but then we weren't thinking missing WMD's and didn't take nearly enough photos.
I'm pretty sure I know this guy...and what he says here is what was there.
Of course damned freepers didn't want to believe it when it was posted.
Posted on 07/16/2007 4:07:21 PM PDT by jyro
"I was in Iraq for a total of 14 months as a civilian contractor for the Department of Defense (working for Halliburton). My original assignment was as an Environmental Specialist. Duties included Environmental Baseline Surveys of the area (land, air, water, etc. testing), hazardous waste (spent fuel and oil) clean-up and storage, incineration, and other environmental duties. You see, during the first Gulf War, we left a bunch of spent fuel and oil all over the border of Kuwait and Saudi, which in turn, they sent us a bill for clean-up that was over a billion dollars.
Anyway, while in my first few months out there (early 2004), the Marine Air wing came across some unknown substance. Chemicals that didn't belong to them and a lot of it. None of the military's personnel had any chemical or HAZMAT training beyond the awareness level, so they asked us if we could assist. It was out of our scope of work, but of course, we were more than happy to check it out.
Upon our first sight at the cashe of chemicals, we immediately pulled back and secured the area because there were several 55 gallon metal drums that had been improperly stored. Parts of these drums were degrading and some were missing caps on the lids, etc. With limited personal protective equipment (PPE), a few of us went in and wrote down the labels that we did find. We went back and researched the names of the chemicals we collected."
(Excerpt) Read more at ricekiller.com ...
The lonely bulls should be able to handle it.
DU reaction...
He made up all his car parts to look like WMD!
(except with lots of swear words)
.
That and some alternative links!
One of the actual replies was..
“I don’t trust anybody who works for halliburton”
OK!
Thanks for the links. Interesting commentary on red mercury in wikipedia.
but then we weren't thinking missing WMD's and didn't take nearly enough photos.
I'm pretty sure I know this guy...and what he says here is what was there.
Of course damned freepers didn't want to believe it when it was posted.
FYI. Check out the link. The civvie in there used to work for me.
I made my report on this stuff in Jan when the Army was there and was just told to stay away from it.
I think they knew that they could just let the USMC deal with it when they arrived in March!
What do you think of this?
Read @ home
| Dimethyl sulfate is likely carcinogenic and mutagenic, poisonous, corrosive, environmentally hazardous and volatile (presenting an inhalation hazard). Some consider it a potential chemical weapon. Dimethyl sulfate is absorbed through the skin, mucous membranes, and gastrointestinal tract. Delayed toxicity allows potentially fatal exposures to occur prior to development of any warning symptoms. Protective clothing includes goggles, gloves tested for dimethyl sulfate and a gas mask to prepare against the inhalation hazard in the case of a spill. Concentrated solutions of bases (ammonia, alkalis) can be used to hydrolyze spills and residues on contaminated equipment. The hydrolysis product, monomethyl sulfate, is environmentally hazardous. |
Basically, it's a blistering agent that can cause bad issues just on skin contact or inhalation. In it's state that we found, it was a sticky, syrup-like liquid that could easilt be put in a bomb and exploded over a group of people, sending down dealy rain droplets and stick to everything else it touches.
The next chemical was ethylene dicholride, which also has some industrial uses, like almost any chemical. I just don't see why it would be needed where we found it. It has very serious hazardous consequesnces when inhaled, which would be a effective, cheap way to get rid of a lot of Kurds, err... I mean "bad guys" 
Next on the list was some good 'ol chlorine gas... lots of it. The big containers are one ton tanks and we also had several smaller ones. These effects should be self-explanitory.
I had to pose with in that last one
We also found some napalm, training smoke bins, gas masks, chemical exposure kits, and other misc. things.
Another find was a bottle of Red Mercury. Now this was a big deal for me. In order for a nuclear bomb to created fusion, you need fission, which is why nuclear missles are so complex. Back in the peak of the Cold War, the USSR came out with a story that stated they developed a chemical that could create fusion WITHOUT fission, thus creating the capabilites for the possibility of a small, cheap nuclear mega-ton bomb. It was called Red Mercury. Most people say it was just some urban legend that was whipped up by the Soviets to sell some crap on the black market for $200K-$300K per ounce (which they did). No tests have ever proved that this substance actually worked. It was produced on the USSR and Eat Germany, from what I know. It just goes to show what extent Iraq was taking to create something for mass destruction.
My tourist-ass had to pose with this as well...
Here's a list of my certs., if some of you doubt my credentials:
(OSHA) HAZMAT Technician (40 hour HAZWOPER), Fire Protection 101, Incident Command (basic & advanced), Ventilation Coordination, SCBA, Confined Space entry/rescue/permit issuance, Fall Protection, Toxicology, Aerial lift operations, PPE Selection & Training, Lead Abatement, Chemical Exposure Response, Aerial Work Platforms Safety, Chemistry 101, Air Monitoring/Field Recognition, Lock out/Tag out, MSDS Recognition, Scaffolding, OSHA 30 Hour card holder.
(Texas A&M/ US Department of Justice) Emergency Response for terrorism, Emergency Response for Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents, Excavation Competency.
(Texas Commission of Law Enforcement Officer’s Standards and Education [TCLEOSE]) Basic Telecommunications, TCIC/NCIC Full Access, TDD, Emergency Communications.
(Department of Transportation) Hazardous Waste Offerer, Hazardous waste Placarding.
The 'red mercury' phantom has wandered the world for almost 30 years. In Russia it appeared in the early 1990s. In the opinion of some experts, if this so-called red mercury was used in the production of armaments, then a weapon of such destructive force would be created that the A-bomb would seem to us a little pink flower against the background of a destroyed planet.
In 1991, everyone in turn began to export it in unlimited quantities from Russia. Society was already prepared for this economic perversion. The 'united and powerful' Soviet Union was already breathing funeral incense, and given an official order to die with the signing of the Belovezhskiy agreement. Belovezh' was preceded the putsch in Moscow, which discredited central authority and returned it to the hands of democratic politicians and the bureaucracy. Political instinct now became the nation's basic instinct. The populace infected itselves with politics, and a 'childhood disease' known as town-hall democracy became epidemic. Specialists in the field of psychiatry speculate that such upheavals often lead to a psychopathic society, and mental health problems in many people. Given these conditions, it is possible to introduce any idea whatsoever into the subconscious of the populace. For example, the concept of a miraculous substance with unique properties and characteristics, such as a density of 20 grams to the cubic centimeter and costing, shall we say, million of dollars per kilogram.
In 1991 the political season consisted of many such noisy actions. Organizers considered townhall meetings to be their work, and the results were first used by shady businessman and officials of all stripes. A sudden change of government, and resulting administrative confusion, made it possible to set up even the most fantastic of projects. Three months after the August democratic victory, the new Russian government was sent a document in which for the first time 'red mercury' was mentioned, and emphasizing the business advantages of dealing with this substance. The spectre of 'red mercury' had begun its ambulation along the corridors of the democratic regime.
Since the beginning of the 1970s, worldwide there have been recorded more than 20 attempted sales of 'red mercury' (i.e., the mercurous oxide), an allegedly unique super-substance with unique properties. Western secret services - including the CIA - found it necessary to study the 'red mercury' problem'. The conclusion which arrived western analysts and experts at: In all known cases the material was a forgery, and it cannot cost this much. Briefly stated, swindle number one hundred and one had been invented.
By 1991, our country had already accumulated significant expertise in the delicate area of trading in nonsense. So, when the first swallows of economic freedom came to the USSR - cooperatives - they acted predominantly as intermediaries. They labored under the motto 'to deal, but not to produce'. Therefore, it is not by chance that a mysterious project called 'red mercury' arose precisely in 1991 in Russia.
We will try to portray the chain of events and advance our version of the course of events.
According to regulatory documents, in 1991, Ural concern 'Promehkologiya' began its important work for our country, even before the final disintegration of the USSR. Company president Sadykov wrote, as if he were swearing an oath: "We (that is, Proehkologiya) have the capability of carrying out the largest programs of strategic significance for Russia, without drawing on the government budget." A strong statement. Noble Sadykov asks nothing from the government and can do everything. By the way, according to Sadykov, his firm intended "to solve ALL of Russia's problems using their own resources." This is a quotation from the document: 'Main goals of the company Promehkologiya', which was also presented to the Russian government in October of 1991. A mighty people live in the Urals. Give them a fulcrum, and they will move all of Russia!
In October of 1991, Proehkologiya stated that it supposedly had at its disposal 250 billion rubles for the exchange into hard currency, and 200 additional billions under accounts receivable for equipment and foodstuffs. There was not this much money in all of Russia! According Russian Central Bank data, all organizations and enterprises in the territory of Russia in October of 1991 had free cash resources in the amount of 134 billion rubles!
Paper, in contrast to mercury, does not turn red. On 'red mercury' itself, Promehkologiya documents thus far have not said a word. But, everything in its own time. Documents were soon sent to President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin and Vice President Aleksandr Rutskoy. The con was now afoot.
Sadykov's proposal as presented in a letter to the president is a document typical of the time. In it, there is everything necessary: generic words about the good of Russia, a description of the firm's immense activity, and references to multi-billion sums. This had to turn the eyes of officials working for the government green, and make their throats dry up. The main thing was to establish contact with the central authority, and to secure an official commission from the president or vice president for examining the firm's proposals. And for this commission, it would always be possible to bargain about the resources and privileges.
This simple, yet effective practise began in the early 1990s. And it worked.
Here is the copy of the document: "To A. V. Rutskoy. Very interested in expanding the work. I ask you to prepare the this for signing. Take this work subsequently under your personal control. B. Yeltsin. 22 October 1991." Promehkologiya had obtained what it wanted. But not yet.
The experts' appraisal of Promehkologiya's proposals were negative. A high-ranking official was finally located who did not believe the fairy tale of the four hundred fifty billion.
Everything which the president of Promehkologiya wrote to the president of Russia turned out to be a bluff. There was no 'immense' activity by the firm, and its financial condition was very modest. Instead of 450 billion rubles, there proved to be only 30 thousand. And government experts confirmed all this. So that would seem to be it, end of the con-game. Curtains. But it wasn't. In reality this was only the beginning of the mysterious 'red mercury' project. In 4 months the President of Russia would sign an order assigning Promehkologiya all rights for the sale and and export of 'red mercury'. In the text of document, however, the name is not used. Apparently, the official who prepared the order did not even believe in the existence of the product.
So, for the first time in Russia, the spectre of 'red mercury' had appeared in the Urals. The Ural regional economic committee proposed to the central government the export of 'red mercury' in the amount of 3 thousand kilograms per year, over the course of 3 years - from 1991 through 1993. Did Ural businessmen doubt that 'red mercury' existed or that it was it possible to prepare? Apparently not, since Yekaterinburg firm Promekologiya was given exclusive right to produce and export this mercury in the amount of 10 tons! Faith is a great thing!
The 1990 export licensing regulation, Summary enumeration of goods, technologies, licenses and scientific and technical information, lists products whose export was forbidden to the capitalist countries, and this material was indicated. 'Red mercurous oxide' was permitted export from the USSR only to socialist countries. Does this mean that 'red mercury' actually existed?
The KGB and MVD of the USSR were forced to study the 'red mercury' problem in 1990. As a result of secret service operational work, an example was even located, but the bottle proved to contain the usual mercury, tinted with something - either with ground-up brick, or some cheap port wine. By 1991, such forgeries would increase, but the buyers and sellers of 'red mercury' would not stop.
Thus, the civilized world once again was worried about a new Russian threat. In this game everything was used: radioactive tablets, the imaginary leakage of radioactive raw materials from our country, and the nonexistent red mercury, all rolled into one by business conmen.
The KGB's studies of 'red mercury' had an effect on Promehkologiya's interests, and so, company president Sadykov wrote a letter to first vice-premier Burbulis, in which said, in particular: "According to competent estimates, up to 80 percent of the PGU KGB officers implicated in the red mercury operation have been now sent to the MBR - the Russian Security Ministry - and they will prevent any investigations into past events. But with regards to red mercury, they cannot be relied upon."
This document is dated April 2nd, 1992. It strongly brushes off the denunciations as political. It was written after Promehkologiya had already obtained a ten-ton quota for 'red mercury' from the President Yeltsin himself.
In 1992, all of Russia broke out into 'mercury fever'. Everyone wanted to sell 'red mercury'. Agreements and contracts were signed, mainly as intermediaries. Commissions were set, as well as licenses and loans. The scientific experts' opinions disturbed very few people. One quotation from a scientist: "I testify that this so-called red mercury, according to the specification which is in circulation, contradicts all known principles of physical chemistry. All analyses of red mercury show it to be a mixture of a number of substances. Academician Buslayev Yuri Alexandrovich. 18 February 1992 ".
The specifications in circulation showed several different formulas for 'red mercury'. But no one paid attention to this trifle.
Until the scandal at the 6th Congress of People's Deputies, one could consider 'red mercury' to be just another swindle. It was simply not possible to attract a criminal investigation, since no product was manufactured or sold. Nonetheless, one criminal case was brought to court.
In 1993 a political connection appeared on the scene of the mysterious project 'KR' - red mercury. A copy of Yeltsin's secret order authorizing the sale of this non-existant material fell into the hands of the press. The regime discredited the document. Now it was possible to speak of squandering a strategic raw material, about exporting, under the guise of this 'red mercury', uranium, plutonium and other strategic materials from. For this very reason the 6th Congress created a special commission to investigate. Aleksandr Gurov headed it.
But there was one additional component to this 'red mercury' con. The myth was now being used by western intelligence services to portray Russia as a country incapable effectively controlling its nuclear raw material.
The media played a role in creation of the myth about 'red mercury'. Publications and programs about this super-substance sold out printings and raised TV ratings through the roof.
In 1995, documents which were assembled by Gurov's commission were published. They testified about the wild incompetence of the regime's internal controls. However, the 'red mercury' affair has in no way reflected on the political careers of these people.
What are the most probable theories that can be advanced about 'red mercury' today?
The first version: A swindle. An immensely shady transaction which allowed many businessmen to pile up big money riding the wave of artificially raised mercury hysteria.
The second version: Under the guise of 'red mercury', couriers - often not suspecting that the load was mortally dangerous - exported valuable rare-earth metals from Russia.
The third version: Operation 'Red Mercury' was developed by extremely clever persons. They understood that, since this substance does not exist, any criminal case brought against the salesmen or the producers would go nowhere. They were not mistaken.
The fourth version: Under cover of transactions in this mythical 'red mercury', 'dirty money' accumulated from narcoties trafficking, for example, could be inserted into privatization. With this money, factories, newspapers, and streamships could be purchased. As we now understand, a shady transacton with red mercury completely justified itself.
And so, the 'red mercury' myth was used by many, from criminals to spies. When the myth was finally exposed, when it was finally squeezed dry, most preferred to forget about it. Still, the 'red mercury' spectre continues to wander Russia.
When and where will the 'red mercury' phantom materialize again? Recall that this con-game followed the privatization of Russian industries. Now there comes another such moment, when new bureaucrats and businessman will join forces with swindlers who wish to buy land, mineral rights, and all the elements of the periodic table. What will they devise this time? And what will the project be called: blue mercury or black uranium? The name is not important, the main thing is that the details for starting a new myth are already worked out. In Russia. At the beginning of the 1990s. In front of our own eyes. And we never even noticed.
Looks like the stuff has been in storage for awhile. Unless the corrosion is due to the contents.
Undoubtedly old stock.
What I can’t believe is that none of us took photos of the mortar tubes there.
bump for later...
the situation in Iraq in the 1960s and 1970s in which wheat treated with methylmercury as a preservative and intended as seed grain was fed to animals and directly consumed by people. These episodes resulted in neurologic symptoms including paresthesias, loss of physical coordination, difficulty in speech, narrowing of the visual field, hearing impairment, blindness, and death. Children who had been exposed in-utero through their mothers' ingestion were also affected with a range of symptoms including motor difficulties, sensory problems and mental retardation.That makes me wonder.
That is my finding and theory based on the Iraqi documents that I read pertaining to Saddam WMD issue. From 1998-2002 Saddam regime produced a large quantity of Precursors which are the base materials to make WMD but not the final Chemical Weapons itself. They did this for 2 main reason. First the Precursors can be also claimed as for civilian use as almost all these precursors can be used for both civilian industry and chemical weapons programs. Second the precursors have a longer shelf storage time than the final chemical weapon. Saddam regime would have been able to assemble the final Chemical Weapons in matters of few days once they have all the Precursors ready.
In late 2001 to early 2003, Saddam regime buried these Precursors and other equipments require for the Chemical Weapon program in the Western Desert which is known to us as the Anbar Province.
I’ll have my BushBashing Chemist friend look at this.....although he probably won’t get past the word “halliburton.”
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