New Information about Iraq under Saddam
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| Sun, 02-08-2004 - 2:41pm |
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1143553,00.html
This bit is worthy of special note:
Iraqis say that what M16 missed in seeking information that would justify an invasion were efforts to convert VX and anthrax, Saddam's biological and chemical agents of choice, into stable, dry forms that could be concealed until Iraq's WMD capability was rebuilt and work on weaponisation could continue unhindered. (Before UN inspections destroyed it, Iraq's main chemical and biological weapons facility covered 25 sq km. Such establishments are not rebuilt overnight.)...
ne source says the expulsion of UN weapons inspectors in December 1998, and the establishment of a new inspection regime a year later, prompted feverish efforts to make and store VX salt and powdered anthrax - forms that are much safer to keep and easier to hide.
'Saddam was trying to dry anthrax and aerosolise it for delivery as a terrorist weapon,' he says, citing scientists who were involved in weapons programmes after UN inspectors were expelled in 1998. 'There were plans to disseminate it from crop-dusters and from canisters placed on top of high buildings in an American city.'
After 9/11, he adds: 'Saddam hid everything in anticipation of being hit.'
VX is a nerve agent so powerful that a single drop on the skin can result in death in 15 minutes. Once fired, it remains toxic for at least several days. In salt form, stabilised, it can be preserved for centuries. Anthrax, a biological agent, kills by causing extensive haemorrhaging. In dry, powdered form, it can be stored for decades.
Western experts doubt that Iraq succeeded in weaponising VX salt. 'The chemistry for VX is incredibly difficult,' says Ron Manley, a British inspector. 'Transferring it to a weapon and making it would be very difficult. But I can quite believe Iraq would have tried it because that's their nature. It was a "suck it and see" culture.'
But experts say Saddam's reported attempts to weaponise powdered anthrax confirm existing concerns.
'In 2002, 25 metric tons of aerosil were ordered for, allegedly, the Samarra Drug Industries - far in excess to what SDI could use,' says Richard Spertzel, head of Unscom's biological weapons section from 1994-99. 'SDI was involved in CW and BW activities in the 1980s. Aerosil is used by the pharmaceutical industry for inhalant medication, but can also be used in powdered BW products and in "dusty" chemical agents that will penetrate many protective suits. Where is it now?'

Renee
Anyway, THIS IS SCARY! and very real and possible. And like ya'll said, noone on network news or mainstream media will report it.
~W IN04~
Even his anger seemed to be staged.