ISIS Jihadists 'Seize Saddam Hussein's Chemical Weapons Stockpile'
Source: UK Telegraph 16:52 6/19/14
Under an agreement signed in Baghdad in July 2012, experts from the MODs Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) were due to provide training to Iraqi personnel in order to help them to dispose of the chemical munitions and agents. The Al Mutannah chemical weapons complex (CIA)
The remaining chemical weapons from Saddam Hussein's regime are stored in two sealed bunkers, both located at the Al Muthanna Chemicals Weapons Complex, a large site in the western desert some 80km north west of Baghdad.
This was the principal manufacturing plant for both chemical agents and munitions during Saddam Husseins rule.
Isis jihadists have seized a chemical weapons facility built by Saddam Hussein which contains a stockpile of old weapons, State Department officials said. US officials don't believe the Sunni militants will be able to create a functional chemical weapon from the material. The weapons stockpiled at the Al Muthanna complex are old, contaminated and hard to move, officials said.
Nonetheless, the capture of the chemical-weapon stockpile by the forces of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, known as ISIS or ISIL, the militant group that is seizing territory in the country, has grabbed the attention of the U.S. "We remain concerned about the seizure of any military site by the ISIL," Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, said in a written statement. "We do not believe that the complex contains CW materials of military value and it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to safely move the materials."
Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10910868/Iraq-crisis-Obama-may-launch-air-strikes-without-Congress-amid-calls-for-Maliki-to-go-live.html
Xipe Totec
(43,872 posts)JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)I can think of lots of reasons.
But I also think taking big risks might be justified to make sure that no dangerous chemical weapons fall into irresponsible or cruel hands.
I doubt that our troops or the UN inspectors would have left anything seriously dangerous in Iraq. We stayed there a long time and did a lot of work on all kinds of projects.
OneCrazyDiamond
(2,029 posts)we left the chemical-weapons stockpile...?
big_dog
(4,144 posts)So who is Obama meeting with? The White House has released a list of 15 participants, some attending by video conference. They include figures from the military, intelligence and diplomatic branches of the US government:
-Joe Biden, the vice president
-John Kerry, the secretary of state, and Chuck Hagel, the secretary of defence
-John Brennan, the head of the CIA, and James Clapper, the director of national intelligence
-Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the United Nations
-General Martin Dempsey, the chair of the joint chiefs of staff
-Assorted national security and legal aides
The meeting is taking place now in the White House situation room. Here's a 2010 picture:
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)There were old COMPONENTS. Hell, the REFINERIES in Iraq produce stuff that's more dangerous and toxic. The weapons inspectors didn't miss this site. It probably hasn't had any real activity in it since before '92 when they destroyed everything.
The entire article is designed to get those old familiar war drums beating again.
paleotn
(17,778 posts)....the stockpile is old, dilapidated and damn dangerous to move. It's also damn dangerous and expensive to dispose of, thus it's still there. More of a danger to anyone foolish enough to fiddle with it than anyone else. You can get a lot more bang for your buck (pun intended) by capturing a fertilizer plant and a diesel refinery.
Alex P Notkeaton
(309 posts)Click the link.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Alex P Notkeaton
(309 posts)At least Judith Miller is finally on FOX, where she has always belonged.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Bye Bye Tweety.
snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)consider starting a thread.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)........yawn.....
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)big_dog
(4,144 posts)rtracey
(2,062 posts)We knew he had chemical weapons, he bombed the Kurds with them....its the yellowcake...we dont see....hahhaha THE YELLOWCAKE
Victor_c3
(3,557 posts)oh wait, I was a part of that operation that helped make Iraq the mess that it is today...
BainsBane
(53,001 posts)They never WMD in Iraq when they invaded, so why are we hearing about them now? I'm skeptical, particularly since the source is the RW Telegraph.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)Some Republicans are trying to assert this as meaning there were WMD in Iraq and thus the war was justified. The info I have at the above link debunks that.
BainsBane
(53,001 posts)stevenleser
(32,886 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)stevenleser
(32,886 posts)zeemike
(18,998 posts)But of course the right is going to use it that way...that is what they do...I don't need any proof to know there were no WMDs...and I suspect your proof will not change their mind, because we are living in a mind fucked bubble.
But this is more than just about that i can assure you...it is more "scare the hell out of em" media blitz to talk us back into war...and many Democrats will be right there with it with the feeling that it will take away the GOP inevitable charge that the president is weak.
Always with the triangulation, and we never seem to catch on.
zeemike
(18,998 posts)I thought we went in there for that reason...WMDs and chemical wepons....you mean we did not destroy them and they are still there?..after 10 years?
I smell bullshit all over this...and want the media ask why those chemical weapons were not destroyed.
Or whether this is just another shock and aw the people into another war.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)NuttyFluffers
(6,811 posts)how unexpected.
isn't that special?
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)See my OP and posts underneath it here http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025121987
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)Although Twinkies are mostly chemicals....
The point here is that chemicals degrade over time, particularly if they're not being stored properly. Before we invaded Iraq, the expert opinion was that any chemicals that Saddam might have were too old to ever be weaponized. At this point, those same chemicals would now be more than ten years older. The stuff is likely to be still toxic, but that's about it.
lovuian
(19,362 posts)Isis found them WOW
will we get satellite pictures soon
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)WilliamPitt
(58,179 posts)I'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
Though I know that the hypnotized never lie...
- The Who
Here we go again.