“It’s dangerous for the entire region, and for the entire world, you could say,” said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, citing “the Gadhafi regime’s support for terrorism.”
“There are reports that Libya has already used a weapon of mass destruction — chemical weapons — in combat,” said Boucher, referring to allegations that Libya used chemical weapons while invading Chad, a neighboring African country, several years ago. (6/19/90, Chicago Tribune)
Hussein could still spread toxic agents on at least a limited scale, using low-tech devices such as agricultural sprayers, aerosol dispensers, fog generators or terrorist “suitcase bombs,” U.S. officials say. …
And with U.N. weapons inspectors no longer in the country, U.S. officials and outside experts predict that Hussein will soon once again develop the ability to deliver the toxic agents over long distances and with even greater deadly power — on the tips of missiles.
“We’re talking about — and I use the term advisedly — a diabolical effort,” said a senior U.S. official. (11/19/97, Los Angeles Times)
… but we can’t get near the plants where he’s making it.
The Dictator’s minions took more than 150 reporters, photographers and camera operators to the plant site Saturday, but the trip amounted to a view from a half-mile away followed by a quick drive around the outside in darkness.
The Dictator’s minions would not even point out which of the dozen or so concrete buildings was the source of all the controversy. Asked if a large industrial-looking structure was the facility in question, a functionary shrugged and said, “As you wish.” (Chicago Tribune)
A Country X-based chemical monitoring team seeking entry to a warehouse on Friday … was denied access because it was the Muslim Sabbath, said [a U.N.] spokesman… (Associated Press [via Boston Globe])
Get the answer — and the next scenario.
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