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The Furqlus Weapons Depot, approximately 30 miles outside Homs, Syria, is shown in this July 6 satellite image.
Like a three-card monte player, the Syrian government has been shifting its chemical weapons around the country in the midst of the country’s increasingly violent and chaotic civil war, leaving foreign intelligence agencies to guess where the outlawed weapons of mass destruction might end up – and under whose control.
U.S. and Israeli officials fear that the weapons and chemical agents, which typically are kept separately until they are ready for use, could fall into the hands of terrorists or be used against rebel forces by the ruling Alawites in a last-ditch stand.
Almost as frightening, experts say, would be if rebel forces seized some of the weapons.
“No one but the Syrians knows the inventory, and if the rebels overrun one of these depots, there are worries about the physical control of the weapons,” said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, a nonpartisan Washington, D.C., think tank. “It may get down to individual Syrian soldiers making decisions.”
Syria acknowledges it has chemical weapons, will use them if attacked
The fluid situation on the ground and questions about the locations and quantities of the chemical weapons have intelligence analysts grasping at straws, said Rob Danin, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a former U.S. intelligence analyst on Syria.
“No scenario is too fanciful,” he said. “We are in such uncharted territory. The regime is reeling and armed to the teeth.”
Rebels fear Syria's 'ghost fighters,' the regime's hidden militia
But intelligence reports and U.S. and Israeli experts interviewed by NBC News say two things are certain: The Syrian government has the most developed chemical weapons program in the Third World and it has used them on its own people at least once before.
Heightening concern about the weapons, a Syrian military defector, Gen. Mustafa Sheikh, claimed in an interview with Reuters on Saturday that Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar Assad were repositioning chemical weapons for possible use against the opposition in retaliation for the assassination of four top security officials.
“We don't know why" they have begun moving chemical weapons from storage, a senior U.S. official said, confirming the movement. He refused to speculate whether the Assad regime could be preparing to use the weapons in an attempt to quell the continuing civilian uprising.
Machine guns operated by motorcycle brakes? Get a glimpse at the rebels fighting against Assad's forces in Syria's mountainous Jabal al-Zawiya area.
On Monday, Syria responded to the report by saying it would unleash its chemical and biological weapons only in the event of a foreign attack — the first time it has acknowledged that it possesses such weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
The statement “backfired,” said Danin, the Council on Foreign Relations fellow. "All it did was heighten international concerns about the (chemical weapons) stockpile," he said. “If anything is going to trigger intervention, it’s this. It’s a potential causus belli” — “cause of war,” in Latin.
'Serious red line'
On Monday, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little warned that if the Assad regime used chemical weapons on civilians, that would cross a “serious red line.”
"We would, of course, caution them strongly against any intention to use those weapons," he said. Little also reiterated that, at this point, the U.S. believes the chemicals are still secure.
Str / AP
Anti-government clashes continue as Western and Arab nations launch a diplomatic offensive to halt the violence.
U.S. officials have long believed that the Syrian government had stockpiled the banned chemical weapons.
Last year, in its most recent public report to Congress covering WMD developments, the CIA stated, “Syria has had a CW (chemical weapons) program for many years and has a stockpile of CW agents, which can be delivered by aerial bombs, ballistic missiles and artillery rockets.”
U.S. intelligence reports indicate that Syria possesses the nerve agents sarin and tabun as well as traditional chemical weapons like mustard gas and hydrogen cyanide. The CIA report also stated that Syria “is developing the more toxic and persistent nerve agent VX,” which is more persistent than sarin and tabun and capable of rendering an area – or a city – uninhabitable “for some days.”
US official: Syrian regime seems to be readying for a massacre
Dani Shoham, a chemical weapons expert with the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University, said he believes Assad’s scientists already have done so.
“My assessment is that they successfully developed weaponized VX,” he said.
Syria is believed to have thousands of chemical weapons and hundreds of missiles and aircraft to deliver them. Israel has estimated that Syria has "several thousand" bombs that could be filled mostly with sarin and more than 100 warheads.
The key city of Aleppo has come under ferocious assault, bombarded by fighter jets and machine gun fire. The Syrian government's main priority is taking control of the major cities – without enough troops to control the entire country, they are on the offensive. NBC's Richard Engel reports from northern Syria.
More significant is that Syria has a chemical weapons infrastructure, not just the weapons themselves. It is said to have vast stocks of agents available for loading into munitions as well as the precursor chemicals. It is one of only seven nations in the world that has not ratified the 1992 Chemical Weapons Convention, the arms-control agreement that outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of such weapons.
In terms of delivery systems, Syria has a few dozen SS-21 ballistic missiles with a maximum range of 72 miles; 200 Scud-B's, with a maximum range of 180 miles; and 60 to 120 Scud-C's with a maximum range of 300 miles, all of which are mobile and capable of carrying chemical weapons, according U.S. intelligence officials.
Russia will be big loser if Assad falls, analysts say
Bombshells filled with chemicals also can be carried by Syrian Air Force fighter-bombers, in particular Sukhoi-22/20, MiG-23 and Sukhoi-24 aircraft. In addition, some reports indicate short-range unguided Frog-7 artillery rockets may be capable of carrying chemical payloads.
The weapons systems are -- or were -- in a number of sites close to Israel and near cities where Syrian security forces have fought rebels and shelled civilian areas. But the shifting of the weapons has disguised their current location and raised new concerns about what the Assad regime is planning to do with them.
Like Iraq and Egypt, Syria has employed chemical agents against its people, using hydrogen cyanide on insurgents in the early 1980s, according to congressional investigators.
Following violent demonstrations by the Muslim Brotherhood in Hama in January and February 1982, Syrian army units sealed off the city. According to a November 1990 Senate Foreign Relations Committee memo, the army units then went to every house suspected of hiding insurgents and pumped in cyanide gas, killing all the occupants. Later, the government broadcast a report saying security forces had taken fierce reprisals against the Brotherhood and its sympathizers, "which stopped them from breathing.”
The Syrian government's army is descending on the northern city of Aleppo where the city was seized by rebels. NBC's John Ray reports.
Danin, the Council on Foreign Relations expert on Syria, said Syria’s statement on Monday acknowledging its chemical weapons was a thinly disguised threat to the rebel forces. “It was meant as a message to insurgents.”
Beyond their use against insurgents, U.S. and allied fears about the chemical weapons fall into three categories:
- That they could fall into the hands of Sunni jihadis aligned with al-Qaida;
- That the Assad regime could give them to Hezbollah, which is aligned with Iran and already has a significant arsenal of missiles and rockets;
- That they could be used to shield an enclave set up by Assad forces to protect Syria’s minority Alawites, from which most of the government elite is drawn.
Danin thinks all three scenarios are unlikely, but added that they can’t be completely discounted, especially if further movement of the weapons is detected.
“Any movement or potential movement raises the ante,” he said. “You can be agnostic about whether (Assad) stays or goes, but this is one area that that mobilizes the U.S. and Israel to move to preparatory steps. Both the threat and objective are clear and identifiable.”
What you need to know about the Syria crisis
Danin said that terrorists -- either Islamic jihadis fighting with the rebels or Hezbollah fighters – gaining control of such weapons would be the most dangerous scenario.
“Shifting them to Hezbollah would be dangerous, provocative and incendiary,” he said. That, he said, would be “a Doomsday scenario and it would prompt prevention measures.”
But Leonard Spector, deputy director of the Washington, D.C., office of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, said even a rebel seizure of chemical weaponry would be alarming, since they could conceivably be quickly be spirited away.
“Should the insurgents overrun one of the chemical weapons depots, the question is, if you walk into a room are there weapons you wheel out or do they require more attention?” he said. “Some are ‘ready to roll’ is my impression.”
'Threat is real indeed'
Indeed, while the location of the stockpiles is now in question, the areas where the weapons were believed to be stored all are near scenes of some of the worst violence since the uprising against Assad began 1 ½ years ago.
Reuters
While some concerns have been raised that Syria could use the weapons against Israel or Turkey, perhaps as a diversion, most experts see that possibility as far-fetched.
“In terms of the size, diversity, quality and operability of the CW arsenal, the threat is real indeed,” said Shoham, the Israeli expert. “In terms of likelihood that it would be employed, I would level it low against Israel and Turkey and appreciable against the insurgents.”
However, the general threat to Israel was noted by the CIA as far back as 2001, "Syria probably has weaponized sarin into aerial bombs and SCUD missile warheads, which gives Syria the capability to employ chemical agents against targets in Israel. ...While the SS-21s likely would be employed primarily against military bases and forces in northern Israel, the SCUD's longer range and larger warhead suggests that it could be used against Tel Aviv and other cities."
Myth vs. truth in the Syrian conflict
Even if Syria’s chemical weapons are never used, they could play a role in ending the conflict.
Danin suggested that if the weapons remain in secure locations, they could serve as a deterrent against foreign intervention.
“I think it does play a role at the end of the day,” he said. “It provokes and deters at the same time. It makes a country like Turkey think twice about a limited military intervention and reinforces the notion that Syria has a very powerful military.”
But Spector, of the Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, said the weapons would be a wildcard in a negotiated settlement that would see Assad relinquish power.
“The best outcome would be for those who guard the chemical stocks to remain in place during any transition of power, and to place the sites under international supervision so that the weapons would remain secure and a process could be developed to verifiably destroy them,” he said.
That would require some delicate conversations, Spector said, with whomever winds up in control of the weapons.
“You may have to persuade those in control to manage the weapons and not let them be purchased, have some understanding with them that they will be provided with supplies and their families safeguarded,” he said.
Robert Windrem is a senior investigative producer for NBC News.
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Leave a Comment:
Jeez....sounds like Iraq II
Starting to sound like it huh...and just like in Iraq, after 12 years of the Presidents, US Diplomats, News Orginizations, Worlds Intellegence orginization, and Saddam himself saying that Iraq had WMD's...It will be Obama's replacement in 2017 that will be called the liar, when they aren't there anymore, either
Syria has been holding Saddam's stockpile for sometime, again like last time let them kill themselves its what they like to do.
Why should we go fix this. Everyone will hate us even more than they do now. We are not the worlds police. We should step back and let some other country take care of this one. However if we do that they will all hate for not doing anything.
HMMMM damned if you do, damned if you dont.
Very reminiscent of Saddam...but even he admitted he was bluffing! They always like the THREAT of terror. This is just a diversion from the REAL threat of Iran!
I wish I knew what Israel has on the United States to get them to fight their fights for them. Americans need to be worried about Israel, no one else. Israel will be our downfall and the reason American lives will be lost.
When did the United States become "Little Israel"?
Could some of these be from Iraq, which would vindicate some of GB's intelligence sources? If they are, you can believe the press will spin it any way they can.
I wonder where Iraq's WMD's that weren't there that he used on the Kurds went..., Hmm. Syria is next to Iraq. Maybe? Just a thought.
IRAN LEADER: WE MUST PREP FOR 'END OF TIMES'
http://www.wnd.com/2012/07/iran-leader-we-must-prep-for-end-of-times/
State owned media ran the story first...
http://mapsnworld.com/middle-east-political-map.html
watch for the convoys to Lebanon
Don't point out that Saddam may have shipped his WMD's to Syria. If you do that people might have to stop hating on Bush so much.
Ronald W Miller. Israel isn't blackmailing the US. The US knows that the only stable government in the Middle East is Israel and if needed, we could use them as a land base. Oh, and one other small matter, if Israel feels she is going to lose a war with her Arab neighbors, these Arab neighbors will cease to exist under many mushroom cloudes. Watch the price of oil then when Middle East oil will not be able to be used for many thousands of years.
syria hardly needed iraq's weapons since they've had their own since the 70s, and saddam hated assad. Conspiracy nutcases everywhere, however, have already "figured" out all kinds of interesting "facts" about this. lol.
In terms of GB's "intelligence" (LOL!), iraq having these kinds of weapons wasn't the issue. It was nukes that GB threatened the US into war with, so this would hardly "vindicate" GB's disasterous invasion of iraq.
Of course much of this stock pile of WMD's came from Iraq. That's where those things went!
Remember after congress voted to authorize force in Iraq (democrats too), Democrat senator J. Rockefeller made a trip to the Middle East, and in the days following, intelligence agents on the ground reported convoys of trucks, presumably hauling the chemical weapons that we KNEW Iraq had out of the country and into Syria.
Therefore, once inside Iraq, the WMD's couldn't be found. Then we could say "Bush lied"! Pretty slick wouldn't you say?
Control of that region is what it's all about ... and I wonder which THREE NATIONS are spearheading this? Hints ... one of them is in that region and is by far the smallest of the three ............ the other two are English speaking!
Sound familiar ...........
Until it crosses the lips of the Spew girls or Madcow, good luck conving a liberal of it...you could have video footage of Saddam handing the Barrels to Assad w/ signed and notorized custody cards
Bush knew. He was not stupid. He was evil.
Exactly right, but in the event Assad gets in a pinch I'm sure he can ALWAYS hit up China, Russia and Iran for more, no?? They'll gladly oblige.
None of our business, anyway. In fact, it's all the MORE reason we should keep our noses out of that mess.
Yeah Syria has WMD huh? I doubt it. Everyone says that they have Iraq's stockpile, but where was the satellite survelliance photos to prove that? They never came up with any concrete proof ofthat acusation, just hearsay, but once the bombs start falling and troops land, it all doesn't matter, the nation is destroyed and Assad is dead, with Alawites and Christians being rounded up and exterminated. The globalists want theworld to be one big huge Wal Mart, where most ofthe people are reduced to serflike consumers, and to do this theyhave to get rid of any and all religion that offers a worldview that is opposed to mass consumerism and offers a higher way of life.
Right on Brian, it's our time to watch. Time to take care of our own troubles. Interesting video, harsh but true. The langauge is pretty strong for those with sensitive ears but the message is right on target, no matter what your political affiliation.
The link was omitted from my post, try this.
it must be getting censored, add /watch?v= then add 16K6m3Ua2nw. Like I said the language is stout.
Ask Hans Blix. In 2002-2003, he was the only person who was telling the truth to the world.
I hope Obama does not start yet another war......
Just another piece of unfinished business bequeathed by the Dumbiyah administration. Such an epic failure! And Romoney is going to be better? Not a chance by Mr Dressage!
US should mind their own business. The country is flat broke and deep in debt and the chickenhawks in Washington are dreaming up another war...
I think we should all ONCE MORE ask what Israel thinks we should do ... Iraq worked out well for the money folks ... and the Republicans are the ones that feed and cloth us .... Right!
George (#1.16)
I think that Bush was the brainless puppet and it was Cheney the master of Evil and Lies who pulled Bush's strings
This is the main worry all along with this. Like I said before, it think the best option would be to see if the Russians can work a deal and remove these weapons from Syria. And on the way out blow up the storage facilities and manufacturing plants. Yes I know some people don't like that idea but is it all that bad? Russia has much nastier stuff and I would trust them over the local nut jobs to ensure these weapons are safe. In fact the UN could probably get a deal if Russia took over them that they would then be destroyed once back in Russia. Short of special ops to blow them up or a surprise massive air assault to target their locations and blow them up, this seems to be the best non aggressive strategy. So again, Russia can you do anything and please take these away?
It is time
Interesting that most of the WMD in Syria is stamped "Iraq, 2003".
As I recall Syria is not a signatory to the convention on chemical weapons, and not surprisingly, most of those nations who are still hold stocks. So perhaps Syria should be viewed as Israel is - which never signed any nuclear treaty and comfortably holds more than 300 strategic nuclear/thermonuclear devices. So what is meant by 'outlawed' then? It seems to be a meaningless statement in the context of the irregular application/adherence to what we even sign, or do not sign, or our allies do not sign.
So what Syria has chemical weapons.
Not our problem. If it is anybodies problem it should be Israels problem. Those guys (and the USA) have been poking the fire long enough.
Maybe this barking dog might bite aftee all. Again not our problem.
Than again with lunatics like Romney and friends like Dick Cheney who are chomping at the bit like his pal GWB to go to war you WILL get involved.
More US kids in body bags coming home
Do Not worry about who is supplying Syria with Chemical/Toxic Weapons.
It is our Friend/Enemy, Russia, and China.
Russia has taken the side of Assad in this slaughter/Civil War. Both Countries are benefitting from being friends and Allies. Russia has already taken Assad's wife and children into their Country. Exiled.
Who wants to go to War with Russia. Putin is a Despot looking like a bodybuilder with a sweet face of Evil..
For all of you who are saying that we shouldn't be doing Israel's work:
This isn't necessarily about Israel. If Israel feels there is an immediate threat, they will likely attack Syrian chemical weapons bases on their own, regardless of what America wants them to do.
Syria is poised to use chemical weapons to massacre their own people. Assad probably would rather avoid it, but he's in this war 100%, so he will use them as a last resort.
This is a heavy thing to weigh against America's conscious. It is true that we have our own problems and that we shouldn't be the world's policemen. But think about the millions of innocent people who could get slaughtered if Syria decide to go all out. At the very least, America should do everything in its power to stop Syria from doing so (besides for actually striking them). If it means sending in a single strike to assassinate Assad, so be it. An entire nation of innocent people are at stake. All of you bumbling idiots who are talking about Bush...get over it, Iraq was 10 years ago. This is a different situation. There is a civil war taking place, and WMDs are involved.
Actually it says "Bush evidence, deliver ASAP"
So not acting in Syria IS a betrayal of who we are? I wonder WHO decides WHICH muslims we help and which we dont.
Obama: Not acting in Libya 'would have been a betrayal of who we are'
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-03-28/politics/us.libya_1_libya-mission-libya-policy-libyan-leader-moammar-gadhafi?_s=PM:POLITICS
I read the article that Fedupwithfed posted to the WND...well, it is a hate site for Obama and a "christian" site...I wish I hadn't gone to that site...If you are going to post a news site, please post one that isn't biased.
if you BOTHERED to read the first paragraph, STATE OWNED MEDIA OUTLETS IN A COORDINATED EFFORT ALL RAN A SIMILAR STORY FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTING HIS MESSAGE....
Turn your hate off for a few minutes and learn something!
Hello folks, the warmongers are getting desperate, it's an oldie but a goodie, WMDs. Russia and China won't let another Libya occur compliments of the USA and Britain. The U.S. is relying on the sheeple buying into the WMD ruse again. It aint going to happen!
Trust, how is the weather in Iran tight now, or are you now in Syria.
I hope the C.I.A. is watching you at any rate.
I already advised them that you need to be watched.
Wood Shed - you sound like one of Stalin's little bitch-boy spies. It's people like you that are destroying the U.S.. I'm as glad that we defeated the Soviet Union as I am horrified that we are becoming the Soviet Union.
Hi Trust . . . Welcome back from vacation (seriously)!! I hope you had a great one. I have a feeling we are in for quite a hot Autumn also.
youtube.com then add the rest from #1.20 this stuff is being censored. Is this what the future of this country looks like? I would expect my 2 post to have parts removed if I was behind the iron curtain in the 60's but not in the land of the free.
Maybe this is just part of the change we were promised.
The moment that the rebels win this battle (and they will win), they are mobilizing those chemical weapons right square at Israel. Because the only thing the Syrians hate more than each other, are Jews.
Oh good, another 4 trillion dollar war for WMDs. That's just what we need right now.
Notice how the headline of the article say "Syria is armed to the teeth with chemical weapons" and then later in the article it says “No one but the Syrians knows the inventory, and if the rebels overrun one of these depots, there are worries about the physical control of the weapons,” said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, a nonpartisan Washington, D.C., think tank. “It may get down to individual Syrian soldiers making decisions.”
So which is it? Are they armed to the teeth with chemical weapons or is it no one knows, but the Syrians? You have to closely parse these articles and examine them with a critical and open mind. If you don't, you are liable to get sucked in by the propaganda machines. The people who write this propganda are counting on people to be careless and stupid. Most right wingers fall into the second category.
Just for the sake of perspective, what categories would you say most left wingers fall into?
I wounder how much of Sadam's toy box they have laying around?
there can never be enough conspiracy theories.
vermontguy:
Your responses sound a lot like the GW (global warming) deniers. Just noting...
I think if the presidents polls are doing poorly he will attack to bolster his numbers.
Sad but true. The sheeple will believe whatever they are told.
Pissed off and all you making up fantasy stories to apologize for bush's failure/Presidency/Presidential failure/intelligence lies: There are NO weapons in Syria stamped "Iraq 2003" because that's a fantasy that you made up in your head. ALL of the intelligence sources (the CREDIBLE ones) state that Syria developed those weapons on it's own because ONCE AGAIN: Saddam Hussein was a SECULARIST dictator who would never have allowed himself to be allies with someone who might threaten his power, which is what religious extremists/people always seek, like Al Qaeda or Syria or Iran or (at one time) Turkey and increasingly, Israel. Religious folks always pretend they're under seige (even if they never were/no longer are) and if they can get enough supporters to believe it, they use their numbers to TAKE POWER and become the opressor of their opposing religion. ONCE AGAIN: GEORGE W's supposed intelligence sources were KNOWN LIARS and he got us into a war that eventually may deliver Iraq TO Iran, therefore securing that extremist regime's influence in the region making Israel and America MORE VULNERABLE to attack and terrorism from there, in other words: George W Bush PUT US IN GREATER DANGER with his failure attacking Iraq, which had NO WEAPONS Of MASS DESTRUCTION. They had none because they had destroyed them in the 90's but kept it kinda quiet so as to continue to serve as a deterrent against attack by Saddam's enemies. Bush is turning out to be one of the worst failures in our great country's history.
....One of the greatest failures in our country's history, a failure that everyone who voted for him shares, BTW. All you Bush voters.
Cool,thanks for giving me the proof I needed that I was powerful enough to destroy the world! (you dip@!$%#)
Yep....Saddam was nice enough to pass them on to the Syrians and now they will have to pass them on to Iran. Of course, I'm sure Iran has enough of their own. Our world has just gone mad......actually, I thought WWIII would have already started by now....
Really? Why would Saddam send his weapons to Syria? (A country allied to Iran who he was at war with for 8 years)
Not "send", sold. He sold them to Syria. Because they were closest and easiest to dump them on.
The Arab states will, when in a pinch, come together as allies against a common enemy and coop. Saddam flew many of his aircraft into Iran when he was invaded to conserve it and yes he likely got paid for it. This is very routine in that region. Syria has at the very least whatever Saddam shipped to them or sold to them all of his remaining stockpiles. He had no choice really. Strangely enough we backed Saddam in his war with Iran. Seems like whoever we choose to back we end up having to kill later on.
You people really believe that Saddam sold or gave his "WMD" to Syria??? They never existed...OHHHH I get it...still trying to defend BUSH AND DICK...well, it won't work. They led us into a war based on lies...Can't you see that? You still can't see that? I know it's hard but...really????
ha I don't think we found as much as a spec of powder in Iraq. No hint of it whatsoever.
I as ready as I will ever be for WWIII. my bunker is stocked!
Did you put a headstone on it?
thats funny
Lolz
this is not like iraq!This is a REAL threat! saddam did not have WMDs...you americans were decieved into believing they had WMDs even though the UN reported not finding any evidence for them!You were duped into an unecessary war and now your too weakwilled to take on a real enemy(syria was never a friend of the US) with a real army(not like saddams pathetic excuse for an army).
Don't be a fool - where do you think Syria got most if not all of their chemical weapons. And Iraq did have the 5th largest Army in the world at the time of Desert Storm. What they didn't have was much of an Air Force and the missiles they utilized were built by the French with chip encoding that allowed coalition forces to fly freely because the French gave us the ability to cut off the tracking capability.
10 YEARS of allowing the UN to control our actions in Iraq (inspector in/inspector out) Saddam controlling where and when the inspectors could go and not go ----- gave Iraq 10 - TEN years to move its weapons wherever it wanted and whenever it wanted - there was even reports in our liberal media of concern for weapons being shipped out of country (Syria being a halfway ally of Iraq). Ten years Iraq had to deploy/ship its chemical weapons wherever it wanted. Chemical weapons that were documented as being used against Iran and some of Iraqs own people.
We also had (number wise) 8 more DIVISIONS of boots on the ground military units in our arsenal at that time - compared to the pathetic numbers we had when we started the Aghanistan war - we had to boost our numbers up just to be able to scrimmage with Afghanistan and Iraq. And now we are cutting our forces again.
'REAL threat' - come on - Saddam did have weapons of mass destruction and attempted to deploy them in SCUDS many times against us, did use them against Iran, did use them against his own peoople - but we failed to go in (UN restrictions - stopped us from advancing to Bahgdad) --- and ten years later - presto - weapons have disappeared. TEN years.
But some people cannot connect the dots even when part of the lines are already drawn. But that is OK - we perpetuate the weakness of our species - it is the American way!!!
Actually,, SADDAM DID have WMD,, He used them often against his own people
PLUS he had stockpiles of "YELLOW-CAKE" agents, Radioactive dirty bomb ingredients.
YES, the same yellow-cake SOLD to Canada after the war
You guys are just too sad. If even one nano gram of anything where found in Iraq, cheney would have paraded it down 5th ave every single day in power. Yellow cake is bull sht. Joe willson proved that. Which is why they outed his wife and brewster jennings. which is why agents died. You are almost as low a life form as bush and his minions from hell
you americans this, you americans that, you weak willed americans did this.....funny its the US you always expect to back your little "weak willed" pussy a$$ country when you open your mouth and put your foot in it.
WMD's are a lot more than "yellow cake". They are also chemical and biological weapons. Evidence of storage and R&D facilities exists, as do e-mails and paperwork to support this. WMD's were found by Polish troops, but were said to be a little too old by a couple of years.
When the inspectors showed up to inspect places during the Clinton years, they were repeatedly denied access. They would load all evidence on trucks and send them into Syria right in front of everybody. The inspectors were not allowed to search the trucks as they exited the facilities.
The inspections were a condition of surrender, then denied by Saddam until sites were "cleaned up".
Evidence of their recent use was widespread, as Saddam used chemical weapons frequently during the Kurdish genocide, and the Iran-Iraq War. Many believe Saddam Hussein is credited with close to 2,000,000 deaths as well.
The liberal controlled media smear campaign against Bush was used primarily to insure a Democrat in office, and a majority in congress. It was amazingly effective, but altogether untrue.
People are worried about 1% putting presidents in office when really, it is the media. What gets air time is not always in the best interest of the United States, and often does not reflect the truth.
History will be much kinder to president Bush than this generation has been. I believe in my heart that he was a good man fighting a proven horrendous evil.
Israel are you reading any of this?..............Chemical and biological and nerve agents in many ways are far more effective weapons than nukes..................You can kill off your enemy without destroying any of his property..............This stuff is extremely effective .............You guys are all up in arms about an Iranian nuke threat what about Syria with it's poor man atomic bombs........That's what we use to call nerve gas.
When it comes to WMD's, don't fret over Israel. They have the full suite: chemical, biological and nuclear. And they've had them all, for a long time now.
Israel can and likely will take out Damascus any time they wish. They also have some of the best anti-missile technology in the world. OURS. If Syria, known to be brutal and barbaric, even hints at hitting Israel they will cease to exist.
Bet Prez George is feeling vindicated now!!! Remember the occasional report that there was concern the WMDs in Iraq were being shipped out of country or hidden away!!! Well, guess we finally found those weapons of mass destruction. Next stop Iran; Syria and Iran are on friendly ground.
Obamaman is just gonna let these walk and then when Romney is in office he will be taking the blame. And if Romney is not in office - obutmahed will just use it as an excuse to declare martial law or another reason to expand government. America - you voted for the puke - now you gotta live with it.........welcome to the land of Socialist America - may your children read about the terrible oppresive Americans in the rewritten - government controlled history books.
And you liberal progressive far left Democratic bunch of knuckleheads - muslim terrorist or muslim extremist nations don't care if you are liberal or progressive - they will use chemical weapons to destroy you no matter what age (1 month to 100 years), sexual orientation or political party ------ and guess what chemical weapons are harder to track/trace until activated!!!! So Bloomberg, have two 16oz servings of nerve agent instead of 32 oz!!! They don't care - you will.
And you better hope Israel can prevail - they are the ONLY country standing between you and those chemicals - remember obamabut doesn't believe in 'boots on the ground' - he thinks we can just fly over and take care of weapons/problems on the ground ---- just like we now have 15,000 ground to air missiles missing out of Libya that can be used agains our military aircraft and CIVILIAN aircraft.
America ought to send Prez George an apology note for being so nieve - guess he is wishing he wasn't right.
Well, better living by chemicals coming to a state near you!
president Bush vindicated?... get real
The whole point of the UN giving Saddam that last two month ultimatum, was to allow him time to migrate his WMD's
Bush vindicated on anything??? lol.. maybe in 20 years after we have recovered from the entire damage he did to this country
Why would he feel vindicated. it seems he failed a geography too. lol bush is saying 'ooops wrong country, sorry"
We had all of Saddams alleged chemical weapons sites pinpointed on a map, but when we went there, NOTHING. That is because all of Saddam's chemicakl weapons had been destroyed. The moron right wingers on this forum are trying to preserve the myth that the weapons were moved.
The weapons were so old, they would be seripously degrade by now and useless. Sarin has a shelf life of a month. The mobile biological weapons labs Bush touted as proof we found the weapons, turned out to be for filling weather ballons, used for artillary bombardment. They had no use as chemical agents.
The yellowcake documents from Niger were forgeries, made up by a faction that wanted a war and regime change in Iraq. Can you say neocon Zionists?
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/08/15/Columns/Israel_s_pipe_dream__.shtml
Once the Pentagon's choice to lead the "new" Iraq, Chalabi
promised to reopen an old British-built pipeline from Kirkuk in northern Iraq
to the Israeli port of Haifa. The plan impressed Richard Perle, Douglas Feith
and other conservatives influencing Bush administration policy toward Iraq in
the lead-up to last year's war.
The idea also drew enthusiastic response from Israel.
"The pipeline would be a dream," Yosef Paritzky, Israel's minister
of infrastructures, said as reported by Salon.com. "We'd have an
additional source of supply, and could even export some of the crude through
Haifa. But we'd need a treaty with Iraq . . . to build the pipeline."
Once Chalabi assumed a position of influence in the new Iraqi government,
Israel would get its treaty, the neoconservatives were assured.
http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/19725/iraq-to-haifa-oil-pipeline-could-spur-economic-rebirth/
You are really out there...First, GEORGE is a liar...Second, Mitt won't get elected...Third, you assume that there were WMD when we know that there were not. I feel for you...I really do. I know reality is hard but come on.
The left controlled media told you that, and you believed them......Ha ha ha ha ha
It's really not funny, that they control the thoughts and political climate in this country scares the hell out of me !
Here we go again...
Assad is looking for a excuse to use those weapons...........just a matter of time.
you fool...
An American General tells whats happening in 2007.....
look up 7 countries in 5 years.
I did, WOW is he a nut job.
Retiring generals and Navy ship Captains often say the darnedest things. That is part of why they are getting retired.
It kind of reminds me of that crazy U.S.S. Liberty Captain that after 9 independent congressional, and U.S. military investigations that cleared Israel of any wrongdoing, came out and stated his opinion that they were all wrong. The man was delusional and emotional, and being retired for those very reasons.
Anyone who believes one upset, aging, delusional ship captain over 9 congressional and U.S. military run investigations really needs a foil lined room, and hat.
If we have the brains to detect why don't we just wipe them out. Two unmarked f-18's and bye bye WMD
anyone standing around the area at the time "OH WELL" Better than several thousands of our troops.
Bob you are not to swift in your reasoning eh. Did you think this one through?
Unlike blowing up a munition depot blowing up a chemical plant is like a nuclear plant going critical.
Remember Chernobyl and the contamination that spread all over Europe? Same will happen when you blow up an chemical plant.
Perhaps not as severe as Chernobyl but big enough for everybody around it to get seriously worried.
Nah. Heat pretty much destroys and renders useless all chemical and bio weapons. it is part of their design.
If you would live there would you like to take that chance?
I know, i know, we don't live there so who gives a sh*t. But maybe Israel does.
Truth be know I don't give a rats ass what is happening in that sh*t hole of the middle east
Anyway want to take a bet on the body bag tally that will come back to the USA?
Because AIPAC will work hard that we are going to do the dirty work for them
Looks like they are desperate for an excuse to invade that country. Ever hear of Weapons of Mass Destruction used as an excuse before? I'm NOT buying it! Been there, done that!
But this time it is a democrat saying this. democrats never lie.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
***************************** GLEN BECK SAID THIS 18 MONTHS AGO ***************
Glen Beck said : Hmmmmmmmmmmmm??
He was also heard muttering "Huh?"
Glen Beck is a bought and paid for propoganda specialist. He is so full of crap. I can not believe people actually listen to that still.
Colon Powell had much better pictures that he presented to the UN Security Council and proved conclusively that Sadamm had factories all over the country making atom bombs and chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. He even had a cartoon style picture of special trucks driving around Baghdad creating chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. It was only by luck that he was able to convince the intellects of America the necessity to invade Iraq and secure their oil.
These new pictures of Syria are not convincing at all. They will not fool anybody.
Have you seen Colin Powell lately on TV? He now admits that the whole WMD in Iraq was made up by one German. He was given the information from our intelligence? services that the reports came from many people. He says that it was the biggest mistake of hois life that he went to the UN and gave that speach.
God will remember his speach and his deeds. I hope im not standing near him on judgment day. I hate loud noises.
I served under him and would gladly go to hell with him! Think about that if you have the guts to! And he gave a speech. Use spellcheck.
If you go to Google earth and zoom in you will see squat.
Come on MSN do a better job or are you using the same supplier for pictures that Collin Powell used.
We know where that got us.
Here are the co-ordinates from Google earth
37.07.00.04 East
34.36.50.00 North
It is the responsibility of the United States to attack Syria as soon as possible to secure these weapons of mass destruction. We need to put our troops on the ground and our planes in the sky. Those old Syrians will think twice once we give them the old shock and awe, that's for sure.
If anyone believes this BS story, you need your head examined.
The pictures prove that this is true. We need to begin mobilizing our resources immediately. Please contact your congressman and tell him we need to secure these weapons of mass destruction with the shock and awe.
Big-Al the brainwashed fool. These picture prove nothing, The history of Syria proves everything, the conduct of the Syrian government up-to now proves everything, the conduct of our government and the Israeli government proves everything, the fact that all news comes through one huge media corporation with zero independent news investigators proves everything, the fact they are building a Damascus look alike in Saudi Arabia proves everything. The fact you know nothing about the Druze proves everything. The fact you believe this article or are so enamored with your born into primary group reveals the flaw in humans and their inability to go beyond trivial things like group mentality like apes or obedient dogs and see the larger picture.
Although it seems shocking to the west that a government would massacre thousands of their own people, it's really no big deal in the Islamic world that's just the way they are, they wake up early in the morning, brush their teeth, pray for one hour, eat some flat bread, cut off their best friend's arm or fingers before work or blow a hole in their neighbour's head because he insulted Alalala. So don't worry so much Americans, relax, go on a picnic or something.
Number of Islamic terror attacks since 2001 - 18,000
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Islamic_terrorist_attacks
If western special forces dedicated to covert terrorist activities to stir public support for wars was doing the acts under the guise of Islamic groups , would that be Islamic terrorism? Black flag terrorism has been the justification for almost every war fought by our country.
Once this conflict is over, hopefully the WMD will be safely contained. Wouldn't it be ironic if some of these WMD could be traced back to Saddam. All those anti Bush critics condemning him for starting a war based on WMD will find out what their "foot" tastes like. I guess we all will have to wait and see. From what I am reading it is not inconceivable that Saddam moved them to Syria. Time will tell
Wait.....this sounds vaguely familiar.......
As Yogi Berra once said - deja vu all over again.
Jeff - Its your side that was s5cking a$$ when you fell for Bushelheads clap trap. IMHO.
Difference between Syria and Iraq vs.a.vs Chemical and Biological weapons is that when the USA was buddies with Saddam, back in the 1980's, we provided him with chemical weapons precursors and bilogical weapons materials (cultures). After all Saddam Hussein was our ally.
wan't Bush sr. president around then? lol
Reagan 81-89, Bush Sr. 89-93, Clinton 93-01, Bush Jr 01-09, Obama 09-17
Reagan began backing away from Saddam when is was clear he was using WMD against his own people and not just the Iranians, by Bush Sr., Saddam was on the sh*t list, he then invaded Kuwait and began Gulf War part 1, Clinton maintained a no fly zone over Iraq for 8 years, Bush Jr went in in 2003 after 10 years of Saddam's crap (and an assasination attempt on his dad)
there was no wmd found fool anywhere in the country it was a lie!!!!!!!!!!!
Can we finally nuke someone if they use chemical weapons?????
Only if they use them against us. Which will probably happen sooner or later. Which is why I am drinking down my wine collection and ignoring my cholesterol. I will, however, purchase a nice, comfy outdoor chaise lounge and some really dark sunglasses to watch the festivities once they begin. By that time, I should be down to drinking Two Buck Chuck and Popov vodka.
Please, let's not shed anymore blood or spend any more money than necessary. Once found erase these weapons from the air, not by sending in ground troops. Or, let them kill each other with them, besides, they have been practicing this for hundreds of years.
HERE WE GO AGAIN!!! and it's got hillary clinton written all over it-when will we rise up in one voice and say enough of this military industrial complex, war machine AKA USA
Renee Love, you are on the mark, our dumb ass politicians and military complex war for profit machine will be the end of us finally if we are not carefull. They instigated this war, because they are upset we are not selling weapons systems to Syria. Presently Russians are supplying them and that of course does not go to the Haliburtons bottom line. We have lost both wars in Afganistan and Irag and don't forget Vietnam. Vietnam is the war where we lost our souls and AMERICA . These pricks are prepping us for IRAN and Syria wars next. The only savings grace is that we are broke and the Chinese will not let us have any more money. China is a place where we sent all our manufacturing jobs and our potential tax revenue. Hillary Clinton should be in Hague for war crimes against humanity! Both her and her husband were vessels of the Satan.
Using chemical and biological weapons on their own , how can leaders think its OK .
If our goverment would declassify the files, we would know why it was done to unsuspecting Americans and if its still a subject
taught at our School of the Americas by the our military