France Vows To Block UN Resolution on Iraq War

[SlowwHand]

I think GP and Frogger are two we need to be watching.
Forget Hussein. It's all he can do to get his shoes on the proper feet.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by GP
Uranyl is a linear ion: UO2(2+) which coordinates with 4-6 ligands in the equitorial plane. Nitrate is NO3(-). Hydrate is just H2O. The Uranyl ion is coordinated with the waters, I assume and the nitrate is just a counterion in the salt.

So the chemical formula would be UO2(NO3)2("dot")6H2O. The actual bonding would be covalent to the Uranium. Covalent (donor-ligand) with the hydrates and the nitrate groups just floating around for charge balance.

From Cotton, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry: "The nitrate is of major importance because the extraction of uranyl nitrate from aqueous nitric acid into nonpolar solvents is a classic method for seperating and purifying the element."

Like I said: detail.

[KrazyHorse]

You're reminding me why it's been 5 years since I took a chemistry class, GP...

Anyhow, the important thing I took from the IAEA documents is that Iraq only ever managed to enrich raw uranium (or chemical compounds of raw uranium) on laboratory scale. Unless they get mass shipment of HEU from somewhere, a bomb is out of their reach for the forseeable future

[TCO]

Originally posted by Frogger
Whatever. It's got uranium, nitrogen and hydrogen in it.

(i.e. I was right, and the rest is detail)

No. You were wrong. A hydride has H- anions. A nitride has N3- anions.

Sorry.

[TCO]

Originally posted by Frogger
You're reminding me why it's been 5 years since I took a chemistry class, GP...

Anyhow, the important thing I took from the IAEA documents is that Iraq only ever managed to enrich raw uranium (or chemical compounds of raw uranium) on laboratory scale. Unless they get mass shipment of HEU from somewhere, a bomb is out of their reach for the forseeable future

Well...certainly those links that you gave said that they had a fair amount of HEU before the Gulf War. What the concentration was and wether 45 kg is enough I don't know. But what makes you sanguine.

Of course, I assume they have less stuff now.

I also got the point from the site that, Iraq has a very long history of trying to make nukes with extensive teams, facilities, etc. And Blix himself has said that in the 80's his organization did an inadeqaute job of uncovering the Iraqi effort.

[KrazyHorse]

Yup...but that was 20 years ago.

BTW, GP: I thought they said that the HEU they had is basically gone now (facility was bombed by US). If stuff was in liquid form, it wouldn't be lying around for them to pick up...

[TCO]

Originally posted by Frogger
Yup...but that was 20 years ago.

BTW, GP: I thought they said that the HEU they had is basically gone now (facility was bombed by US). If stuff was in liquid form, it wouldn't be lying around for them to pick up...

I never tried to say that that stuff was still around. That wasn't where I was going. Was going with the..."lots of people thought previous allegations in 1990 were conveniently drummed up...but after war they were shown to be if anyhting underestimates." Also, going down the "Blix has been an idiot in the past" road.

There is a part of that site that says the 45 kg was recovered in 1991. Not claiming otherwise. Chill. There's also the claim that Blixd wanted to say that was the extent of the orfogram but American inspectors pushed and were able to show that it was larger. So they helped Blix avoid embarraseing himself.

[Ramo]

Good to see the French acting responsibly, instead of standing by while we **** up the region even more.

[KrazyHorse]

Not worked up right now, GP...

[Maroule]

as a representent of the 'asswipe country of the world', I felt I had to participate

The recent position taken by Chirac/Villepin is mainly based on the domestic agenda + the wish of Chirac, now one of the oldest stateman of Western powers, to increase his international image.

That should not surprise our US friends, most of their international actions are taken on a domestic agenda as well (pleasing voters or lobbies).

On the 'france want's money out of Iraq so tries to get a deal' that has to be the most hypocritical argument from the US : a few days ago we learnt officially that the US was seriously considering selling Iraqi oil, once conquered, to 'repay its war effort'.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by Maroule

On the 'france want's money out of Iraq so tries to get a deal' that has to be the most hypocritical argument from the US : a few days ago we learnt officially that the US was seriously considering selling Iraqi oil, once conquered, to 'repay its war effort'.

I think your 'official' sources are mistaken. Got a link?

[KrazyHorse]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/ny-usoil0110,0,3745888.story

[Chris 62]

Kitty, an un-named "source" is hearsay, and thus not believeable.

[Richelieu]

From the article :
"There are people in the White House who take the position that it's all the spoils of war,” said the source, who asked not to be further identified. "We [the United States] take all the oil money until there is a new democratic government [in Iraq].”

Wonder who those people are. Interns?

[SpencerH]

That link (source) is not even close to being legitimate.