Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Iran Building Chemical Weapons...With Syria
Share:
by phrolen | September 18, 2007 at 05:28 pm
1576 views | 12 Recommendations | 7 comments
Photos
NowPublic contributor phrolen is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Joint Taskforce Katrina. His analysis comes from actual experience
In a shocking revelation, Jane's Defence, has outlined its recent findings related to the ongoing Syrian/Iranian defense initiative. Janes sources state that both Iran and Syria are running an "Innovative chemical weapons programme." The real crux of the cooperation, Jane's sources detailed, is the contractual commitment, made to Syria a few months ago, to provide Iranian chemical weapons technical assistance to facilitate Syria's chemical weapons program."
The shocking intel comes on the heels of recent revelations that Syria may have been working with North Korea to purchase nuclear weapons and materials as recently as early summer. Though Israeli officials will not confirm it, and Syrian officials are saying it was an air space testing raid, sources throughout the middle east have been reporting that Israeli jets struck targets in Syria last week that were purported to have been WMD in nature.
Not only does the new Janes report outline Syrian/Iranian connections in the development of weapons of mass destruction, it also outlines an incident that took place on July 23rd of this year where both Iranian and Syrian weapons technicians were killed when an accident occurred during the process of mounting a chemical warhead on the top of a scud missile. According to reports, an explosion occurred during the mounting spreading lethal chemical agents, including sarin nerve gas; dozens of Iranians and 15 Syrian officers were killed.
Syria is not a signatory to either the Chemical Weapons Convention or the Conprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT); the international treaties that prevent member states from manufacturing such weapons. The internationally reknowned globalsecurity.org cites Syria as having one of the most advanced chemical weapons programmes in the Middle East.
Iran aids Syria's CW programme
By Robin Hughes JDW Middle East Editor
London
With the release of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission interim report on 20 October into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri increasing international pressure on Syria, a diplomatic source has said that Damascus is nevertheless pursuing what they describe as "an innovative chemical warfare [CW] programme in co-operation with Iran".
The essence of this co-operation, the source told JDW, "is Tehran's contractual commitment, made to Syria a few months ago, to provide Iranian CW technical assistance to facilitate Syria's CW programme".
Utilising this assistance, they said, Syria hopes to reach an independent production capability of precursors for producing CW agents, which it has so far been unable to achieve.
According to the source, Iran will assist Syria in the planning, establishment and pilot operation of about four or five facilities throughout Syria for the production of precursors for VX and Sarin nerve agents and mustard blister agent.
"This project is unprecedented and millions of US dollars have been allocated to implement it," the source said.
"The project includes building major facilities, including advanced equipment to produce tens to hundreds of tonnes of CW precursors per year that are sufficient for CW industrial manufacturing pilot production."
Proof of cooperation between Iran and Syria in the proliferation and development of weapons of mass destruction was brought to light Monday in a Jane's Defence Weekly report that dozens of Iranian engineers and 15 Syrian officers were killed in a July 23 accident in Syria. According to the report, cited by Channel 10, the joint Syrian-Iranian team was attempting to mount a chemical warhead on a Scud missile when the explosion occurred, spreading lethal chemical agents, including sarin nerve gas.
Reports of the accident were circulated at the time; however, no details were released by the Syrian government, and there were no hints of an Iranian connection.
The report comes on the heels of criticism leveled by the Syrians at the United States, accusing it of spreading "false" claims of Syrian nuclear activity and cooperation with North Korea to excuse an alleged Israeli air incursion over the country this month.
According to globalsecurity.org, Syria is not a signatory of either the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), - an international agreement banning the production, stockpiling or use of chemical weapons - or the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Syria began developing chemical weapons in 1973, just before the Yom Kipper War. Globalsecurity.org cites the country as having one of the most advanced chemical weapons programs in the Middle East.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (7)
at 21:05 on September 18th, 2007
So, the real question here is, why in Gods name would any country need weapons as horrible as chemical weapons? Despotic madman comes to mind. We did training in the military where they showed pictures of the effects of different chemical weapons. THE MOST HORRIBLE THING I HAVE EVER SAW. Most make you puke, urinate and deficate yourself initially, followed by bleeding from the pores. AWFUL, HORRIBLE.
at 23:04 on September 18th, 2007
phrolen, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Do you think that we will do anything about this? And if we don't I think it is likely if not advisable that the Israelis do something because their very existence rests on how they deal with their neighbors.
at 09:35 on September 19th, 2007
Big T, i definately think the situation is very precarious, with even France and Germany, pulling for us right now. Reports have been circulating saying that 2 more carrier battle groups are heading to the gulf, that would make three. We will be following this situation closely
at 01:16 on September 19th, 2007
To quote you... the real question here is, why in Gods name would any country need weapons as horrible as chemical weapons?
How do you reconcile this comment with the US manufacture and deployment of Agent Orange?
at 04:13 on September 19th, 2007
phrolen, I like this story. It's good stuff. As far as Agent Orange file it under Moral equivalence a term used in political debate, usually to characterize in a negative way the claim that there can be no moral or ethical hierarchy decided between two sides in a conflict, nor in the actions or tactics of the two sides. To some Americans we are just as bad as the terrorists.
at 05:27 on September 19th, 2007
I think that an ethical high ground has been established by the fact that the US no longer uses chemical weapons. Good for the US! But as for all your fancy words about Agent Orange gmony714 - how many do you need to say DENIAL! Put you argument of moral equivalency to the seriously ill Monsanto workers who made the stuff...... and RUN!
at 09:42 on September 19th, 2007
http://www.opcw.org/factsandfigures/index.html The US is a signatory of the 1997 revamped CWC which bans chemical weapons and orders the destruction of such weapons. I know we are destroying our stockpiles because part of them are stored on Lackland AFB annex. I have seen the storage facilities and worked with individuals who handled them and sent them to be decomissioned.