Iraq WMD shipped to Syria

This is what we have believed to be true for years.  Now we have this report:

A former American overseer of Iraqi prisons says several dozen inmates who were members of Saddam Hussein's military and intelligence forces boasted of helping transport weapons of mass destruction to Syria  and Lebanon in the three months prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Don Bordenkircher – who served two years as national director of prison and jail operations in Iraq– told WND that about 40 prisoners he spoke with "boasted of being involved in the transport of WMD warheads to Syria.

A smaller number of prisoners, he said, claimed "they knew the locations of the missile hulls buried in Iraq."

Some of the inmates, Bordenkircher said, "wanted to trade their information for a release from prison and were amenable to showing the locations."

The prisoners were members of the Iraqi military or civilians assigned to the Iraqi military, often stationed at munitions facilities, according to Bordenkircher. He said he was told the WMDs were shipped by truck into Syria, and some ended up in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.  (continue reading at WND)

No surprise here really.  We had reports and video of trucks moving toward Syria at the time.  Saddam knew the US would be looking for these WMD, he wanted to get them to a safe place for two reasons:  (1) to embarrass the United States and (2) to make it possible to retrieve the WMD and easily resume his weapons program once the UN gave the all clear pronouncement.  According to the report, the shipments "included nitrogen mustard gas warheads for Tariq I and II missiles."

Also confirmed in this report is the presence of, training and safe harbor for, al-Qaeda prior to the war.

Bordenkircher also said prisoners confirmed al-Qaida had a presence in Iraq before Operation Iraqi Freedom began, specifically in Mosul  and Kirkuk.

Iraqis under the command of Uday Hussein, one of Saddam Hussein's sons, supported the al-Qaida elements in the country with training and providing safe harbor, they said.

Comments

[Findalis]

I wouldn't be surprised to find them in the hands of Hamas and Hizbollah. If either of those groups use them against Israel, they and the people of Gaza and/or Lebanon will be wiped out.

[Maggie Thornton]

In the full WND piece they mention a U.S. federal agent that spent 3 years trying to get Americans to investigate this.

I've never understood why the Bush Admin. didn't pursue all the many, many pieces of evidence - including what they knew they knew.

Maggie
Maggie's Notebook

[Skunkfeathers]

The evidence has been there; why the Bush Admin didn't bring it out in full, when the Libs were calling them liars and covering them in pails of manure, I will never understand. Even now, the evidence will simply bring the Libs out with their "Bush Lied, People Died" bullcrap again. Born liars, liberals.

[pacificaharry]

Come on guys, we can do better then this. If you believe the sources of this article, then I've got a bridge to sell you. The debate is over, there were no WMD's, but we won the war anyway and history will show Bush did the right thing. But lets not go down this pathy like some 9/11 truthers. Would it be great if somehow miraculously WMD's appeared out of nowhere, eventhough the admin surely would have investigated "credible" reports? Yes. But dont do this to yourselves, intelligence was wrong, but we did the right thing and won in the end, so lets move on. By the way, Lebanon would have supported us and the Israeli's would have known about it I can assure you and they would have loved nothing more then to expose the far left in this country - although with all that said, it would be amazing stuff to see Bush give a speech around Sept 15th with proof of WMD's (it aint going to happen but it would be great theatre and possibly the greatest AHA! moment ever).

[Debbie]

pacificaharry:

You make some good points. Wouldn't that be something if Bush could/would make a speech like that. McCain might get a bump in the polls.

I tell you , listening to McCain and to Obama, they are both idiots. Yes, McCain is strong on the war and would be good for security, but ...

He is too much of a moderate, leaning toward Liberal on too many things.

Debbie

[Layla]

Yes we have known this for years and just now they decide to get around to it. Heh! So little so late. Pffffffft!

[Justadog]

What do people think was in all those big trucks heading for Syria? Paper cups?

Don't expect the socialist media networks to carry this very far - if at all.

[Angel]

Syria and Iran...and Saudi Arabia..our best friends eh!

[Ralph E.]

Debbie,

Do you recall Saddam's top general, the red-headed Al Duri ? He's the guy that fled to Syria with trucks filled with gas cannisters, just as Gen Tommy Franks brigades entered Bagdad International Airport.

>>

Take a cursory look at Aug 1st Post "2010, Not A Good Year". Comment if you wish.

reb

[Debbie]

RalphE (SnakeHunter) Headed over to read your article.

[A.C. McCloud]

....In the full WND piece they mention a U.S. federal agent that spent 3 years trying to get Americans to investigate this....

I think they were talking about Dave Gaubatz, who claimed the WMDs were buried under a dam along the Tigris or something, and they concreted over it.
He seems a little flaky.

I'd sooner believe General Clapper of Defense Mapping, who said trucks went from the sites to Syria before the war, which this guy seems to be confirming.

But the problem with Bush heralding this is twofold. First, we went to Iraq to get rid of the WMDs, and they are still there. Two, since they are in Syria Bush would be pressed to do something about them.

[Debbie]

A.C.

Both excellent points. We can't exactly to into Syria now can we???

Debbie

[Denny]

Why hasn't the media reported this?

[Debbie]

Denny:

A.C. gives a couple of suggestions. Also, it's not in their agenda, at least not the MSM.

There's no real answer to the question other than they don't like the war, they don't like Bush ...

[ronald]

HHHmmmm..........

[Steve]

While the inspectors were seeking the WMDs in Iraq Dick Cheney said he knew where they were but for some reason he never did tell them which would have saved them a great deal of time fining nothing.

[Ken]

Bush never brought it up because he did not want to piss off Russia...

[Consumer Unit 5012]

How'd they manage to transport all these truckloads of Weapons across the Syrian border when the US had total air control of the country, spy satellites, and diplomatic relations with the Syrian government? Ninjas?

[Alan]

It defies common sense to think that Iraq would ship powerful weapons to its bitter rival, Syria.