Another chlorine gas attack in Baghdad; Update: Much ado about nothing?
posted at 1:47 pm on February 21, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Third time’s a charm, kids. The NYT’s on the case now, replete with provocative terminology.
For the third time in a month, insurgents deployed a new and deadly tactic against Iraqi civilians today: A dirty bomb combining explosives with poisonous chlorine gas.
A pickup truck carrying canisters of the gas, which burns the skin and can be fatal after only a few concentrated breaths, exploded near a diesel-fuel station in southwestern Baghdad, killing at least 5 people and sending another 75 to hospitals, wheezing and coughing, for treatment, Interior Ministry and medical officials said…
The attacks had the potential to be much deadlier, but seem to have been poorly executed, burning much of the chemical agent rather than spreading it. Still, Iraqi and American officials condemned the attacks as an effort to bring a new level of fear and havoc to Iraq as a new security plan for Baghdad takes shape.
This one struck in outer Baghdad, as did yesterday’s. We’re pushing them out of the city, although where they head to from there is anyone’s guess. The security situation in Basra should be somewhat more hospitable to Shiite militias in the coming months notwithstanding Cheney’s comments to the contrary, but the perps here were likely Sunni so it’s off to Anbar they’ll go.
As for the “inner city,” Captain Ed thinks we’re going in. If Sadr’s going to play pretend pacifist, why not?
Update: Noah Schachtman’s new blog, Danger Room, claims this is little more than psy ops: the gas isn’t any more lethal, really, than your average car bomb, but it plays well in the media and, er, blogs.
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What were the markings on the canisters? I’m trying to track down the troop book that reported on the Iraqi Air Force’s chlorine gas.
No Chemical weapons? Right. Now how will the MSM cover these attacks, because folks there will be more.
As I noted in a previous post, this stuff can be deadly but it’s most dangerous affects depend on the wind speed and patterns in and downwind of the disbursement area.
Timber Wolf on February 21, 2007 at 2:04 PM
Just where the heck are the terrorists getting chlorine gas from? I’m certainly no chemist, but how do you make (refine|dilute|distillate) chlorine gas? Is it fairly common in manufacturing, that they could steal it?
dalewalt on February 21, 2007 at 2:05 PM
Was it because the U.S. wasn’t allowed to fight? (You can’t fire on a Mosque!) (Another soldier died today…) (Did you see that, they actually shot someone)(Another soldier died today…) (Free the detainees!) (Another soldier died today…) (We need to bring in the courts, and lawyers)(Another soldier died today…) (Close Gitmo!) (Another soldier died today…) Mr. Murtha? Mz. Clinton? Mr. Kennedy? MSM? Anyone???
PinkyBigglesworth on February 21, 2007 at 2:10 PM
Dirty Bomb? I do not think it means what they think it means. Usually dirty bomb refers to radioactive material.
BohicaTwentyTwo on February 21, 2007 at 2:10 PM
It’s a pretty common industrial material, used primarily as a chemical intermediate in the production of bleach and certain industrial solvents.
RedWinged Blackbird on February 21, 2007 at 2:13 PM
hmmm….I wonder where they got the chlorine gas – surely Saddam didn’t have a private stash somewhere….
SWEt on February 21, 2007 at 2:15 PM
Seems like a pretty lame bomb. Seems like the blast itself would dissipate the gas to non-dangerous levels almost immediately. Are they scraping the bottom of the barrel looking for bomb-making material?
jdpaz on February 21, 2007 at 2:22 PM
This is a sign of desperation, I think. We must be having a real impact for the kooks to resort to chemical weapons.
jaleach on February 21, 2007 at 2:24 PM
Curious. will dirty bombs help them internationally? Probably. It’ll just make their cause that much more honorable, in too many eyes.
lorien1973 on February 21, 2007 at 2:27 PM
Clorine is a common industrial chemical and is a gas at room temperature, but is often stored in a liquid state in canisters. It’s most widespread use is in water purification.
There’s nothing to point these events to any pre-existing Iraqi WMD program. These look to be standard cylinders of liquid chlorine that are then detonated with explosives. Pretty crude since explosives are not ideal for dispersal and chlorine gas dissipates quickly unless a LOT of it is used.
It worked somewhat effectively in WWI because chlorine gas sinks (it’s heavier than air), and so caught many troops in trenches where they could not escape (leaving the trench opened them up to machine gun / artillery fire). In a city environment it’s much less effective because it’s possible to get away from the gas once you smell it and the further you go, the less lethal it is. Plus, it’s only likely to effect people at street level.
So I would not expect these attacks to kill many people at all. They are really a psychological weapon and will probably have more of an impact in that regard than in producing direct casualties.
NPP on February 21, 2007 at 2:29 PM
These chlorine attacks are not “dirty bombs” – that term is used for radiological dispersal weapons.
NPP on February 21, 2007 at 2:31 PM
ot: two terrorists arrested in cleveland
Tough to say chlorine is a chemical attack in the wmd discussion. If that were true, gun powder, gasoline, could be considered such. Chemicals and all.
sunny on February 21, 2007 at 2:47 PM
MSN news report:
President Bushes surge failed to stop a new escalation in the war on terror. As
desperatededicated resistance fighters began to use chlorine to clean the streets of apostates and infidels. Source Al Qaida news feedGwillie on February 21, 2007 at 2:49 PM
That doesn’t answer the question of where the terrorists obtained the gas. This is not something you can find at the local hardware store, or what ever the Iraqi equivalent would be.
RedinBlueCounty on February 21, 2007 at 3:01 PM
It could come from a lot of places. Iraq does have water treatment plants, and chlorine production plants. Or it could have been imported. Iraq imported Chlorine before the war. I’m sure the canisters are/will be studied to determine their origin.
NPP on February 21, 2007 at 3:04 PM
Damnit
Defector01 on February 21, 2007 at 3:16 PM
Chlorine is considered a chemical weapon as it does not require the assistance of explosives to make it deadly. Just releasing the gas into an environment can cause casualties. Chlorine gas, by it’s very nature, is deadly. It is the chemical properties of the gas itself that causes causalities and this makes it a chemical weapon
Gunpower, gasoline, and other explosive compounds are not considered a chemical weapon at they explosive in nature and require a detonation to become effective. Gunpower, for example, requires containment and a heat source (a detonator) to release the deadly effects of it’s chemical properties and cause casualties. The chemical properties of gunpowder, by itself, does not cause casualties; it is the production of a shock wave the compound releases when detonated that causes casualties.
This is a rather simplified explanation, but I hope it helps.
RedinBlueCounty on February 21, 2007 at 3:19 PM
I hope they do and I hope the press follows up on this.
RedinBlueCounty on February 21, 2007 at 3:20 PM
Ahh! To be young and still have dreams.
Gwillie on February 21, 2007 at 3:24 PM
Like the soldier said, take off the gloves and fight!
budorob on February 21, 2007 at 3:26 PM
LOL You’re never too young to hope.
RedinBlueCounty on February 21, 2007 at 3:51 PM
You can find large tanks of chlorine gas at any water-treatment plant, folks. Hardly a controlled substance on a par with VX…
mojo on February 21, 2007 at 5:42 PM
The origin is most likely a legitimate industrial gas manufacturer. They need to find out who diverted it from the normal trade channel, which will probably never happen.
RedWinged Blackbird on February 21, 2007 at 5:48 PM
So many comments I can’t narrow it down.
- The Cat
MirCat on February 21, 2007 at 8:43 PM
*FLASH*
2nd Clorine truck used as a WMD.
georgej on February 22, 2007 at 1:37 AM
Damn MSM, stop calling it a dirty bomb, call it what it is!What do we need, the ghost of Sam Kinneson screaming, “SAY IT!” in their face? ITS A CHEMICAL WEAPON. Its a chemical weapon in Iraq being used by terrorists on civilians. I don’t care how its produced or if the substance is or is not banned by any convention. Its a chemical gas that kills via its chemical properties. Its a chemical weapon. This is, of course, as opposed to white phosphorus, which kills through its exothermic properties. Its like the MSM is afraid to say “chemical weapon” and “Iraq” in the same sentance.
BohicaTwentyTwo on February 22, 2007 at 8:56 AM
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