Missing Explosives: CBS report 2003-04-04 (+)
CBS News reported April 4, 2003 that US forces searched the Latifiyah Explosives and Ammunition Plant al Qa Qaa and
See CNN's report here.
The timeline I can make out of this:
2003-01-11 UN weapon inspectors note the 380 tons in bunkers and tamper seals were placed on the doors.
2003-03-15 UN weapons inspectors return and check some of the bunker seals. None of them inspected showed signs of tampering. The bunkers were not opened, it was assumed the explosives were still in them. Not all bunkers were checked but assuming the inspectors used an appropriate statistical method it is logical to think the weapons were still there.
2003-03-20 Invasion of Iraq begans
2003-04-04 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) arrives on the al Qa Qaa scene. Reports widespread looting. Found conventional weapons but no high grade explosives.
2003-04-10 101st arrives and replaces the 3ID. No one specifically looks for or observes high grade explosives
2003-05-27 Inspection teams finds explosives missing
Based on current data: I conclude the stuff was there 3/15 and gone 4/04. Even if the plant/bunkers were not secured by US forces it is pretty hard to imagine 50 plus trucks (dump truck or semi-tractor trailers) not being noticed traveling to and from the plant. Much more logical that once the fireworks started in Baghdad Saddam had the explosives relocated. The only question is where?
So now we are back to the beginning: someone, we can assume evil, has a whole bunch of high grade explosives.
If we discover that it was relocated to Syria or Iran what should do? Ask them to give it back to Iraq (after all it was Iraq's property)? Tell them they can keep it and throw in a bonus cruise missile or two so they can have a grand ol' party with fireworks? Complain to the UN?
troops found thousands of boxes, each of which contained three vials of white powder, together with documents written in Arabic that dealt with how to engage in chemical warfare.No mention of 380 tons of explosives... Now maybe the stuff was there and CBS was only reporting on the search for WMD, but it seems logical to expect a mention of a HUGE supply of explosives.
See CNN's report here.
The timeline I can make out of this:
2003-01-11 UN weapon inspectors note the 380 tons in bunkers and tamper seals were placed on the doors.
2003-03-15 UN weapons inspectors return and check some of the bunker seals. None of them inspected showed signs of tampering. The bunkers were not opened, it was assumed the explosives were still in them. Not all bunkers were checked but assuming the inspectors used an appropriate statistical method it is logical to think the weapons were still there.
2003-03-20 Invasion of Iraq begans
2003-04-04 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) arrives on the al Qa Qaa scene. Reports widespread looting. Found conventional weapons but no high grade explosives.
2003-04-10 101st arrives and replaces the 3ID. No one specifically looks for or observes high grade explosives
2003-05-27 Inspection teams finds explosives missing
Based on current data: I conclude the stuff was there 3/15 and gone 4/04. Even if the plant/bunkers were not secured by US forces it is pretty hard to imagine 50 plus trucks (dump truck or semi-tractor trailers) not being noticed traveling to and from the plant. Much more logical that once the fireworks started in Baghdad Saddam had the explosives relocated. The only question is where?
So now we are back to the beginning: someone, we can assume evil, has a whole bunch of high grade explosives.
If we discover that it was relocated to Syria or Iran what should do? Ask them to give it back to Iraq (after all it was Iraq's property)? Tell them they can keep it and throw in a bonus cruise missile or two so they can have a grand ol' party with fireworks? Complain to the UN?
posted by Quinqube at 06:08
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home