# Are iraq's chemical warheads a smoking gun?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-iraqs-chemical-warheads-a-smoking-gun/149254>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [January 17, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-iraqs-chemical-warheads-a-smoking-gun/149254 "2003-01-17T17:08:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-iraqs-chemical-warheads-a-smoking-gun/149254/101 "2003-01-19T19:36:38Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by carnivorousplant \*  
> \*\*How does one define “Weapon Of Mass Destruction”? \*\*

Here you go: [Definition of the phrase - weapons of mass destruction ?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70902) In 4 words or less, WMD are poisons, biologicals, or nukes, PLUS, and this is where it gets ambiguous, explosives, bombs, grenades,mines, shotgun type devices larger than 1/2" etc. etc. There’s _lots_ of wiggle room for anyone who uses the phrase.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-iraqs-chemical-warheads-a-smoking-gun/149254/102 "2003-01-19T19:43:09Z")

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(D) any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life.

Er, a cell phone?

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-iraqs-chemical-warheads-a-smoking-gun/149254/103 "2003-01-19T20:06:30Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by carnivorousplant \*  
> \*\*Er, a cell phone? \*\*

That’s the President’s call 😛

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**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-iraqs-chemical-warheads-a-smoking-gun/149254/104 "2003-01-19T21:59:42Z")

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[Four more warheads found.](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030119/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_206)

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-iraqs-chemical-warheads-a-smoking-gun/149254/105 "2003-01-19T22:22:56Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \*  
> \*\*[Four more warheads found.](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030119/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_206) \*\*

Let’s see how the admin spins this:

> [@](#):
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> As a sign that Baghdad might be more forthcoming, Blix said that **the Iraqis told them during the talks that they had found** four more empty chemical weapons warheads similar to 12 others discovered by U.N. inspectors Thursday at an ammunition dump south of Baghdad.

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