UN Inspectors Find Empty Chemical Warheads

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Chemical weapons aren't any more deadly than conventional explosive weapons. To consider them WoMD is hyperbole, IMO.

I think you're thinking of the first generation systems developed/used in WW1 - Mustard gas, cyanide and a few blister agents. These have effects that can be anulled or drastically ameliorated with a simple mask.

Later generations are far far more deadly - persistant nerve agents, certain binary weapons and a few neuro-toxins are capable of causing an immense loss of life if introduced into a populated region or city.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

Originally posted by Frogger
As long as tehy were empty, I don't think this violates the agreement. You can fill them with conventional warheads too...

No you can't.

They said you could on CNN...

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by OneFootInTheGrave
edit: actually if they got hold of ebola virus and just spread it in daylight at New York airport or here in London. Now that would be a global catastrophe. I better not think about those things

Ebola Zaire, the lethal strain, is not commuted via airborne routes.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

Originally posted by Frogger
As long as tehy were empty, I don't think this violates the agreement. You can fill them with conventional warheads too...

No you can't.

Why on earth not?

[TCO]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger


Ebola Zaire, the lethal strain, is not commuted via airborne routes.

Actually...if you read THE HOT ZONE, they mention some possibilites of strains being occasionaly airborne. And if you read The Cobra Event (by Preston) he discusses the possibility of taking a bug and tweaking it to make it airborne.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Ebola Zaire, the lethal strain, is not commuted via airborne routes.

You forgot Sudan.

[Drake Tungsten]

Why on earth not?

The warheads are specially made, with polyurethane coating on the inside and special nozzles on the top to allow for the introduction of chemical agents. I guess that you could theoretically use them for conventional warheads, but why? You'd have to modify them, so why not buy the warheads meant for conventional explosives? These were pretty obviously meant to be used for chemical warfare...

[Boris Godunov]

But again, so what? They weren't being used for anything. They were disused, sitting in crates covered in dust and bird poop. Oh, the horrors!!!

[KrazyHorse]

Because according to the Iraqis (again, to be taken with a grain of salt) they were purchased prior to 1991. And since then, I have the suspicion they've had problems buying military equipment so they packratted everything they were allowed to.

Don't know if it's true or not, but that seems to be what they've suggested...

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
They were disused, sitting in crates covered in dust and bird poop. Oh, the horrors!!!

Which article says that they were "sitting in crates covered in dust and bird poop?"

[KrazyHorse]

The article that Che supposedly read.

[Pekka]

Empty shells? Big deal.

Now, I don't care if these guys have WoMD or not. I care about the Iraqi people and what Saddam is doing to them (go ahead and laugh). Iraq is not a big danger to anyone in my mind, but to the people of Iraq. Maybe to Israel, but Israel could kick them back and destroy Iraq if needed. So, as a big threat? Nah..

But anyway, this is a good sign. It means it's more safer to attack in february. There could be some bad stuff coming back from Saddam, sure, but at least these warheads are not flying filled with nasty substances. So good for the coming attack.
Any man whose people are starving and dying and is playing hide and seek, cat and mouse, build me another castle, I'm the dictator and you're not should be shot in the back. So this news is nothing bad, it's actually positive.

[Pekka]

So all of these empty warheads are good warheads. People should love them, not think 'bad bad bad'. Of course they have these things lying around, and if they're empty, well that's just great.

And as for chemical weapons, everyone has them.

[Az]

Pekka: I agree on anything you've said, except the 'good warheads' part.

[Pekka]

well, armed warhead is bad, right? So.. empty warhead is.. good? You can't have it all bad!