2006-06-22 05:43:41 · 12 answers · asked by jedilogic 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
The FOX link stipulated that the chemical agents had been degraded.
"Reading from a declassified portion of a report by the National Ground Intelligence Center, a Defense Department intelligence unit, Santorum said: "Since 2003, coalition forces have recovered approximately 500 weapons munitions which contain degraded mustard or sarin nerve agent. "
In fact, the status of about 550 such shells were flagged during the 1999 UN inspection report. It was made clear that the Iraq government was trying to locate these munitions.
1) No evidence has been found of 550 shells declared by Iraq as having been lost shortly after the Gulf war.
2) In July 1998, Iraq provided a progress report on its ongoing internal investigation.
2006-06-24 03:54:21 · answer #1 · answered by Larry H 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Actually I asked my fiancee about this. He used to work extensively with nerve agents in the bioterrorism field:
Q-How old does mustard gas need to be before its ineffective?
A-It all depends on how well it's kept. If it was kept in a metallic can from the 1940's which has rusted and allowed minute cracks in the structure to allow slight bit of water to get to it. It won't take long.
If it was sealed in a modern plastic/polyurethane drum with no chance of seepage in or out, perhaps indefinitely.
Once water touches sulfur mustard, it takes about 8 minutes or so to be completely ineffective.
HOWEVER:
In reference to the recent findings in Iraq, and I quote Fox News:
Offering the official administration response to FOX News, a senior Defense Department official pointed out that the chemical weapons were not in useable conditions.
"This does not reflect a capacity that was built up after 1991," the official said, adding the munitions "are not the WMDs this country and the rest of the world believed Iraq had, and not the WMDs for which this country went to war."
Read that last paragraph carefully.
2006-06-22 05:46:52 · answer #2 · answered by Pitchow! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess it's ok to have a stock pile of Sarin nerve gas as long as it expired last week?
Lets give all of our expired VX chemical warefare agent to kids to play with! it's safe now isn't it?
2006-06-22 05:56:49 · answer #3 · answered by Self-Sufficient 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Watch as the liberals back pedal. Nerve agents and mustard gas can stay active for fairly long periods. after WWII mustard gas left overs caused problems for more then 20 years.
2006-06-22 05:49:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Expired" mustard gas doesn't burn like fresh mustard gas, and it doesn't act quick enough to be useful in war when instant death is required. It is, nevertheless, lethal.
If terrorists sprayed "expired" mustard gas on all those who think "expired" means harmless, there would be no more fools -- although it would not be instant pain and death.
2006-06-22 06:02:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes apparently bio and chem weapons have a shelf life of less than 5 years.
2006-06-22 05:50:41 · answer #6 · answered by Conservative 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
so, saddam had WMD's after all but it's ok because they are expired? you guys kill me. you still think saddam was an innocent victim who was minding his own business petting his kittens and the mean ole Americans came over and overthrew him to steal all his oil.
LOL whatever
2006-06-22 06:15:03 · answer #7 · answered by jordanjd4 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Seems like a lot of people are under the impression that weapons of mass destruction don't exist.
See what not paying attention in school does to you?
2006-06-22 05:49:48 · answer #8 · answered by Think First 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do have a shelf life. Just don't expect the sheep to understand that.
2006-06-22 05:48:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they did exist they would have half-lifes which are greater than the lifespan of aspirin.
2006-06-22 05:47:11 · answer #10 · answered by Tommy L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋