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SirTripAlot
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WMDs found in Iraq???
#5777775 - 06/21/06 07:39 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Anyone hear about this? Reactions???
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,200499,00.html
(Link not working, might have to copy and paste)
WASHINGTON — The United States has found 500 chemical weapons in Iraq since 2003, and more weapons of mass destruction are likely to be uncovered, two Republican lawmakers said Wednesday.
"We have found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, chemical weapons," Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., said in a quickly called press conference late Wednesday afternoon.
Reading from a declassified portion of a report by the National Ground Intelligence Center, a Defense Department intelligence unit, Santorum said: "Since 2003, coalition forces have recovered approximately 500 weapons munitions which contain degraded mustard or sarin nerve agent. Despite many efforts to locate and destroy Iraq's pre-Gulf War chemical munitions, filled and unfilled pre-Gulf War chemical munitions are assessed to still exist."
He added that the report warns about the hazards that the chemical weapons could still pose to coalition troops in Iraq.
"The purity of the agents inside the munitions depends on many factors, including the manufacturing process, potential additives and environmental storage conditions. While agents degrade over time, chemical warfare agents remain hazardous and potentially lethal," Santorum read from the document.
"This says weapons have been discovered, more weapons exist and they state that Iraq was not a WMD-free zone, that there are continuing threats from the materials that are or may still be in Iraq," said Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
The weapons are thought to be manufactured before 1991 so they would not be proof of an ongoing WMD program in the 1990s. But they do show that Saddam Hussein was lying when he said all weapons had been destroyed, and it shows that years of on-again, off-again weapons inspections did not uncover these munitions.
Hoekstra said the report, completed in April but only declassified now, shows that "there is still a lot about Iraq that we don't fully understand."
Asked why the Bush administration, if it had known about the information since April or earlier, didn't advertise it, Hoekstra conjectured that the president has been forward-looking and concentrating on the development of a secure government in Iraq.
Offering the official administration response to FOX News, a senior Defense Department official pointed out that the chemical weapons were not in useable conditions.
"This does not reflect a capacity that was built up after 1991," the official said, adding the munitions "are not the WMDs this country and the rest of the world believed Iraq had, and not the WMDs for which this country went to war."
The official said the findings did raise questions about the years of weapons inspections that had not resulted in locating the fairly sizeable stash of chemical weapons. And he noted that it may say something about Hussein's intent and desire. The report does suggest that some of the weapons were likely put on the black market and may have been used outside Iraq.
He also said that the Defense Department statement shortly after the March 2003 invasion saying that "we had all known weapons facilities secured," has proven itself to be untrue.
"It turned out the whole country was an ammo dump," he said, adding that on more than one occasion, a conventional weapons site has been uncovered and chemical weapons have been discovered mixed within them.
Hoekstra and Santorum lamented that Americans were given the impression after a 16-month search conducted by the Iraq Survey Group that the evidence of continuing research and development of weapons of mass destruction was insignificant. But the National Ground Intelligence Center took up where the ISG left off when it completed its report in November 2004, and in the process of collecting intelligence for the purpose of force protection for soldiers and sailors still on the ground in Iraq, has shown that the weapons inspections were incomplete, they and others have said.
"We know it was there, in place, it just wasn't operative when inspectors got there after the war, but we know what the inspectors found from talking with the scientists in Iraq that it could have been cranked up immediately, and that's what Saddam had planned to do if the sanctions against Iraq had halted and they were certainly headed in that direction," said Fred Barnes, editor of The Weekly Standard and a FOX News contributor.
"It is significant. Perhaps, the administration just, they think they weathered the debate over WMD being found there immediately and don't want to return to it again because things are otherwise going better for them, and then, I think, there's mindless resistance to releasing any classified documents from Iraq," Barnes said.
The release of the declassified materials comes as the Senate debates Democratic proposals to create a timetable for U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq. The debate has had the effect of creating disunity among Democrats, a majority of whom shrunk Wednesday from an amendment proposed by Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts to have troops to be completely withdrawn from Iraq by the middle of next year.
At the same time, congressional Republicans have stayed highly united, rallying around a White House that has seen successes in the last couple weeks, first with the death of terror leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, then the completion of the formation of Iraq's Cabinet and then the announcement Tuesday that another key Al Qaeda in Iraq leader, "religious emir" Mansour Suleiman Mansour Khalifi al-Mashhadani, or Sheik Mansour, was also killed in a U.S. airstrike.
Santorum pointed out that during Wednesday's debate, several Senate Democrats said that no weapons of mass destruction had been found in Iraq, a claim, he said, that the declassified document proves is untrue.
"This is an incredibly — in my mind — significant finding. The idea that, as my colleagues have repeatedly said in this debate on the other side of the aisle, that there are no weapons of mass destruction, is in fact false," he said.
As a result of this new information, under the aegis of his chairmanship, Hoekstra said he is going to ask for more reporting by the various intelligence agencies about weapons of mass destruction.
"We are working on the declassification of the report. We are going to do a thorough search of what additional reports exist in the intelligence community. And we are going to put additional pressure on the Department of Defense and the folks in Iraq to more fully pursue a complete investigation of what existed in Iraq before the war," Hoekstra said.
-------------------- “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
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Luddite
I watch Fox News


Registered: 03/23/06
Posts: 2,946
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: SirTripAlot]
#5777814 - 06/21/06 07:47 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Luddite
I watch Fox News


Registered: 03/23/06
Posts: 2,946
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: Luddite]
#5777832 - 06/21/06 07:50 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Bush didn't lie. All the rants by the loony bins have forced the Republicans to win again in the next election. Gee, I don't like the idea of a one party system, but all the paranoid rants are keeping the Republicans in power.
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SirTripAlot
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: Luddite]
#5777833 - 06/21/06 07:51 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Trying to look at this objectively......looks like the stuff is pre 1991......still need to read more...
please all contribute......
-------------------- “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
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downforpot
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: SirTripAlot]
#5777965 - 06/21/06 08:14 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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This is old news. A year ago two of our soldiers were hit with IED made with a sarin gas shell but they were fine after being treated at a base hospital.
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http://www.myspace.com/4th25 "And I don't care if he was handcuffed Then shot in his head All I know is dead bodies Can't fuck with me again"
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SirTripAlot
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: downforpot]
#5777978 - 06/21/06 08:16 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Well this report was made in 2003...but recently declassified for us civilians...I would say this will be a debatable topic.....
-------------------- “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
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Vvellum
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: SirTripAlot]
#5778503 - 06/21/06 10:41 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
"This does not reflect a capacity that was built up after 1991," the official said, adding the munitions "are not the WMDs this country and the rest of the world believed Iraq had, and not the WMDs for which this country went to war."
degraded.
big deal.
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Vvellum
Stranger

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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: Vvellum]
#5778550 - 06/21/06 10:51 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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what threat did Saddam pose to the US with inert shells in a munitions graveyard? Was it worth the death of nearly the amount of those who died on Sept 11th?
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GabbaDj
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: SirTripAlot]
#5778888 - 06/22/06 12:15 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
coalition forces have recovered approximately 500 weapons munitions which contain degraded mustard or sarin nerve agent.
I cant find it but it was posted here a while ago.. WMD's found in the US. A stock pile of deadly chemical weapons, many more than just 500 were uncovered by a construction crew in the US. I forget which state but its a true story.
The US has more chemical weapens than it knows what to do with. So much in fact that we forget where we tossed our old ones to make room for our new ones..
Has any other nation ever attacked more foreign countries than the US in history? Has any other nation killed more innocent people in the name of religion/war than the US? Serious questions? I want to know.
If not then we are just the biggest fuck heads on the planet. We are the dictionaries example of "do what I say, now what I do"
Interesting link. http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/cbw/cw.htm
-------------------- GabbaDj FAMM.ORG
Edited by GabbaDj (06/22/06 12:16 AM)
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niteowl
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: SirTripAlot]
#5779009 - 06/22/06 12:45 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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The reason we went into Iraq, was because "Saddam was activley producing WMD.......maybe nukes." 
Not because he had some old munitions, laying around, in some cave 
There hasn't been any evidence found, to back up GWB's reasons for invading Iraq. NONE WHAT SO EVER.
-------------------- Live for the moment you are in nowDon't be bogged down by your pastDon't be afraid of what lies in your future
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Vvellum
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: niteowl]
#5779043 - 06/22/06 12:52 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Not because he had some old munitions, laying around, in some cave
...not to mention, they were shells. did he possess a canon that could launch these old rusty, probably-inert shells thousands of miles to us?
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Alex213
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: SirTripAlot]
#5779161 - 06/22/06 01:39 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Anyone hear about this? Reactions???
It's an old story. They've been finding unexploded shells from the 1980's laying on battlefields and test ranges.
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Vvellum
Stranger

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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: Alex213]
#5779204 - 06/22/06 01:54 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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this is some serious republican spin. part of the mid-term election campaign strategy.
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OJK
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: SirTripAlot]
#5779733 - 06/22/06 07:05 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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weak
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Gijith
Daisy Chain Eater

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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: SirTripAlot]
#5779748 - 06/22/06 07:18 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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I'm gonna assume this is nothing. Last night, foxnews.com had it as their top story. The headline was basically your thread title, except without the question marks. 10 hours later, they've already completely buried it*.
*nevermind, they've put it back on top. Now I believe it.
-------------------- what's with neocons and the word 'ilk'?
Edited by Gijith (06/22/06 09:46 AM)
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trendal
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: SirTripAlot]
#5779873 - 06/22/06 09:09 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Old news. The US has been finding these kind of old and degraded shells laying around since they invaded in 2003.
They're really not worth the name "WMD" anymore. The article clearly admits that they were old and degraded. Not new.
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Once, men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.
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SirTripAlot
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: trendal]
#5779967 - 06/22/06 09:49 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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After reading the news and the declassifed document....it seems like this is not a huge find, however, it is good that these weapons were discovered. The sarin or mustard chemical coupled with an explosive delivery device would potentially kill more of our troops.
If it were a huge find, there would be a response from the White House..... I cant seem to find one....
-------------------- “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
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Vvellum
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: Gijith]
#5780025 - 06/22/06 10:17 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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notice that only fox news and worldnetdaily have the story on its front page. despite the insignificance of the story, they both headlines proclaim that the WMDs that we went to war for were finally found. Like I said, it's campaign season already...
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gone
gone
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: Vvellum]
#5780896 - 06/22/06 03:46 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Yeah, this is just politics. I'm sorry, but when troops find uranium refinement facilities or rockets capable of a biologic aerial dispursal i will back up bush. When they find missiles capable of reaching the US, i will fund GW. Until that time it reamins nearly FACT that iraq posed no clear and present danger to the security of the USA. Under those conditions, bush technically acted against the law. Cmon, you're telling me that a guy we found curled up in a dirt hole posed a major threat to the US? If nobody recalls, we beat their "advanced military" in like 48 hours in the gulf war. Threat.....get outta here.
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SirTripAlot
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: Vvellum]
#5782243 - 06/22/06 10:34 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
bi0 said: notice that only fox news and worldnetdaily have the story on its front page. despite the insignificance of the story, they both headlines proclaim that the WMDs that we went to war for were finally found. Like I said, it's campaign season already...
I was never waving the flag over this supposed victory... I looked at this objectively and came up with conclusions similar to many people in this forum...... why you roll your eyes?
-------------------- “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
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RosettaStoned
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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: SirTripAlot]
#5782936 - 06/23/06 03:32 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Is this all they can come up with for election time? Gay marriage, flag burning and old crusty decaying 1980s wmd in a graveyard?
I'm still expecting to see their ace card.
-------------------- "Government big enough to provide you with all you need is also big enough to take everything you have." ~ Thomas Jefferson "Without stupid, faggy potheads we wouldn't have wars." - Zappa
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Vvellum
Stranger

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Re: WMDs found in Iraq??? [Re: SirTripAlot]
#5783376 - 06/23/06 10:20 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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that wasnt directed toward you. just crass political moves and spin such as this one.
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