Iran may have sent Libya shells for chemical weapons

[alp227]

Source: Wash. Post

The Obama administration is investigating whether Iran supplied the Libyan government of Moammar Gaddafi with hundreds of special artillery shells for chemical weapons that Libya kept secret for decades, U.S. officials said.

The shells, which Libya filled with highly toxic mustard agent, were uncovered in recent weeks by revolutionary fighters at two sites in central Libya. Both are under heavy guard and round-the-clock surveillance by drones, U.S. and Libyan officials said.

The discovery of the shells has prompted a probe, led by U.S. intelligence, into how the Libyans obtained them; several sources said early suspicion had fallen on Iran. “We are pretty sure we know” the shells were custom-designed and produced in Iran for Libya, said a senior U.S. official, one of several who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the accusation.

A U.S. official with access to classified information confirmed that there were “serious concerns” that Iran had provided the shells, albeit some years ago. In recent weeks, U.N. inspectors have released new information indicating that Iran has the capability to develop a nuclear bomb, a charge Iranian officials have long rejected. Confirmed evidence of Iran’s provision of the specialized shells may exacerbate international tensions over the country’s alleged pursuit of weapons of mass destruction.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/iran-may-have-sent-libya-shells-for-chemical-weapons/2011/11/18/gIQA7RPifN_singlePage.html

[dipsydoodle]

1. albeit some years ago

and Spain supplied cluster bombs..........albeit some years ago.

[freshwest]

2. Here it comes~ Glenn Beck will liberate Israel now~ Woohoo~

[webDude]

3. My God, we are so hypocritical.

[sce56]

4. Really was Gaddafi really that well in bed with the Iranians?

Or is this more of that Yellow Cake style intel? We know who gave Saddam Chemical Weapons!

[Citizen Worker]

5. Clinton and Obama are trying to locate Colin Powell so he can dust off his cartoon diagrams of the

mobile chemical and biological weapons manufacturing facilities that we knew for a certainty were in Iraq. That's it, before shock and awe Saddam smuggled them into Libya. Now that's the ticket.

[KoKo]

6. Anyone recommending this must not know the History of "Project for New American Century."

they need to do a GOOGLE...

[Laughing Mirror]

7. And those serious NATO bombs

May they have come from Iran too?

[Muskypundit]

8. I am going into the "Who cares?" camp.

We are accusing Iran of giving libya empty artillery shells. Seriously.

Its not like Libya couldnt have made them themselves. The technology is not that advanced. Like... I understand that giving a country a weapons delivery system could potentially be bad, like, if it was an intercontinental ballistic missle.

It would matter if Iran gave mustard gas to Libya; but they didnt. Iran does enough spooky shit without us overreacting.

[NBachers]

9. Sure is a lot of Iran instigation news coming out these days

I wonder why?

[cpwm17]

10. Iran ate my homework

We should first prosecute those in the Reagan administration that helped Iraq's chemical weapons program, which Iraq, with the help of the US Government, used against Iran. Iran did not retaliate with chemical weapons. So Iran should tell anyone in the US Government with such accusations to fuck off.

[Little Tich]

11. This issue has nothing to do with the alleged Iranian attempts at getting the Bomb.

It's wrong to conflate the two issues, IMHO. It's reasonable to believe that the shells are leftovers from Iran's war with Iraq, which saw some use of chemical weapons on both sides. The mustard gas seem to be homebrewed. This was a long time ago, and the main issues are more of what to do with the damn things and how to explain how Gaddafi managed to hold on to them for so long. After all, he promised to get rid of them, and Tony Blair pretty much vouched for him.