1

Scott Ritter and Hans Blix have already outlined that he was in compliance. Further, Bush's policy was a done deal as the Downing Street Memo shows.afterdowningstreet.org

Ray McGovern embarrassed Rumsfeld (the Olmert of the US,perhaps even by the siteowner's lights) a couple months ago, quoting a Rummy pre-war assurance at a public confrontation as to where a large number of WMDs would be found and what they were. None were. These liars expected a quick easy win and a public which didn't care if WMDs were found,as long as big bad (and 9/11 complicit) Saddam was overthrown.

Empty chairs at the Hague?

2 But how can that be -- either the weapons were non-operational or they weren't.  And if they were inert, so are these and we can just dispose of them in Ken's local garbage dump because they are safe.

3 These weapons are being destroyed because they are old and obsolete. The destruction facility is operated under stringent safety and security requirements in accordance to Department of Defense requirements, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act environmental permit. Oversight for the permit falls under the Utah Department of Environmental Quality http://www.hazardouswaste.utah.gov/HWBranch/CDSection/ChemicalDemilSection.htm. In addition, the United States is required to destroy its chemical stockpile under the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty (see www.opcw.org). For more information, please see below.

M. Morales


FACILITY TO LAUNCH LAST MAJOR
CHEMICAL DESTRUCTION CAMPAIGN

DESERET CHEMICAL DEPOT, STOCKTON, Utah -- The first mustard agent-filled munition punched and drained today signaled the beginning of the last major destruction campaign at the U.S. Army's Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility at Deseret Chemical Depot (DCD).
There are nearly 6,194 tons of mustard agent stored mostly in bulk containers at the remote depot located 60 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, a percentage of which are known to contain trace amounts of mercury.
Sampling operations currently underway are characterizing the content of individual bulk containers (each containing approximately 1,800 pounds of chemical agent) to identify those with little to no mercury. Initial processing will begin with containers that have low mercury and low heel (thickened sludge and sediment) content.
During this first year and a half, workers will design and install special filters for the furnace pollution abatement systems. The addition of these sulfur-impregnated carbon filters will remove mercury from exhaust gases generated when containers determined to contain elevated concentrations of mercury are processed at a later date.
This is the largest chemical agent destruction campaign that the Army will undertake to eliminate aging stockpiles and meet the nation's commitment under the global Chemical Weapons Convention. The event coincides with the 10th anniversary of the start of operations at the facility.
"Our workforce is proud to be a part of this legacy," said Col. Frederick Pellissier, DCD commander, ”and we are committed to working towards creating a safer tomorrow for this great nation.”
Ted Ryba, TOCDF Site Project Manager added, “We have already safely eliminated 7,409 tons of chemical agent and more than one million munitions, reducing the risk to the community and the environment by more than 99 percent."
"We are privileged to be part of our nation’s initiatives to eliminate chemical weapons world wide,” said Gary McCloskey, EG&G Defense Materials Vice President and Technical Director. “We will not only be destroying the largest single agent stockpile in the United States, but will set operational precedents and providing lessons learned necessary to simplify the mustard destruction planning process for others"
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The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA) with headquarters at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., stores the nation's aging chemical weapons and develops programs aimed at effectively treating and ultimately eliminating chemical warfare materiel. For more information about CMA and its programs, visit www.cma.army.mil.

4 So let's clarify -- they are not WMDs and considered safe when they are found in Iraq, but dangerous and in need of special handling in the USA.  I wonder how that can be -- must be special rules of chemical and physics.