Comments on: Nuclear Missiles Found in Iraq?

By: Backcountry Conservative

Backcountry Conservative — Wed, 21 Jul 2004 15:24:14 +0000

Report: Nukes Found in Iraq
UPI: Iraqi security reportedly discovered three missiles carrying nuclear heads concealed in a concrete trench northwest of Baghdad, official sources said Wednesday. The official daily al-Sabah quoted the sources as saying the missiles were discovered ...

By: Herb Ely

Herb Ely — Wed, 21 Jul 2004 15:22:43 +0000

It would be huge. Let's assume that it is true. What might a sober military analyst assess about Iraqi readiness to use three missiles, buried away. This analyst - making a further assumption that the Iraqi military were acting rationally - would ask several questions:
- has the warhead been tested?
- have the missiles been tested?
- What might be the targets?
- have the troops been trained to fire the missiles?
- are the missiles an warheads maintained or just rusting in their bunkers?

Here is where it gets tricky. No rational military would fire a missile unless it were sure it would work. A dud WMD would be highly embarassing. Hence negative answers to the above questions - or even the absence of positive answers would lead to the conclusion that there is no immanent military threat.

However, since terrorist groups don't have to worry about retaliation or embarassment the threat would still be present. The missiles might be fired and might work.

Had all this been known, the Commander in Chief, might not have chosen a full scale invasion - but he still would have had to act.

By: carpeicthus

carpeicthus — Wed, 21 Jul 2004 14:44:16 +0000

Well this would be freaking huge, but if it is true, we'll be getting confirmation very soon. In fact, I'd expect it to have happened already, so I'm also skeptical.

By: I love Jet Noise

I love Jet Noise — Wed, 21 Jul 2004 14:39:59 +0000

Nuclear Missiles Found In Iraq
Via Outside The Beltway: Iraqi security reportedly discovered three missiles carrying nuclear heads concealed in a concrete trench northwest of Baghdad, official sources said Wednesday. The official daily al-Sabah quoted the sources as saying the missi...

By: Ramblings' Journal

Ramblings' Journal — Wed, 21 Jul 2004 14:16:02 +0000

UPI: "Nuclear arms reportedly found in Iraq"
UPI has a story this morning that indicates that nuclear weapons may have been found in Iraq.Iraqi security reportedly discovered three missiles carrying nuclear heads concealed in a concrete trench northwest of Baghdad, official sources said Wednesday...