NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm not familiar with the Khaleej Times, so I can't say if this is accurate.
It might lend weight to the possibility that the Iraqi chemical weapons program was given or sent to Syria. Or it could be Syria's successful home grown program. (Or it could always turn out to be a bust. ;)) Either way it's of interest.

Source (http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2004/September/middleeast_September429.xml&section=middleeast&col=)


Syria has 'tested’ chemical weapons in Darfur
(DPA, AP)

16 September 2004


BERLIN — Syrian special operations forces tested chemical weapons in cooperation with the government of Sudan on black Africans in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region, a media report alleged yesterday.

Germany’s ‘Die Welt’ newspaper — citing “Western intelligence reports” it obtained — said dozens of people were killed in the tests carried out last May. Frozen corpses were brought to a Khartoum hospital after the tests and examined by Syrian doctors, said the report.

The report did not identify what type of chemicals were allegedly used in Darfur but said five airplanes from Syrian Arab Airlines flew in the chemical weapons and specialists from Damascus.

Asked to comment on the report a spokesman for Syria’s embassy in Berlin said: “We have nothing to say on this - the newspaper can write whatever it wants.” He refused any further comment. The US embassy in Berlin also declined to comment on the story, saying there would probably be a response in Washington soon.

Well that's not very encouraging. And it's kind of frightening that I don't doubt it could be true one bit.

Wheres the pre-emptive action when you need it?

http://www.spacewar.com/2004/040915193408.c5ebe3hg.html

Then again, it doesnt seem the USA agrees.

Wheres the pre-emptive action when you need it?

http://www.spacewar.com/2004/040915193408.c5ebe3hg.html

Then again, it doesnt seem the USA agrees.


Interesting. Thanks.

Well that's not very encouraging. And it's kind of frightening that I don't doubt it could be true one bit.

How is it frightening. Isreal would never let Syria get A weapons program off the ground. Or allow them the build large scale weapons facilities. They got Spies everywhere.

Again, its the same deal with iraq, why would they take the risk, what do they actually need it for. Use your head, dont react with fear to everything you hear.

Hey, wow. That rymes :D

And all that aside, Chemical weapons are no more destructive than conventional ordinance, so its not veryscary. Both the U.S and Russia have tons of the stuff, and they havn't proven themselves to be particularly stable either.

"Something like transfer and use of chemical weapons would have set off alarm bells if we'd known about it," he said.

Ahahahaha! Either they're lying about this or they're lyingn abour iraq. But it does need to be mentioned that the U.S has been trying avoid being seen to grow impatient with Sudan.

What's this got to do with Iraq? Syria doesn't need the crappy leftovers of a foreign chemical warfare program, it is more than able to have one of its own. And any WMDs it does have, I'm pretty sure it has legally, because I do not recall it being a signatory to any of the relevant treaties.

As for testing the stuff on people...probably just another bit of the steady trickle of US propaganda aimed at hardening attitudes towards Syria and Iran...or if it is true, nothing that the US and its allies haven't done themselves within living memory.

What's this got to do with Iraq? Syria doesn't need the crappy leftovers of a foreign chemical warfare program, it is more than able to have one of its own.

Syria and Iraq have always been chummy, even when they didn't trust each other. There is quite a bit of suggestion that they were at the very least sharing information.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=10547
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=13282
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/01/25/wirq25.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/01/25/ixnewstop.html
http://www.worldthreats.com/middle_east/WMD%20Question.htm
http://strategypage.com/search.asp?target=d:\inetpub\strategypageroot\dls\docs\200452.htm&search=syria%20wmds

Pre-emptive strike, ... the US would never do that in Syria, there is no oil and Syria is quite Western oriented and oecumenic concerning religion. They're important tradesmen too, a capitalist state like the US can't ignore that.

Anyhow, if you don't have nazi science reports you have to do the tests yourself now don't you? Russia tested its wargas on a theatre in Moscow remember? Didn't work that well either. And they have Chechnya to do tests...

Syria has chem weapons? Doesn't surprise me.

Pre-emptive strike, ... the US would never do that in Syria, there is no oil and Syria is quite Western oriented and oecumenic concerning religion. They're important tradesmen too, a capitalist state like the US can't ignore that.

Anyhow, if you don't have nazi science reports you have to do the tests yourself now don't you? Russia tested its wargas on a theatre in Moscow remember? Didn't work that well either. And they have Chechnya to do tests...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/31/world/main527614.shtml