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Originally Posted by Ustwo
The only thing that really stinks about this story is the timing 
Very old info, and apparently the explosives were gone before the US forces even got there. Just the NYT's helping out their candidate. |
They're always out to get ya, it seems. That *must* be what it is:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/25/in...=all&position=
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BAGHDAD, Iraq, Oct. 24 - The Iraqi interim government has warned the United States and international nuclear inspectors that nearly 380 tons of powerful conventional explosives - used to demolish buildings, make missile warheads and detonate nuclear weapons - are missing from one of Iraq's most sensitive former military installations.
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Two weeks ago, on Oct. 10, Dr. Mohammed J. Abbas of the Iraqi Ministry of Science and Technology wrote a letter to the I.A.E.A. to say the Qaqaa stockpile had been lost. He added that his ministry had judged that an "urgent updating of the registered materials is required."
A chart in his letter listed 341.7 metric tons, about 377 American tons, of HMX, RDX and PETN as missing.
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It's just now in the news because the Iraqi government just now warned the US and the IAEA about the missing explosives. According to the article, the missing explosives would fill almost 40 large trucks, and are well suited to insurgent and paramilitary activities. They pack a massive punch, but are highly stable (meaning they won't go off if jarred or struck), and require blasting caps to detonate. The IAEA was keeping tabs on them because explosives like the ones lost can be used to detonate nuclear weapons.