# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/21 "2003-03-24T02:32:42Z")
All you get from the BBC at the moment is: "0120: US military say they are investigating “sites of potential interest” following reports of US troops reaching a chemical plant south of Baghdad. " - they won’t be reporting further unless the story firms up a little. ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/22 "2003-03-24T02:33:06Z")
> [@](#): > > 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. :rolleyes: I’m glad the majority of the people in this world aren’t hysterical. It would make it a terrible place to live. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/23 "2003-03-24T02:36:27Z")
It was obviously a well-guarded babyfood factory. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/24 "2003-03-24T02:39:26Z")
I gotta say… this thread, it seems to me, rather succintly exemplifies all that’s going on at the moment in the Iraq war. Lot’s of speculation… news agencies like Fox openly pushing the limits of editorial accuracy in the interests of sales… Dopers coming in with profoundly passionate views one way or the other. But I have to admit… sure it’s true that a lot of folks are hoping beyond hope that a major cache of nasty weapons and manufcturing facilities are found… such a position is inarguably obvious… nontheless, I would just like to say how much I like this messageboard - even now - in the midst of all the confusion… and here’s why… If the truth is going to come out about all this madness and sadness, I totally feel safe in the knowledge that I’ll find that truth here… If there is a cynical position which I need to read so that I personally can maintain a resonable position on a given issue, then I can rest assured that I will read that cynical post here. To all my fellow Dopers who are keeping me on the “straight and narrow” at the moment, thank you. Remember, the truth is the truth, and it always comes out - sooner or later - and that’s our job here it seems to me. ---
**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, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/25 "2003-03-24T02:40:58Z")
All countries need chemicals. In the US I direct your attention to NJ and Louisiana. We even have one down the road from us albeit a small one. They make formaldehyde. My point is…stop your crowing until the proof is in. ---
**Author:** ![Severian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@Severian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Severian)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/26 "2003-03-24T02:43:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*“Premature” “Suspected” Under any other circumstances, this shit would be funny. \*\* In defense of the OP, the article originally lacked those words and made it sound fairly certain this was a chemical weapons plant, it even said there was Pentagon confirmation. The Internet must be a God-send to “news” agencies like Fox News; they can change their stories after release. ---
**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, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/27 "2003-03-24T02:47:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mandelstam \* > **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. \*\* You mean after twelve years, we were all the way down to the last few weeks of the inspections, then cut them off? They were finally almost done? How unfortunate. Not. More likely, no matter when we might have decided to go to war, they’d still have claimed to have a few more weeks to go. That’s the cry of somebody trying to justify their existence. In that amount of time, they should have swept the country from end to end at least once. ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/28 "2003-03-24T02:51:05Z")
> [@](#): > > All countries need chemicals. In the US I direct your attention to NJ and Louisiana. We even have one down the road from us albeit a small one. They make formaldehyde. > > My point is…stop your crowing until the proof is in. Yes, we should definitely wait until the proof is in. However, it is understandable that people would be extremely suspicious about this. After all, how many chemical plants do you know of that are surrounded by electric fences, are camoflauged to prevent aerial detection, and have military forces running/guarding the place? ---
**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, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/29 "2003-03-24T02:52:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mandelstam \* > **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. \*\* You mean after twelve years, we were all the way down to the last few weeks of the inspections, then cut them off? They were finally almost done? How unfortunate. Not. More likely, no matter when we might have decided to go to war, they’d still have claimed to have a few more weeks to go. That’s the cry of somebody trying to justify their existence. In that amount of time, they should have swept the country from end to end at least once. ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/30 "2003-03-24T02:53:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*But I found I couldn’t muster sufficient sarcasm. Really, its seems there is a limit. \*\* If you’ve run out of sarcasm, this alone justifies the war & it was well worth it. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Reeder \* > \*\* All countries need chemicals. In the US I direct your attention to NJ and Louisiana. We even have one down the road from us albeit a small one. They make formaldehyde. > > My point is…stop your crowing until the proof is in. \*\* I agree about your second point, wait for some confirmation. About your first point, I think the camouflage and Generals in charge are very suspicious. ---
**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, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/31 "2003-03-24T03:04:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by regnad kcin \* > \*\*“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! 🙂 \*\* Sorry, **Nick**. Had my “low post count” filter on. Won’t happen again. Nothing personal. ---
**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, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/32 "2003-03-24T03:06:38Z")
Generals in charge of thirty men. To guard something Saddam wants no one to see? Please. ---
**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, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/33 "2003-03-24T03:11:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Are you directing that to the knee- jerk who started the thread or to elucidator? Primarily Lucy, but then, I notice that he’s already gotten to twisting things around with his rantings of “WTF does that mean?” Maybe somebody oughtta get that boy a dictionary. ---
**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, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/34 "2003-03-24T03:16:35Z")
Awwww, gee, now I got to cry myself to sleep again. You’re just a couple of big nasty sillies who deserve a good slap! ---
**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, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/35 "2003-03-24T03:16:56Z")
**Sevarian** , thanks for posting that explanation. I wondered how I had managed to miss the important word “suspected”–now I realize I’d read the earlier version. **Joe**" _“You mean after twelve years, we were all the way down to the last few weeks of the inspections, then cut them off? They were finally almost done?”_ **Joe\_Cool** , you appear not to realize that the inspections only began a few months ago after having been broken off several years ago, in 1998 IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/36 "2003-03-24T03:19:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\* 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. \*\* Disgusting. ---
**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, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/37 "2003-03-24T03:25:09Z")
You’re damn right it is. I’m glad you agree with me. ---
**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, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/38 "2003-03-24T03:29:49Z")
_The bird of time has but a short way to flutter And Lo, the bird is on the wing._ Anyone one wanna bet?\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_🙂 ---
**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, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/39 "2003-03-24T03:31:49Z")
Gotta go with **Scylla** on this one, **Dio**. You know you ain’t got a better friend on the Board, but that was way over the top. The stress of this shitstorm is getting to all of us, but the clarity and charity you usually bring to these discussions is sorely needed. Retract, repent, and forget it. First, you must trudge to the river to perform the Ancient Tasmanian Ritual of Self-Abasement, accompanied by a Chorus of Bitter Virgins, intoning dirges of Woe and Humiliation. So let it be posted, so let it be done. Yer pal, Da Luce ---
**Author:** ![Riboflavin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Riboflavin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riboflavin)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661/40 "2003-03-24T03:42:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*Even if we found some pathetic little excuse for a chemical factory, that still does not provide any retroctive legal justification for the invasion. That’s right, the legal justification for the invasion is over a decade old, since Saddam has refused to comply with the terms of the cease fire ending Gulf War one. Repeating over and over that the war is illegal without any evidence backing your assertion doesn’t magically make it so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-chemical-weapons-factory-found-by-coalition-forces-what-a-surprise/163661.md?page=3)