Rebels vow to use chemical weapons (Fallujah!)

[leftchick]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11247879%5E2703,00.html


~snip~

AS the US reeled from the death of nine marines in Iraq at the weekend, insurgents in Fallujah claimed to have obtained chemical weapons and threatened to use them in any battle for control of the rebel stronghold.

Rebel commanders said chemicals such as cyanide had been added to mortar rounds and missiles that would be deployed against coalition troops reported to be preparing for a major assault on the town west of Baghdad.

A military committee made up of former officers in Saddam Hussein's army, including experts on chemicals and guerrilla warfare, is said to have been organising forces in Fallujah and planning tactics.

The committee is understood to include members of all the main insurgent groups, including that of Iraq's most wanted man, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the terrorist leader behind the beheading of several foreign hostages and a string of car-bomb attacks.

[Career Prole]

1. Cyanide isn't that hard to come by. Not exactly a chemical weapon...

...sounds like dipping arrows in curare to me.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

2. Sounds like a planted story to me...

...just another "finding WMDs" ploy to justify our attack on Iraq.

[colonel odis]

3. i agree.

if they get their hands on chemical weapons, it sure would play into the hands of the republicans.

either 1) suspect the truth of that assertion or 2) look closely at who might be supplying them with those chemical weapons. could be part of rumsfeld's/bush's shadow military.

[FreakinDJ]

4. I am sure Monday is Bush's save the Iraq War day

They are sure to have major news conferences explaining to the American people why we need vigilance in the war in Iraq. Here is yet another example of what is coming to a press conference near you

Start spreading the word now

Bush is going to try and SCARE the American people into voting for him.

Send out emails to everyone on your email list. The great Monday Scare the Vote Campaign is coming

[Devils Advocate NZ]

5. Brilliant strategy from the Iraqis...

These guys really know what they are doing.

Now before anyone gets crazy about what I have just said, let me just say I don't think they have even a SINGLE chemical warhead, nor the intention to use them.

BUT

The threat to use such weapons HAS to be taken seriously, which will definately hinder US military operations. For example, all troops involved will have to be ouitfitted with chemical protection suits, and all vehicles involved such as tanks and armoured personnel carriers will have to be checked for integrity against such weapons.

During actual combat operations, constant testing will have to occur, and any suspicious events, such as mortar rounds that do not result in an explosion will create gas alerts, forcing everyone into their NBC suits, thus hindering their ability to fight.

This is a VERY smart move by the Iraqis as it has the effect of levelling the playing field a bit, not to mention the psychological warefare aspects of such threats.

[MasonJar]

6. Excuse me if I am dense. but why would this benefit an adminis-

tration which failed to secure chemical, nuclear, etc. weapons?

[Straight Shooter]

10. It isn't that YOU are dense. bush supporters are dense

They are as dense as petrified wood.

[still_one]

7. not particularly effective if they do

[Sinnerman]

8. There Bluffing.... There is no WMD's..... There Never Was

Kerry/Edwards 2004

[bemildred]

9. Oh good, door-to-door fighting in MOPP4 gear. nt

[Arianrhod]

12. It was hard enough to do office work in it.

I couldn't imagine actually having to maneuver in a combat zone.

[daleo]

11. Assuming this is true (and I don't necessarily assume so)

Then Bush might well respond by ordering chemical attacks on Fallujah, thus completing the circle of Bush doing everything of which he accuses Saddam (torture, rape rooms, invading countries illegally, mass killing of civilians...).

[bemildred]

13. I was considering that this might be used to justify pounding

the place flat. Hard to say. But, there is no reason to think that
bombing it flat will have the desired effect either. The Jihadis
would still be there in the rubble waiting afterwards. I suppose
if you did a Dresden on it, maybe, but that would look pretty bad
on TV.

[daleo]

15. If Bush loses the election I wonder what will happen in Falluja

I have a hunch Bush might really rain death on that city, to wreak vengeance (Falluja was the place where things first obviously went wrong in a big way) and to leave Kerry with a bigger mess to deal with after his inauguration.

[maddezmom]

16. and Iran...and now * is promising to rid Cuba of Fidel

:eyes:

[bemildred]

17. Dunno.

I expect that the threat of war crimes proceedings and media
attentiom at home and abroad is some deterrent, but these people
are proven loons. OTOH he would not be the first pResident to
be dealt with when he got out of line. I think about all we can
say out here in TV-land at this point it that it could well get
"interesting" once the voting is over, win, lose, or draw.

[maddezmom]

14. well someone looted Muthanna...who know what they have to use

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