# This is interesting. Saddam really did have WMD's. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 31, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365 "2006-01-31T16:38:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/1 "2006-01-31T16:38:18Z")
I’m putting this in the Pit because I’m quite sure that the debate is going to get really ugly over this. It appears that all the folks that have been screaming “Bush lied - people died” and stuff like that might have to eat their words. Mustard, anyone, to go with that generous helping of crow? > [@](#): > > Iraq’s WMD Secreted in Syria, Sada Says > > By IRA STOLL - Staff Reporter of the Sun > January 26, 2006 > > The man who served as the no. 2 official in Saddam Hussein’s air force says Iraq moved weapons of mass destruction into Syria before the war by loading the weapons into civilian aircraft in which the passenger seats were removed. > **[Iraq's WMD Secreted in Syria, Sada Says](https://www.nysun.com/foreign/iraqs-wmd-secreted-in-syria-sada-says/26514/)** > > The man who served as the no. 2 official in Saddam Hussein's air force says Iraq moved weapons of mass destruction into Syria before the war by loading the weapons into civilian aircraft in which the passenger seats were removed. > The Iraqi general, ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/2 "2006-01-31T16:42:27Z")
Any evidence of this other than an ex-general seeking to promote his new book? ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/3 "2006-01-31T16:42:49Z")
Bullshit. Just part of the ongoing attempt to line up another attack on another country and for this guy to make some money. Wanna buy a bridge? ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/4 "2006-01-31T16:43:39Z")
Extra! Extra! Man with upcoming book makes explosive claims that he admittedly has no firsthand knowledge of but was told by “friends” who need to be kept “anonymous” for their safety! Call me when they find something concrete. This is the definition of hearsay. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/5 "2006-01-31T16:48:29Z")
> [@yBeayf](#): > > Any evidence of this other than an ex-general seeking to promote his new book? Yeah, it’s going to take a lot more than one guy’s proclamation to make this believable. Show me some of these WMDs in Syria, and I’ll get onboard. Until then, I think I’ll go with what our own top WMD guys over there said after searching for over a year-- ain’t none. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/6 "2006-01-31T16:50:13Z")
And you believe “the man who served as the no. 2 official in Saddam Hussein’s air force” why? This gentleman has no better credentials than Saddam, Tariq Aziz, or Comical Ali. Why didn’t you believe them when they said there weren’t any? Give me evidence - that can be independently verified - of the existence of WMDs concurrent with the recent invasion, and I’ll publically eat my words. ---
**Author:** ![abbeytxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@abbeytxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abbeytxs)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/7 "2006-01-31T16:50:24Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > I’m putting this in the Pit because I’m quite sure that the debate is going to get really ugly over this. > > It appears that all the folks that have been screaming “Bush lied - people died” and stuff like that might have to eat their words. Mustard, anyone, to go with that generous helping of crow? > > [http://www.nysun.com/article/26514](http://www.nysun.com/article/26514) Living in Texas you should know cream gravy goes with everything, not mustard. In the meantime, I will hold off frying that crow until there is tangible proof of the WMD, not just some guy saying it is so. Look what some guy saying it is so has gotten us so far. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/8 "2006-01-31T16:51:40Z")
Did they load the factories onto the planes as well? And all of the research papers? ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/9 "2006-01-31T16:52:37Z")
[More on ‘Integrity Publishers’](http://www.edresearch.com/IntergrityShame.htm) and their track record with truth. Integrity Publishers is also the publisher of books by Pat Robertson. > [@](#): > > After the original report was posted on March 4, 2003, I contacted Integrity Publishers to inform them that Greg Cynaumon had duped them. I received a return phone call from Joey Paul, the publisher and senior vice president of Integrity Publishers. I told him about my report and that Mr. Cynaumon was not a psychologist, marriage and family therapist, or radio talk show host. Also, I told him that it was clear that Mr. Cynaumon had fabricated the study described in the book that his company published. Mr. Paul said that he would read my report and act accordingly. > > After waiting two months, I contacted Joey Paul again. When I asked why the book was still on the market when it was clear that Mr. Cynaumon is not who he said he is and he had conducted the described study in their book. His response was, “I have nothing to talk to you about.” When I asked why not, he again repeated that he would not talk to me. So, what do we have here? Wacko allegations unsupported by evidence, a guy with a book to hawk, wacko publishers with a track record of publishing lies, reported in the NY Sun and drawn to our attention by…? Yep - it just about passes all the truth tests possible. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/10 "2006-01-31T16:53:44Z")
Someone needs to slip a preprint of this book under Bush’s chair for the SOTU tonight. “I found them. I **FOUND** them!” ---
**Author:** ![jlzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jlzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jlzania)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/11 "2006-01-31T16:58:27Z")
Considering that Scott Ritter and Danny Kay, both experts in their field, concluded that there were no WMD, I’m not frying up the crow either. Shades of Chalabi, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/12 "2006-01-31T17:04:59Z")
> [@](#): > > The pilots told Mr. Sada that two Iraqi Airways Boeings were converted to cargo planes by removing the seats, Mr. Sada said. Then Special Republican Guard brigades loaded materials onto the planes, he said, including **“yellow barrels with skull and crossbones on each barrel.”** The pilots said there was also a ground convoy of trucks. Well, there you have it. Skull and crossbones = WMD. Did the pilot say if any of the barrels had “X X X” symbols on them, indicating moonshine? ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/13 "2006-01-31T17:13:25Z")
[Sada Bio](http://generalgeorgessada.ambassadoragency.com/client_profile.cfm/cid/1225?categories_id=20) > [@](#): > > Georges Hormis Sada graduated from Iraq’s Air Academy in 1959 and was trained by elite forces in Great Britain, Russia and the U.S. An ace fighter pilot who trained other pilots, he went on to become air vice marshal in Saddam Hussein’s military. His acts of bravery, including **saving the lives of forty downed coalition pilots in the Gulf War** , have earned him hero status. He saved 40 downed coalition pilots eh? We didn’t have 40 pilots shot down in both wars combined I’ll lay any odds. Apart from not understanding how that made him a hero. [1st Gulf war casualties](http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2020.html) > [@](#): > > U.S. casualties > > # Army: 98 battle; 105 nonbattle > > # Navy: six battle; eight nonbattle > > # Marines: 24 battle; 26 nonbattle > > # Air Force: 20 battle; six nonbattle. Conclusion - another lying prick whose words are echoed by other liars and those too stupid to think for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/14 "2006-01-31T17:18:40Z")
**Clothahump** : Would you like wait for some form of Corroboration, or is this one mans words good enough for you? If it is true: Were these drums representative of some illegally purchased gas weapon or a chemical weapons program? Did Saddam actually have production capability or a large stockpile? The article had nothing about stockpiles or production. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/15 "2006-01-31T17:27:26Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Well, there you have it. Skull and crossbones = WMD. Did the pilot say if any of the barrels had “X X X” symbols on them, indicating moonshine? No, silly. The “X X X” barrels had Saddam’s personal porn stash archived in them. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/16 "2006-01-31T17:29:13Z")
Mmm, crow. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/17 "2006-01-31T17:34:49Z")
**Clothahump** , I just made myself a tasty crow sandwich, but you look hungry. Would you like it? Two questions: One, if this turns out to be true, will it add any justification to the war? Two, whether true or false, do you predict that the Pubs will try to make hay of it? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/18 "2006-01-31T17:38:24Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Well, there you have it. Skull and crossbones = WMD. Did the pilot say if any of the barrels had “X X X” symbols on them, indicating moonshine? No, but there were some things that looked like black bowling balls, with burning fuses. And each one was wearing a mortarboard and thick glasses. What do you suppose that means? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/19 "2006-01-31T17:47:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Then Special Republican Guard brigades loaded materials onto the planes, he said, including “yellow barrels with skull and crossbones on each barrel.” [Like this?](http://www.parascope.com/articles/0997/skullbones.htm) ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365/20 "2006-01-31T17:54:14Z")
Yeah, i think i’ll wait for a little more actual evidence before proclaiming the discovery of the long-absent WMDs. Just out of interest, **Clothahump** , if i were arguing with you about WMDs, and the only evidence i had for my position was hearsay from a former official in Saddam Hussein’s military, how seriously would you take my assertions? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-interesting-saddam-really-did-have-wmds/342365.md?page=2)