|
The point is, if there's one there's probably more. I assume the insurgents are using bombs they get from stockpiles cached somewhere. If so, the cache where this one came from (and is apparently the one they're working from) has a pretty good chance of holding more of them. As far as them justifying the war, I don't care. IMO the war was justified without WMDs but that's another topic altogether. The issue I have is that people are looking at this as "no big deal" when it's a significant change in the threat faced by our troops (assuming there are more of these shells).
As far as its rigging not being an effective method of dispersing it, I don't think that's true. While it probably isn't the most effective method, it could/would cause considerable damage to those in the immediate area. Most of these roadside bombs kill only one or two soldiers out of half a dozen to a dozen in the area. The addition of sarin to the mix could possibly double or triple the death toll. When these shells are fired from an artillery piece, the two agents mix to enable the toxic combination. Exploding the shell will likely vaporize the containers and mix the ingredients in the shock wave of the explosion. Apparently this bomb was only partially triggered and the agents were unable to mix and yet two soldiers were still exposed to the nerve agent and had to be treated.
__________________
Strive to be more curious than ignorant.
|