Missing explosives still unexplained

[tommcintyre]

http://www.freep.com/news/nw/iraq30e_20041030.htm

Missing explosives still unexplained

Army unit reports destroying 250 tons, but not the lost 377 tons

October 30, 2004

FREE PRESS NEWS SERVICES

WASHINGTON -- An Army unit removed 250 tons of ammunition from the Al-Qaqaa weapons depot in April 2003 and later destroyed it, the unit's former commander said Friday. A Pentagon spokesman said some was of the same type as the missing explosives that have become a major issue in the presidential campaign.

But the 250 tons were not located under the seal of the International Atomic Energy Agency -- as the missing high-grade explosives had been -- and Pentagon spokesman Larry Di Rita could not definitely say whether they were part of the missing 377 tons.

[underpants]

1. We were laughing and shaking our heads at the Kerry HQ in Richmond

With all due respect to the Major that was (at best) not very convincing. The press wasn't buying any of it. The "spokesman" was in full spin control mode.

Where had this Major been for the last 4 days?

[symbolman]

4. Have a look at my latest flash

"Reap What You Sow" flash ad about Al QaQaa and Media Coverups

My last Flash Attack Ad before the election - this one is to get the Vote out and addresses the BOMB problem in Iraq, the Media suckups, the LIES and the Coverup by Bush Co - definate plug for KERRY as well.

Please pass this around, this will help get out the vote - Called "Reap What You Sow"

Scary, just in time for Halloween AND the Election :)

Hope you like,

http://web.takebackthemedia.com/geeklog/public_html/staticpages/index.php?page=20041030040341571

[Fridays Child]

6. If I weren't an old married woman, I'd propose to you.

Truth is such a turn-on. ;)

[symbolman]

24. hahaha!

As for your proposal my dear, I'm flattered but I have baby due on Dec 25th and I better stick around for that or my wife will kill me :)

Hell, I'm 51 now, so I'm probably older than YOU ;)

but truth IS a turnon, I agree wholeheartedly - hope TRUTH speaks to POWER and Kerry is elected!

[tommcintyre]

12. Very nice!

I have you listed under "Collections" on this page.

http://www.independentmediasource.com/tv.htm

[symbolman]

23. Thanks

looks like a great resource :) Appreciate it - we're also on your page in the MoveOn Bush is 30 seconds link, we were one of the 14 finalists in that..

***

[BrendaStarr]

13. It will be scary if we don't explain to people about this.

Most TV news will run the explanation once and yet the Right wing liars on the mixed message boards will repeat their big lies over and over again on this just like always

We need to get out there on the mixed boards and chats and counter them.

[tommcintyre]

14. I agree totally

[Ivanov]

2. I have a question

Any new information about this from anyone at IAEA?
Hello All, this is my first post here.
Just found this site from a friend.
Glad to know there is a safe haven for us!

[Ivanov]

3. I saw that news report from the major!

I got the impression when he was speaking that he kept
looking at that other guy to make sure he was saying the
right things. And the other guy, in a suit, seemed to
step in alot to correct or define what the major was saying.
Did anyone else notice that?

[Blue Gardener]

7. Welcome to DU Ivanov!

Yeah, he was not too convincing. If this is the best spin they can come up with, they're in trouble.

[Rainbowreflect]

10. Welcome to DU Ivanov!

:hi: We need everyone here to fight for the truth.

[clydefrand]

11. Absolutely, He told him that he didn't know and the grunt

parroted it back to the reporter.

I forgot: And welcome to DU! This is a diverse group of people with the goal of getting Kerry/Edwards elected. At least I hope all who post have that as a goal. We shall see...

:bounce:

[tommcintyre]

20. Yeah, they all have to stay "on message" Welcome!

[Sporadicus]

5. Detroit Free Press needs to come up with a different URL!

I took one look at the link to this article and saw 'freep;' three guesses at the first thing that leaped to mind? The first two don't even count! I believe the Free Press is a fine paper, and I rejoiced when they forged a contract with their workers and the boycott against them ended.

Oh, yeah, the article...shoots holes in the Pentagon's version trotted out yesterday. Hope this story gets some legs today!

[tommcintyre]

8. At least its not freeper.com, read in ;+}

Well, at least it's not http://www.freeper.com/

<Warning: It's a porn site I think (I dare not lick on any of the links. ;)>

It's first listing is "Natural Bush Girls" <No kidding - are those "frisky twins up to no good again? Embarassing their father? Maybe some one ought to broadcast this site to all those "socially conservative" sites.>

[jody]

9. The Major said he destroyed 250 tons of "ammunition" not "munitions"

I only saw segments from the briefing. Did any reporter distinguish between "ammunition" and "munitions" where "munitions" would include the type of explosive material in question as opposed to "ammunition" which would be limited to such things as small arms, mortar, and artillery rounds.

[Ima]

15. ammunition, webster said

Projectiles, such as bullets and shot, together with their fuses and primers, that can be fired from guns or otherwise propelled.
Nuclear, biological, chemical, or explosive material, such as rockets or grenades, that are used as weapons.
An object used as a missile in offense or defense: Rocks were my only ammunition against the bear.

[jody]

25. Websters definitions are not always useful in decoding military-speak

In some cases, military personnel use the word "ammunition" to mean rounds for arms and not explosives.
:hi:

[The_Casual_Observer]

16. The grunt guy was in full jargon mode

artillery magazines, roger delta baker charlie regimental stand down.
It was supposed to make up for the fact that they had absolutely no useful information or evidence. The whole lot of them ought to face a fucking firing squad.

[maddezmom]

17. add to the explosives, another chemical weapons site looted

By The Associated Press

THE TARGET: Muthanna desert complex where a bunker sealed by U.N. monitors held old chemical weapons.



WHO DID IT: Looters unleashed last year by the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq (news - web sites).


WHAT WAS LOOTED: All U.N.-sealed Muthanna structures were broken into. If the so-called Bunker 2 was breached and looted, it would be the second recent case of restricted weapons at risk of falling into militants' hands.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&nci...

this is the summary for this article, I believe.

Looters Said to Overrun Iraq Weapons Site (Charles Duelfer's report)
~snip~
Chief arms hunter Duelfer told The Associated Press by e-mail Friday from Iraq that he was unaware of "anything of importance" looted from the chemical weapons complex. The report his Iraq Survey Group issued on Oct. 6 said, however, that it couldn't vouch for the fate of old munitions at Muthanna.


One chemical weapons expert said even old, weakened nerve agents — in this case sarin — could be a threat to unprotected civilians.


The weapons involved would be pre-1991 artillery rockets filled with sarin, or their damaged remnants — weapons that were openly declared by Iraq and were under U.N. control until security fell apart with the U.S. attack. They are not concealed arms of the kind President Bush (news - web sites) claimed Iraq had, but which were never found.


In its Oct. 6 report, summarizing a fruitless search for banned weapons in Iraq, Duelfer's group disclosed that widespread looting occurred at Muthanna, 35 miles northwest of Baghdad, in the aftermath of the fall of the Iraqi capital in April 2003.

~snip~
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041030/ap...


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=946093

[green_fiend]

18. Halliburton has them

I bet they are blackmarketing weapons.

[Minstrel Boy]

19. Iraqi militants say they received explosives from "American intelligence"

From the CBC:

An Iraqi militant group said Thursday that it had obtained a large amount of explosives missing from a munitions depot near Baghdad.

Its members got the missing explosives by co-ordinating with officers and soldiers "of the American intelligence," said the group, which calls itself Al-Islam's Army Brigades, Al-Karar Brigade.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2004/10/28/iraq_explosives041028.html

[Carolab]

21. Of COURSE they knew

THAT'S THE POINT

[SoCalDem]

22. I just found this in an archive.. it's from Mar 2003.. They KNEW

that the ammo dumps MUST be guarded..this is from a right-wingish site





Literally hundreds of Iraqi ammunition depots (above) were scattered across Iraq. Because these sites were a hazard to the Iraqi people and potential sources of weapons and ammunition for any insurgents, coalition forces attempted to secure or destroy them. Several caught fire during combat operations or later, due to careless looters or possibly sabotage.