CHEMICAL POSSIBILITIES

File: 961031_950825_0134pgv_91p.txt
Page: 91p
Total Pages: 2
CHEMICAL POSSIBILITIES

Filename:0134pgv.91p
[   (b)(2)   ]


11 FEB 91  2010   [   (b)(6)   ]

FROM:   NMIST DIA WASHINGTON DC
VIA:    NMIST NET
TO:     NMIST ARCENT
INFO:   NMIST CENTCOM

SUBJ:   CHEMICAL POSSIBILITIES

1.        THERE WERE POSSIBLE TRANSFER OPERATIONS UNDERWAY AT THE 
H-3 AIRFIELD[   (b)(2)   ]
               )325551N039&449E) AND QAYYARAH WEST AMMUNITION 
DEPOT [   (b)(2)   ]
             355140N0430630E) ON 8 FEB 9l.  CARGO TRUCKS AND 
STAKEBED TRUCKS WERE [      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)    ] AT THE 
CHEMICAL-ASSOCIATED BUNKERS.  THE STAKEBED TYPE TRUCK HAS BEEN 
USED FOR CHEMICAL WEAPONS TRANSPORT IN THE PAST, AND MAY HAVE BEEN 
EITHER DELIVERING OR REMOVING CHEMICAL WEAPONS FROM THE BUNKER.  
THIS IS A POSSIBILITY, NOT A CERTAINTY. 
[   (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)   ] VIRTUALLY ANY TYPE OF AMMUNITION 
COULD BE STORED IN THIS BUNKER.  THIS TYPE OF BUNKER HAS 
ASSOCIATED WITH CHEMICAL WEAPONS STORAGE IN THE PAST; HOWEVER, 
THERE ARE NO
UNIQUE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR STORING CHEMICALS THAT WOULD 
PREVENT STORAGE AT OTHER TYPES OF BUNKERS.

2.        IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IRAQ COULD FILL ADDITIONAL CHEMICAL 
AERIAL BOMBS USING EITHER CLANDESTINE FILLING FACILITIES OR FIELD 
EXPEDIENT METHODS, BUT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE DONE 
SO.  GIVEN THE ABSENCE OF THE IRAQI AIR FORCE FROM THE WAR THUS 
FAR, THEY MAY NOT BE GIVING PRIORITY TO AUGMENTATION OF THEIR
AIR-DELIVERED CHEMICAL ORDNANCE AT THIS TIME.

3.        THERE IS NO KNOWN DISTINCTION BETWEEN SULFUR MUSTARD 
(HD) AND NITROGEN MUSTARDS (MN-I, MN-2, AND HN-3) IN THE IRAQI 
INVENTORY.  NITROGEN MUSTARD HAS NOT BEEN STANDARDIZED AS AN IRAQI 
AGENT.  NITROGEN MUSTARD, LIKE PERSISTENT NERVE AGENT VX AND 
SEMIPERSISTENT NERVE AGENT GD, MAY HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED AS PART
OF AN IRAQI RESEARCH PROGRAM.  NITROGEN MUSTARD, VX AND GD ARE NOT 
KNOWN TO BE PART OF THE IRAQI CHEMICAL ARSENAL.                   
             
4.    (U) [   (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(5)   ]

5.    (U) [   (b)(6)   ]
      [   (b)(2)   ]