# Huge Chemical Weapons Factory found by coalition forces. What a surprise. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 24, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661 "2003-03-24T01:13:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/1 "2003-03-24T01:13:21Z")
[Fox News](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,81935,00.html) [Jerusalem Post](http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1048389503299) I’m sure glad those U.N. inspectors did such a good job. Military force was completely unnecessary. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![AZCowboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/97f17d/32.png) [@AZCowboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AZCowboy)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/2 "2003-03-24T01:19:42Z")
Why don’t we wait til CentCom, at least, confirms this before we take it as granted. Could turn out to be like the scuds. > [@](#): > > _[CentCom Briefing](http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Transcripts/20030323a.htm), 3/23/03_ > Q (Inaudible name and affiliation.) Have we seen any evidence of weapons of mass destruction yet? > > GEN. ABIZAID: We are continuing to look for weapons of mass destruction. We have received reports from various prisoners that have given us leads. Suffice it to say that we continue to look, but so far we haven’t found any conclusive evidence. We are confident that we will find it. > > Yes sir. > > Q Can I follow on that, sir? The Jerusalem Post – George Stephanopoulos ABC News – Jerusalem Post is reporting that 30 Iraqi military along with a general have surrendered to the 3rd Infantry Division around al-Mujaf (sp), at what appears to be a bio-chemical weapons complex. Can you say anything about that? Can you confirm it? And is that the report you were referring to? > > GEN. ABIZAID: I will not confirm that report. We have a Iraqi general officer – two Iraqi general officers that we have taken prisoner, and they are providing us with information. > > Yes sir. ---
**Author:** ![Milum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Milum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milum)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/3 "2003-03-24T01:44:31Z")
OK AZcowboy, the existence of the 100 acre chemical weapons plant complex has now been confirmed by the Pentagon. Sorry. But maybe the Peace March Folks will now explain to us that it is merely a part of Saddam’s \*\*“Toxic Chemicals for World Peace Program” \*\*that we have rudely interupted. _And the beat goes on…_ ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/4 "2003-03-24T01:57:14Z")
Wow. I take a little over an hour away from the news to go to an evening church service, and come home to discover this news! Things sure do move fast. ---
**Author:** ![regnad\_kcin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@regnad\_kcin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regnad_kcin)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/5 "2003-03-24T01:59:35Z")
Gimme a link there, Milum. I will be very very surprised if they dont find any chemical weapons in Iraq. On the other hand, from the Yahoo article this seems like its just a chemical plant. There are several chemical plants near my house. I doubt there are weapons coming out of them. Lets be cautious here. Crying wolf too many times – and its already been called soooooooo many times – will undermine the believability of the real mccoy. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/6 "2003-03-24T02:00:25Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by Joe\_Cool_ > I’m sure glad those U.N. inspectors did such a good job. Military force was completely unnecessary. :rolleyes: They were doing a fine job until some idiot decided to come in and shoot up the place. ---
**Author:** ![d\_redguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@d\_redguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d_redguy)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/7 "2003-03-24T02:04:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by regnad kcin \* > \*\*Gimme a link there, Milum. > > I will be very very surprised if they dont find any chemical weapons in Iraq. > > On the other hand, from the Yahoo article this seems like its just a chemical plant. There are several chemical plants near my house. I doubt there are weapons coming out of them. > > Lets be cautious here. Crying wolf too many times – and its already been called soooooooo many times – will undermine the believability of the real mccoy. \*\* [From Fox News:](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,81935,00.html) > [@](#): > > The chemical plant is described as a “100-acre complex,” surrounded by an electrical fence. The plant was also apparently camouflaged to avoid aerial photos being taken. Are the chemical plants by your house camouflaged? ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/8 "2003-03-24T02:04:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by regnad kcin \* > \*\*Gimme a link there, Milum. > \*\* > [@](#): > > \*\* ‘Huge’ Chemical Weapons Plant Found in Iraq\*\* > > Sunday, March 23, 2003 > > A senior pentagon official has confirmed to Fox News on Sunday that coalition forces have discovered a “huge” chemical weapons factory near the Iraqi city of An Najaf, which is situated some 90 miles south of Baghdad. > > Coalition troops are also said to be holding the general in charge of the facility. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,81935,00.html](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,81935,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/9 "2003-03-24T02:08:15Z")
Google’s way-back machine turned up this 1992 inspection of a tire plant at An Najaf: > [@](#): > > An Najaf Tyre Factory - The team inspected the “new tyre plant project” near An Najaf after a two hour notification. The plant belongs to the Ministry of Industry. Construction of the plant was stopped by the embargo, but it has since been restarted with a level of activity that indicates a high priority. All designs, construction and on-going operations (e.g. recycle) are consistent with the declaration. Carbon black is manufactured elsewhere and purchased for use here. There was no sign of graphite production or use. [http://www.iraqwatch.org/un/IAEA/iaea-15.htm](http://www.iraqwatch.org/un/IAEA/iaea-15.htm) Perhaps this new discovery is the same plant ? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/10 "2003-03-24T02:08:21Z")
I was going to say something about the reliability of Fox News. But I found I couldn’t muster sufficient sarcasm. Really, its seems there is a limit. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/11 "2003-03-24T02:10:16Z")
I’ll wait and see what the _news_ outlets report. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/12 "2003-03-24T02:10:24Z")
Just about every major unit has one of those “sniffers” used to detect chemical and biological agents. They haven’t sent one there yet? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/13 "2003-03-24T02:11:16Z")
> [@](#): > > I was going to say something about the reliability of Fox News. Why not, Lucy? Ad hominem debating tactics sure wouldn’t be new for you. In any case, Fox just said that it’s still uncertain whether this new find was a chemical weapons plant or not. Let’s give it a wait. ---
**Author:** ![regnad\_kcin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@regnad\_kcin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regnad_kcin)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/14 "2003-03-24T02:12:29Z")
Okay, I found it myself. It says: “U.S. Central Command said in a statement that troops were examining ‘sites of interest,’ but did not elaborate. The statement said reports describing the discovery as a chemical weapons factory were ‘premature.’” -snip- "It is not yet known what chemicals were being produced at the plant. “Asked at a news conference in Qatar Sunday about reports of the chemical plant, Lt. Gen. John Abizaid of U.S. Central Command declined comment. He said top Iraqi officers have been questioned about chemical weapons.” From the ever reliable Fox News: [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,81935,00.html](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,81935,00.html) Not very conclusive. Again, I bet they will find something somewhere. But this is the second largest oil producing country. They are very very likely to have large non-weapons producing chemical plants there. Lets wait until the Pentagon says its a chemical WEAPONS plant. If everyone jumps up and down saying “I told you so I told you so!” every time something looking vaguely like it might be a weapons plant is uncovered, nobody is going to believe you when they really do find one. ---
**Author:** ![Mandelstam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Mandelstam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mandelstam)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/15 "2003-03-24T02:14:20Z")
I find it rather interesting that so far only Fox News is reporting Pentagon confirmation of the _Jerusalem Post_’s story. [This](http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-2504231,00.html) AP story, which appears to have been filed _after_ the Fox News story, has US officials still trying to determine whether this chemicals factory was or wasn’t involved in making chemical weapons. I’m sure we’ll soon see. **JoeCool** : _“I’m sure glad those U.N. inspectors did such a good job. Military force was completely unnecessary.”_ Last I heard the UN inspectors said they needed at least several more weeks to complete their inspections, and **never said a single word** about whether military force might ultimately be necessary. But, by all means, go on edifying us with your, um, coolness. ---
**Author:** ![bare](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bare/32/471_2.png) [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/16 "2003-03-24T02:14:38Z")
We shall see… Is this like the reported scud’s reported a couple days ago? I am all breaking news with a grain of salt. This report on the surface doesn’t pass the smell test. Tin clad building? Camo? 30 enemy combatants. I can see this turning out to be a group of poor Iraqi’s sitting in their recycled tin-roofing clad hovel with a sod roof, cooking up a pot of beans. (well, they MIGHT be castor beans for making ricin). ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/17 "2003-03-24T02:16:38Z")
Even if we found some pathetic little excuse for a chemical factory, that still does not provide any retroctive legal justification for the invasion. Even if we find a giant underground cache of ICBMs, that _still_ would not justify the invasion. Rather than whoo-hooing over what is probably a soap factory we should be expressing a little outrage over the 12 American GIs that GWB murdered today. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/18 "2003-03-24T02:17:13Z")
> [@](#): > > In any case, Fox just said that it’s still uncertain whether this new find was a chemical weapons plant or not. Let’s give it a wait. Are you directing that to the knee- **jerk** who started the thread or to **elucidator?** ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/19 "2003-03-24T02:17:50Z")
I just checked the cite. Do you mean to tell me you guys ran screaming in here, jumping up and down and the heaviest thing this article says is “suspected”? Suspected? WTF does that mean? Diddly-squat is what that means. And, for some reason, you didn’t seem to want to include much in the way of quotes. Let me help you out with one: "The statement said reports describing the discovery as a chemical weapons factory were “premature.” “Premature” “Suspected” Under any other circumstances, this shit would be funny. ---
**Author:** ![regnad\_kcin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@regnad\_kcin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regnad_kcin)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/20 "2003-03-24T02:27:00Z")
“And, for some reason, you didn’t seem to want to include much in the way of quotes. Let me help you out with one:” Hey, man, I had that quote in MY post! 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661.md?page=2)