realist-
finally....where do the numbers come from about how much gas hussein had in 1991??? do you have any info on how much he supposedly had?
heres some of iraqs admitted numbers.....and imo, the actual numbers would be much higher than what they would admit to having........
30. In 1981, Iraq started producing the blister agent mustard
(HD). Iraq's earlier declarations of 3,080 tons produced have
been reduced in the latest disclosure to 2,850 tons. The
quality of the mustard agent was good (not less than
80 per cent pure) and was such that the agent could be stored
for long periods, either in bulk or in weaponized form.
http://www.fas.org/news/un/iraq/s/s1995-0284.htm
also....how long can one store these gases??? i am pretty sure one can'T store them for 12 years.
Even years after its production, the mustard agent analysed by the
Commission was found to be in good and usable condition.
http://www.fas.org/news/un/iraq/s/s1995-0284.htm
and how much supposedly was desroyed?
34. Over the period from June 1992 to June 1994, the
Commission's Chemical Destruction Group destroyed 30 tons of
tabun, 70 tons of sarin and 600 tons of mustard agent, stored
in bulk and in munitions.
http://www.fas.org/news/un/iraq/s/s1995-0284.htm
now, that was back '94, and i know in 1997 thousands of tons of chemical agents were destroyed by unmovic, but im having a hard time narrowing down (with links) how much of the mustard gas was destroyed. heres what blix had to say about unaccounted for chemical weapons in february 2003 (bold, italic mine):
To take an example, a document, which Iraq provided, suggested to us that some 1,000 tonnes of chemical agent were “unaccounted for”. One must not jump to the conclusion that they exist. However, that possibility is also not excluded. If they exist, they should be presented for destruction. If they do not exist, credible evidence to that effect should be presented.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-578338,00.html
simple, right? apparently not for saddam....and again, ive yet to hear one reasonable explanation as to why this would be difficult in the time frame he was given..?
heres a little info on vx:
36. Iraq also had a research and development programme for the
production of a further nerve agent, VX. According to Iraq's
account, VX was the focus of its research efforts in the
period after September 1987. Iraq has stated that between
late 1987 and early 1988, a total of 250 tons of phosphorous
pentasulphide and 200 tons of di-isopropylamine were imported,
these being two key precursors required for the production of
VX. For the other precursors required, Iraq claims to have
used only approximately 1 ton of methyl phosphonyl chloride
(MPC) from a total of 660 tons produced indigenously. The
remaining MPC is claimed to have been used to produce DF, then
used in GB/GF production. The fourth precursor required for
VX, ethylene oxide, was generally available, being a multi-
purpose chemical.
37. Iraq states that it produced a total of only 10 tons of
choline from the di-isopropylamine and ethylene oxide and
approximately 3 tons of methyl thiophosphonyl dichloride from
the phosphorous pentasulphide and methyl phosphonyl chloride.
From this, Iraq states that it produced experimental
quantities of VX (recently increased to 260 kg from 160 kg).
Iraq has recently admitted that three 250-gauge aerial bombs
had been filled with VX for experimental purposes.
38. Iraq claims that further attempts to produce VX were
unsuccessful and the programme was finally abandoned in
September 1988. According to Iraq's account, the remaining
choline from the 10 tons was burned in early 1988 and the
remaining 247 tons of phosphorous pentasulphide was discarded
in 1991 by scattering it over an area of land and putting it
in pits. Iraq also claims that 213 tons of di-isopropylamine
was destroyed by bombing during the Gulf war. However, while
the Commission has found traces of these chemicals at the
sites at which Iraq states their destruction occurred, it has
not been able to verify the quantities destroyed. Thus,
precursors for the production of at least 200 to 250 tons of
VX cannot be definitively accounted for.
http://www.fas.org/news/un/iraq/s/s1995-0284.htm
and what blix had to say about it recently:
The Iraqi side suggested that the problem of verifying the quantities of anthrax and two VX-precursors, which had been declared unilaterally destroyed, might be tackled through certain technical and analytical methods.
Although our experts are still assessing the suggestions, they are not very hopeful that it could prove possible to assess the quantities of or testimony by staff that dealt with the items still appears to be needed.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-578338,00.html
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