Possible Chemical Attack in Iraq
It is unclear if this is an accident or a deliberate attack, but I would lean towards deliberate. Once the dust settles we'll see exactly what this was and perhaps what it means. There are a number of potential industrial chemicals such as chlorine that terrorists can use a weapon. Chlorine is one chemical that has been used ineffectively several times by several groups. These guys got it right, or they just got lucky.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/...ain/index.html
Quote:
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A cloud of deadly toxic gas engulfed an Iraqi town Tuesday, killing six people and leaving dozens of others choking on fumes after a tanker carrying chlorine exploded outside a restaurant.
An Iraqi Interior Ministry official said the blast in the town of Taji, 12 miles (20 km) north of Baghdad, was caused by a bomb on board the tanker.
There were contrasting figures on the casualty toll. Baghdad security plan spokesman Gen. Qassim Atta told state-run al-Iraqiya TV that five people died in the blast and 148 were poisoned by the gas.
Bin Laden authorized it already
In a previous fatwa OBL already authorized/justified the use of chemical weapons, so the religious debate won't get us too far. I realize OBL is authorized to issue fatwas in traditional Islam, but none the less he has a following, and those followers will use his fatwa to justify the use of chemical weapons.
If the Muslim community could find a way to discredit OBL and his fatwa's, then we could start this debate again, but right now it sounds like we're trying to wish a potential problem away?