http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1357-2003Jan16.html U.N. Experts Report Chemical Warheads Find in Iraq Reuters Thursday, January 16, 2003; 1:09 PM BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.N. weapons inspectors in Iraq on Thursday found empty warheads designed to carry chemical warfare agents, a U.N. spokesman said in Baghdad. Hiro Ueki did not elaborate on the possible significance of the find during an inspection of the Ukhaider Ammunition Storage Area. He said an inspection team had gone there to inspect a large group of bunkers constructed in the late 1990s. "During the course of their inspection, the team discovered 11 empty 122 mm chemical warheads and one warhead that requires further evaluation," Ueki said in a statement. "The warheads were in excellent condition and were similar to ones imported by Iraq during the late 1980s. The team used portable X-ray equipment to conduct preliminary analysis of one of the warheads and collected samples for chemical testing." There was no immediate comment from the Iraqi side. President Saddam Hussein's administration has insistently denied still possessing chemical weapons, which Iraq has been repeatedly ordered to give up under United Nations Security Council resolutions dating back to the Gulf crisis of 1990. Inspectors have complained that Iraq has failed to provide evidence of action it says it took to destroy stocks of banned weapons following the departure of previous U.N. teams in 1998. Following a new Council resolution, 1441, passed in November last year, U.N. inspectors returned to Iraq four weeks ago. The United Nations has warned Iraq that a failure to observe its ban on chemical, biological and nuclear weapons will have "serious consequences." The United States is already massing forces in the region for a possible invasion to overthrow Saddam.
Wow. I`m not sure if I am more surprised that they found them or that Irag left them out for the inspectors to find.
I'm also a bit shocked. No....I'm a LOT shocked. I've always believed they've had 'em....I just never thought the inspection process would find them.
Yes! Another step closer to taking control of their oilfields! Keep up the good work, Hans! Dow 20,000 here we come!
These weapons were clearly planted by the inspectors to increase support for a war. Sean Penn has already been to Baghdad and assured us that war is not necessary so I don't buy what these UN inspectors are saying for one minute. They've probably been bought off by Bush and will receive their payoff when the Iraqi oil fields are taken over by the US.
i'm really not either...but think how long they've been there before these were found...i'd be willing to bet you this wasn't the first time they inspected this warehouse... this is pretty big news, i'd say.
more: BAGHDAD, Iraq –– U.N. inspectors on Thursday found 11 empty chemical warheads in "excellent" condition at an ammunition storage area where they were inspecting bunkers built in the late 1990s, a U.N. spokesman reported. They had not previously been declared by Iraq. A 12th warhead, also of a 122 mm, was found that requires further evaluation, according to the statement by Hiro Ueki, the spokesman for U.N. weapons inspectors in Baghdad. "It was a discovery. They were not declared," Ueki told The Associated Press.
how about this...from drudgereport.com Iraq says warheads were old weapons mentioned in December arms declaration...
Well, since they are dated to the late 80's and are empty (useless at the moment) then that could be true. I am sure the good stuff is still well hidden.
I heard on Fox News that the 122mm warhead shells have an artillary range of 12 miles!!!! I would have to say that Bush Admin has now seen enough WMD evidence to level Iraq. ------------- http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20030116/D7OJFSG00.html [/i] U.N. Inspectors Find Chemical Warheads Jan 16, 1:47 PM (ET) BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - U.N. inspectors on Thursday found 11 empty chemical warheads in "excellent" condition at an ammunition storage area where they were inspecting bunkers built in the late 1990s, a U.N. spokesman reported. A 12th warhead, also of a 122 mm, was found that requires further evaluation, according to the statement by Hiro Ueki, the spokesman for U.N. weapons inspectors in Baghdad. It was not immediately clear if discovery of the warheads constituted a "material breach" of the U.N. resolution requiring Iraq to itemize all of its weapons of mass destruction. At the United Nations, the U.S. ambassador said he could not offer an assessment without further information. "I simply cannot answer into that kind of hypothetical proposition without having more facts at my fingertips," John Negroponte said. The team used portable X-ray equipment for a preliminary analysis of one of the warheads and collected samples for chemical testing, Ueki's statement said. "The warheads were in excellent condition and were similar to ones imported by Iraq during the late 1980's," the statement said. The warheads were found during a visit by inspectors to the Ukhaider Ammunition Storage Area, 75 miles south of Baghdad. U.N. inspectors are searching for evidence Iraq still has chemical, nuclear or biological weapons programs. They are expected to report preliminary findings to the U.N. Security Council in New York by Jan. 27. On Dec. 7, a chemical team secured a dozen artillery shells filled with mustard gas that had first been inventoried by their predecessors in the 1990s. Thursday's find was the first batch of weapons of mass destruction brought under their control in the new round of inspections in Iraq. U.N. inspectors have said Iraq's final weapons declaration made in December failed to support its claims to have destroyed missiles, warheads and chemical agents such as VX nerve gas. The United States and Britain doubt Iraq is committed to giving up its weapons of mass destruction and have dispatched thousands more troops to the Gulf region for a possible military showdown. Washington has cited nine areas in which it said Iraq's declaration fails to give a complete picture of weapons holdings. These include thousands of pounds of unaccounted-for materials for producing anthrax, and the chemical precursors for manufacturing mustard gas. [/i]
Is the warhead itself enough to be considered WMD? I'm glad they've found something though. At least we look a little less crazy now.
Now it's time for Saddam to flee and Iraq can get it's new government. It's inevitable now. Then North Koreas weapons have to be dealt with.
