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US TROOPS CAPTURE CHEMICAL PLANT
via the Jerusalem Post - registration req'dCaroline Glick Mar. 23, 2003 About 30 Iraqi troops, including a general, surrendered today to US forces of the 3rd Infantry Division as they overtook huge installation apparently used to produce chemical weapons in An Najaf, some 250 kilometers south of Baghdad. Hans didn't visit this one, hmmm? One soldier was lightly wounded when a booby-trapped explosive went off as he was clearing the sheet metal-lined facility, which resembles the eery images of scientific facilities in World War II concentration camps. The huge 100-acre complex, which is surrounded by a electrical fence, is perhaps the first illegal chemical plant to be uncovered by US troops in their current mission in Iraq. The surrounding barracks resemble an abandoned slum. How did they miss a 100 acre facility? Eh, Clouseau? It wasn't immediately clear exactly which chemicals were being produced here, but clearly the Iraqis tried to camouflage the facility so it could not be photographed aerially, by swathing it in sand-cast walls to make it look like the surrounding desert. Within minutes of our entry into the camp on Sunday afternoon, at least 30 Iraqi soldiers and their commanding officer of the rank of General, obeyed the instructions of US soldiers who called out from our jeep in loudspeakers for them to lie down on the ground, and put their hands above their heads to surrender. A General? That's the best clue that it might have significant value Today's operation is the third engagement with Iraqi forces by the First Brigade of the US army's 3rd Infantry Division, since Saturday afternoon. So far in the campaign, the brigade has suffered no losses. But two were wounded Saturday night in an ambush on the outskirts of As-Samwah in southern Iraq. Followup: FoxNews has picked up the story, so there's probably some confirmation. All that's on their Top Stories page so far is "Fox: 'Huge' Chemical Weapons Plant Discovererd in Southern Iraq" Guess they were typing it while I was looking for it... A senior pentagon official has confirmed to Fox News on Sunday that coalition forces have discovered a "huge" chemical weapons factory near the Iraqi city of An Najaf, which is situated some 225 miles south of Baghdad. Coalition troops are also said to be holding the general in charge of the facility. Brett Baer is reading the story now. Their source was the J-Post story, and they say they've got Pentagon confirmation... And SkyNews has it now, apparently from Fox... A huge chemical weapons factory has been found in Iraq, according to Pentagon sources. The facility was found by advancing US troops in An Najaf, around 100 miles south of Baghdad, the sources say. The general in charge of the factory was arrested by the 1st Brigade of the Third Infantry division and is being questioned, the sources said. An unconfirmed report by Fox news said the complex is around 100-acres, adjacent to military barracks and surrounded by an electric fence. Posted by: Frank G 2003-03-23 |
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