Posted on 09/13/2005 5:05:00 AM PDT by jmc1969
For the first time, terrorists linked to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi are claiming to have struck the Iraqi capital Baghdad with chemical weapons. The claim was made in a statement published on the Internet by Islamic group al-Taifa Mansura (The Victorious Side) which is part of the al-Qaeda network and close to its Iraqi representative, al-Zarqawi. The same group last Sunday threatened to attack the Green Zone in Baghdad with missiles containing chemical warheads unless the Americans halted the ongoing offensive against the city of Telafar.
A short while ago, in a second statement the group claimed responibility for missile attacks on central Baghdad from 8.30am till 10am local time on Tuesday morning. The message alleged that chemical weapons hit the interior ministry, the foreign ministry and the American training school which is also located in the heavily fortified Green Zone.
Iraqi police have confirmed that there were several explosions this morning and eyewitnesses say plumes of smoke could be seen rising above central Baghdad. Lieutenant Thair Mahmoud of the Emergency Response Unit told journalists there had been one mortar attack and other blasts were heard nearby. He said there were no immediate reports of casualties. Other reports say there were as many as five explosions, either inside the Green Zone or immediately outside.
The firing of five rockets was confirmed by an Islamic site close to the Baathist-inspired guerrillas - islammemo - which referred to at least four rockets with chemical warheads. The site, which tends to publish unreliable biased news reports, celebrates it as the first chemical attack in Iraq."
No kidding.
But there are/were no WMDs in Iraq ...
Pelosi said so.
The site, which tends to publish unreliable biased news reports......CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC?
The knuckleheads have been making this threat as of late. Hopefuly untrue, but if it turns out to have substance, the response should be drastic.
....If they were duds....
BUSH'S FAULT!
Prayers for the good guys should this happen to be true.
I can't picture our military allowing a mortar attack to go on for 1 1/2 hrs. After the first round the source would have been targeted and fired on.
Maybe Nancy ought to be sent over there to talk to those guys ~ convince them that they are wrong.
I think we would have heard about it on the network news by now..
Very doubtful, unless the US military says something about it the networks aren't going to.
Breaking news from an unreliable site?..Hmmmm
Insurgents Shell Green Zone in Baghdad
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Insurgents shelled the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad early Tuesday, and U.S. and Iraqi commanders said more than 400 suspects were captured during an offensive to retake the northern town of Tal Afar.
Two mortar rounds exploded near a military hospital inside the protected area that houses the Iraqi government, parliament, and foreign missions, police said. There were no reports of casualties.
Security inside the Green Zonewas boosted earlier this month after reports that suicide bombers were trying to penetrate the area.
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2005/09/13/ap/headlines/d8cja4l00.txt
It's not uncommon for mortars and rockets to be fired in singles or doubles from hit and run positions instead of stationary firing points.
Rounds can impact from several firing points with nothing for coalition forces to return fire on.
So lets see, we have an operation that kills or captures over 400 terrorists and they claim a victory by firing 2-3 mortar rounds at the green zone.
Well it is clear that they are still using drugs.
What if you threw a chemical weapons attack and nobody was there to notice? Would it still cause skin blisters?
Waiting to see if this is confirmed by DEBKA.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,169220,00.html
Iraq Insurgents Shell Green Zone
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Two mortar rounds exploded near a military hospital inside the protected area that houses the Iraqi government, parliament, and foreign missions, police said. There were no reports of casualties.
Security inside the Green Zonewas boosted earlier this month after reports that suicide bombers were trying to penetrate the area.
snip...must be pretty weak chemicals..
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.