Article

2007-03-17 Iraq

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Posted by Chuck Simmins 2007-03-17 11:39|| || Front Page|| [11124 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The sad part is that these are pure terror tactics, intended to explit people's ignorance/fear. But then again, that's the idea behind the exercise. They've given up on any kind of conventional win.

Militarily, unless they rupture a large tank (1300 + gallons) in an enclosed area, they are not going to get much kill for the effort. If they had put that much effort into making conventional explosives, they could have gotten better results. (higher bodycount)

The fact that they are resorting to this tells me some good things:

1. They feel the need to change tactics, because what went before did not seem to work.

2. They are running low on explosives (finaly!!).

3. The enemy truly does not understand us, or beleives their own propaganda.

4. They are having a hard time brewing up conventional explosives.

Using WMD's like this is not going to help their cause at all.

Posted by N guard 2007-03-17 11:55|| 2007-03-17 11:55|| Front Page Top

#2 I agree. It is only going to piss people and the international community off and drive the MSM away, or at least make them neutral in their reporting.

Not a real good move, IMHO.

Posted by DarthVader 2007-03-17 12:08|| 2007-03-17 12:08|| Front Page Top

#3 Chlorine is the "easiest" chemical weapon to obtain, but it is pretty ineffective for all sorts of reasons. Ironically, one of these is that it is so harsh, that one whiff sends people running away to safety, whereas a more subtle agent they would inhale a lot more of before realizing it.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-03-17 12:20|| 2007-03-17 12:20|| Front Page Top

#4 I *seriously* doubt they're running low on explosives. More likely a 'use it or lose it' scenario with the surge bearing down. And as for world opinion, the world doesn't give a shit about iraq, except as an opportunity to indict the imperialist US.

Posted by Geoffro 2007-03-17 12:30|| 2007-03-17 12:30|| Front Page Top

#5 I'm thinking that they are relying on their allies - the MSM - to provide the appropriate cover as always.

Posted by CrazyFool 2007-03-17 13:36|| 2007-03-17 13:36|| Front Page Top

#6 Option 5: they're terrorists, after all, and they're trying to strike terror into the hearts of Iraqi citizens. If they can get some press in the MSM, fine, that won't hurt either (never seems to hurt them, does it).

Posted by Steve White">Steve White 2007-03-17 14:23|| 2007-03-17 14:23|| Front Page Top

#7 Chuck one warehouse full of chlorine gas canisters was found by and Army rebuilding group. They all had Iraq Air Force emblems. The warehouse was mistakenly left unguarded. Big mistake. I've written about this before. The only use someone would have (industrial) this gas in Iraq is for water purification. Something I strongly doubt the Iraqi Air Force did.

To me at least this is clear proof of ready chemical weapons stockpiles pre-invasion. The Muslim terrorist must have been holding them back.

Still trying to find the book that referred to the finding.

Posted by Icerigger 2007-03-17 14:47|| 2007-03-17 14:47|| Front Page Top

#8 Sounds more like Saddam's old generals resorting to their old tricks of using gas on civs to maintain control.

Posted by 49 Pan 2007-03-17 14:50|| 2007-03-17 14:50|| Front Page Top

#9 Saddam's old officers in Anbar are actually fighting al qaida. They are signing up with the security units of the "salvation council" or whatever it is called.

Posted by crosspatch 2007-03-17 14:59|| 2007-03-17 14:59|| Front Page Top

#10 Series of Chlorine Attacks

waiting for the chorus of outrage and condemnation from Muslim Capitols around the World..5...4...3...

Posted by RD 2007-03-17 15:21|| 2007-03-17 15:21|| Front Page Top

#11 don't hold your breathe RD

Posted by sinse 2007-03-17 15:49|| 2007-03-17 15:49|| Front Page Top

#12 It's certainly possible that these are being made from looted stocks held by the former military. We're four years in to the Liberation, and I would suggest that if these had been knocking around early they would have been used.

This is a new supply, probably related to the huge number of water purification projects we've undertaken in the country.

The military's press releases about their finds do not match the press reports. In Afghanistan it's clearly bragging by ISAF spokemen, but in Iraq I lean to another answer. Given the numbers of false reports by the media, it is very possible that some of the results they have reported, including deatils of chlorine finds, are bogus.

Chlorine is used in a number of manufacturing areas, not just water purification. I was in my first spill at a paper plant just outside Albany New York. It really is a common industrial chemical.

Posted by Chuck Simmins">Chuck Simmins 2007-03-17 16:14|| http://northshorejournal.org]">[http://northshorejournal.org] 2007-03-17 16:14|| Front Page Top

#13 My only question is: Where's all the MSM outrage about terrorists using gas warfare on civilian populations? These are WMDs, however ineffective they might be. The MSM howls about (unwarranted) Geneva Convention rights for captured terrorist maggots at Gitmo but is deafeningly silent about the Geneva Rights of Iraqi citizens.

The sooner that the Internet puts the MSM out of business, the better.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-03-17 18:10|| 2007-03-17 18:10|| Front Page Top

#14 If the chlorine is from water purification - maybe they should switch to the eu method using Oxygen.
Of course an Oxygen IED would just make a bigger boom.... very big.

Posted by 3dc 2007-03-17 18:32|| 2007-03-17 18:32|| Front Page Top

#15 Crosspatch- did not know that.. Thanks.

Posted by 49 Pan">49 Pan 2007-03-17 19:14|| 2007-03-17 19:14|| Front Page Top

11:56 somesaypon
23:58 Sherry
23:48 Zenster
23:28 Anonymoose
23:25 Frank G
23:25 Frank G
23:15 49 Pan
23:03 Steve White
22:50 Dave D.
22:38 RD
22:38 Eric Jablow
22:30 Danking70
22:23 Sneaze
22:18 Shipman
22:16 Shipman
22:16 gromgoru
22:15 Sneaze
22:13 Lanny Ddub
22:11 twobyfour
22:09 Shipman
22:07 Chuck Simmins
22:04 twobyfour
22:03 Chuck Simmins
21:59 Shipman