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| Iraq |
| Kuwait foils the smuggling of chemical and biological weapons from Iraq |
| 2003-10-01 |
| The sound you just heard was the Democratic platform for 2004 collapsing. Kuwaiti security authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle $60 million worth of chemical weapons and biological warheads from Iraq to an unnamed European country, a Kuwaiti newspaper said on Wednesday. It’s a government newspaper, so the usual caveats here. Still, David Kay’s briefing is tomorrow ... The pro-Government Al-Siyassah, quoting an unnamed security source, said the suspects had been watched by security since they arrived in Kuwait and were arrested "in due time." It did not say when or how the smugglers entered Kuwait or when they were arrested. The paper said the smugglers might have had accomplices inside Kuwait. It said Interior Minister Sheik Nawwaf Al Ahmed Al Sabah would hand over the smuggled weapons to an FBI agent at a news conference, but did not say when. Government officials could not be immediately reached for comment. As Drudge might say, developing ... |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #27 http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters10-02-045222.asp?reg=MIDEAST |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-10-3 2:49:30 AM |
| #26 You might also think that the quoted Arab newspaper would run the story? They do not. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-10-1 11:50:04 PM |
| #25 The warheads and any chemical would be put on a ship - it's not the kind of stuff you want to put on a plane, generally, and the warheads would be pretty heavy. Iraq's only big port is in US hands, Kuwait's isn't. Ship captains might be pretty easy to bribe to make a mid-ocean transfer, too. Or not - maybe that's where they got bit... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-10-1 10:40:45 PM |
| #24 This may be a fake. Notice the Associated Press byline on the original story, yet it hasn't been picked up by any other news sites. Nor can I find it on any AP feeds. I hope it's real, but for a 4-hour old story of such potential importance it doesn't appear to have 'wheels'. |
| Posted by: spiffo 2003-10-1 10:38:14 PM |
| #23 Saddam had a fair number of 155mm rounds. Those could easily be brought in. |
| Posted by: Dishman 2003-10-1 10:14:34 PM |
| #22 What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall if Kay comes in begins his report and brings in a couple of samples that he found to present to the committee. How big is a warhead anyway? |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-10-1 9:21:09 PM |
| #21 Could have been headed for Chechnya or is it Ukraine?? Where a lot of weapons come from? Kosovo's heating up again. The European country could just be a transfer point. And DUH! Joe and Valerie, not Jim! |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-10-1 9:20:01 PM |
| #20 Russia is a European country As is Chechnya, Georgia, Ukraine and our favourite Belarus! |
| Posted by: Phil_B 2003-10-1 9:17:10 PM |
| #19 TGA--Argh! Of course, you're right! I meant to write "Albania"! |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-10-1 9:15:39 PM |
| #18 Kuwait is smart, think about the other borders. Iran - watched, Turkey - too many people busted going that way, Syria - very closely watched, Jordan - to get to a port you have to go through Israel, nope, Saudi Arabia - maybe, but they have been hunting jihadis, Kuwait - quiet, good port, open for business, lots of traffic bringing supplies in, and friend of US. Load container on Kuwait registered ship and it won't be stopped. Smart choice. Oh, and Russia is a European country. Maybe they forgot something, or Russian mob bought it for resale. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-10-1 9:09:30 PM |
| #17 Dar, didn't know Algeria was part of Europe, heaven forbid. Well I guess let's see what's to the story. Before I see hard evidence, I stick to the "WMD found in a shoebox" thing, Old Grouch... |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-10-1 8:49:13 PM |
| #16 Grouch: Kuwait has excellent ports, as does Saudi. |
| Posted by: Mike 2003-10-1 8:46:31 PM |
#15 "...BY VIRTUE OF ITS NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY CONFIDENTIAL AND 'TOP SECRET'..." LOL... doesn't by some chance involve millions of dollars somebody found ln a shoebox, hmmm? |
| Posted by: Old Grouch 2003-10-1 8:31:55 PM |
| #14 European country? Algeria? Spain (Basque separatists)? France (Corsican separatists)? One of the ex-Yugoslavian countries? |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-10-1 8:30:29 PM |
| #13 Hmmm well I don't know but WHAT was actually attempted to be smugled? Chemical weapons? Biological weapons? Warheads? FIRST, I MUST SOLICIT YOUR STRICTEST CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION. THIS IS BY VIRTUE OF ITS NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY CONFIDENTIAL AND 'TOP SECRET'. I AM SURE AND HAVE CONFIDENCE OF YOUR ABILITY AND RELIABILITY TO PROSECUTE A TRANSACTION OF THIS GREAT MAGNITUDE INVOLVING A PENDING TRANSACTION REQUIRING MAXIIMUM CONFIDENCE. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-10-1 8:21:20 PM |
| #12 TGA, agree that Kuwait doesn't seem a logical choice, unless somebody thought the Kuwatis had been paid off to look the other way. How do Kuwait's transportation connections to Europe compare to those of other gulf states? As to smuggling to "an unnamed European country," that's not the same as "an unnamed European government." Could have been for some terrorist cell. Also remember that "Europe" isn't just "western Europe." There's always the Balkans... |
| Posted by: Old Grouch 2003-10-1 7:50:03 PM |
| #11 An 'attempt to smuggle' wouldn't have to involve the physical WMD material I guess, but then it says the "smuggled weapons" would be handed over to FBI. |
| Posted by: Plz be true! 2003-10-1 7:41:03 PM |
| #10 Rex Mundi - I was thinking of those stories about nuclear material getting pawned off on people and the way this news read reminded me of them. Kalle - That's a good point, there is no reward for WMD. I had not noticed that before. |
| Posted by: Laurence of the Rats 2003-10-1 7:30:26 PM |
| #9 Two big caveats: Kuwait???? Doesn't sound like the safest country for these operations. European country? What the heck would an European country want to do with that rubbish? Not even France needs that. Doesn't make sense to me. Probably a talk talk scam, more like the Nigerian mafia thing. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-10-1 7:21:30 PM |
| #8 Laurence has a point...wouldn't be the 1st time that terrorists got scammed. Also, no mention of materials being confiscated - so at this point we only have the intent to smuggle. Still, who wants to bet the unnamed European country is Frogistan? |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2003-10-1 6:57:11 PM |
| #7 And here I thought that auction on eBay was a hoax! |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-10-1 6:30:54 PM |
| #6 Have you noticed that the US is, still, offering $millions for help to catch Saddam, but nada for help to find WMDs. Could it be that such reward is not needed? one would assume that if nothing had been found, desperation would set in and rewards would be offered... I'd rather have Saddam on the run than WMDs in the hands of post-Baathist terrorists. |
| Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) 2003-10-1 6:22:27 PM |
| #5 Lets see if *this* gets mentioned on the evening news.... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2003-10-1 6:16:01 PM |
| #4 Could just be a scam by some crooks on terrorist wannabes... |
| Posted by: Laurence of the Rats 2003-10-1 6:15:32 PM |
| #3 PLEASE-OH PLEASE be legit!!! |
| Posted by: Yosemite Sam 2003-10-1 6:13:11 PM |
| #2 Now THAT'S what I call an "October Surprise" if it's true. Jim and Valerie who??? And how do they know the $worth of the goods??? |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-10-1 5:58:05 PM |
| #1 I'm not sure there's a big enough grain of salt on the planet for this item, but I suppose we'll see... |
| Posted by: snellenr 2003-10-1 5:26:45 PM |