Elonka wrote:
] ] U.S. soldiers confiscated the prisoners' weapons and
] ] military equipment. The guns were old, but the gas masks
] ] weren't.
] ]
] ] "It looks like a regular chemical protection mask," said
] ] Sgt. Jennifer Raichle. "It was made in 2002. Brand new."
] ]
] ] The gas masks were indeed brand new, as were the
] ] decontamination kits, and atropeine -- used to treat
] ] exposure to nerve agents.
] ]
] ] "I would guess they were planning on using chemical
] ] warfare. They may or may not use it, but they were ready
] ] for it," Raichle said.
]
] Newly-issued gas masks, to troops with old guns? And the next
] question in my mind is, where were these gasmasks
] manufactured? Iraqi-made? If so, where's the factory? And
] if not made in Iraq, then which country has been selling such
] recently-made gas masks to Iraq??

Russia.

There's been a lot of reports (google news) about how the former Soviet states have privatized their weapons manufacturing and been selling them to any comers, including the Chechyns. NPR had a great expose on it this week as well.

RE: Iraq Chemical Warfare Clues