IZ CHEMICAL MUNITIONS

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IZ CHEMICAL MUNITIONS

Filename:0631rpt.00n
[   (b)(2)   ]
RESPOND TO TASK [   (b)(2)   ]
PASS TO THE ITF OPS OFFICER
27 NOV 1745 BY: [   (b)(6)   ]

SUBJ: IZ CHEMICAL MUNITIONS

1. Your organization has requested information on the basis 
for an assessment of limited Iraqi agent shelf life. This 
assessment represents the best judgment of the most 
experienced and knowledgeable CW analysts [   (b)(1) sec 
1.3(a)(4)   ]. Realizing the potential implications of this 
assessment, it was not taken lightly. Unless there is specific 
evidence to the contrary, this assessment should be accepted.

2. [   (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)   ] confirmed the DIA assessment 
on the short shelf life of Iraqi CW agents.  [      (b)(1) sec 
1.3(a)(4)    ] Iraq has been unable to produce high quality 
chemical agent in its production plants due to poor operating 
practice. [      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)    ] nerve agent 
produced at Samarra is of poor quality. Sarin produced at 
Samarra has a purity of between 20 and 50 percent due to poor 
quality control of the chemical processes as well as the 
precursor chemicals which are used. (By contrast, laboratory 
produced Sarin has a purity level of 90 percent and retains 
its potent toxicity.)

3.  Due to the deficiencies of Iraqi chemical processes and 
the impurity of their chemical precursors, DIA continues to 
believe that all Iraqi unitary chemical agents have a limited 
shelf life.

4.  [      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)    ]



5.  Probably the majority of Iraqi chemical agents are filled 
into munitions, with a small reserve stockpile retained in 
bulk chemical form.

6.  We believe the Iraqi binary agents are most likely the 
nerve agents sarin (GB) and GF. In a binary configuration, 
these agents are formed by reaction of an alcohol with 
methylphosphonic difluoride (DF). For sarin, the alcohol used 
is isopropanol; for GF, the alcohol is cyclohexanol.

7.  DIA has no specific information on component packaging and 
storage procedures or on procedures for warhead assembly and 
filling of binary agents.

Prepared by: [   (b)(6)   ]