
|
Sada, Master of the Obvious. Nothing more would please me more then for Iraqis to solve their problems.
I do not believe now, nor did I then, that Iraq had 'large' caches of WMD's before the war. I would be surprised if large amounts of recent vintage even exist. But, I do know that there where some basic facts before the war:
- Iraq did have WMDs
- Iraq did have dozens of active weapons programs and was attempting to acquire the materials and technology to create more WMD’s
- Weapons and materials where 'moved' out of Iraq and into other countries
Threaded Mode
