Saddam's revenge: chemical warfare in Iraq

Iraqi insurgents have detonated chlorine containers on a dozen occasions since late January, exposing civilians and military personnel to the highly poisonous gas.

Sixty-two US soldiers fell ill on 3 June after a car bomb filled with chlorine exploded outside their base in Diyala province. Although the attacks have killed fewer people than conventional suicide bombs, the use of chlorine cylinders in improvised explosive devices (IEDs) marks a new phase in the insurgency.

Iraqi insurgents have become increasingly sophisticated in their use of chlorine weapons. Initial attacks killed fewer people than conventional bombs. The explosions burned rather than dispersed most of the chlorine gas, which is heavier than air. More recently, insurgents have altered the composition of the bombs so that besides causing casualties through explosions, the chlorine gas itself sickens and occasionally causes respiratory problems in victims, as well as causing vomiting and burns.

The decision by some insurgents to use chlorine attacks may result from their experiences with chemical warfare under Saddam Hussein. They might expect such attacks to prove especially effective at inducing panic, given the Iraqis' knowledge of the devastating effects of earlier chemical weapons use in Iraq. The frequent use of chlorine weapons against Iraqi police also suggests the insurgents seek to damage its morale and discourage potential recruits. 214 of 629 words