Posted by: Sister Toldjah on August 30, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Via Fox News:
DEVELOPING STORY: Vials of dangerous chemicals believed originating from Iraq were discovered Thursday in the world headquarters of the United Nations in the heart of New York City.
No evacuations were ordered, and there was no immediate danger to the public, according to a U.N. spokesman.
Hazardous materials personnel were reported at the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission offices at 48th Street and 1st Avenue in Manhattan.
The U.N. spokesman issued the following statement:
On Friday 24th August 2007 in archiving UNSCOM files, UNMOVI staff discovered two small plastic packages with metal and glass containers (ranging in size from small vials to tubes the length of a pen) with unknown liquid substances. The archives are located at the UNMOVIC headquarters.
Brian Ross has more:
United Nations weapons inspectors discovered six to eight vials of a dangerous nerve gas, phosgene, as they were cleaning out offices at a U.N. building in New York this morning, federal authorities tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com.
The federal authorities said the office, in a U.N. building near headquarters, was being evacuated and the White House had been notified at 10 a.m.
New York police and fire officials reported to the scene around 12:15 this afternoon.
A U.N. spokesperson said a statement would be issued shortly.
Authorities said the phosgene was believed to have been discovered in Iraq and manufactured prior to 1991.
Former U.N. weapons inspectors told ABCNews.com that vials of phosgene had also been used by inspectors in Iraq to help calibrate air sampling instruments.
[...]
The former inspectors said the remaining vials were supposed to have been destroyed.
“If it is properly sealed, it should not pose much of a threat unless it is dropped,” said former New York City emergency services director Jerry Hauer, an ABC News consultant.
“They need to get it out of there and put it in a safe canister,” Hauer said. “It shows immense stupidity to have that kind of thing sitting around as a souvenir.”
Little Green Footballs is reporting that it’s not actually nerve gas:
Phosgene is not a “nerve gas” as ABC’s Blotter reported; it’s technically classified as a “nettle agent” used in chemical warfare. More info at the CDC: Facts About Phosgene.
Hmm. If so, the USA Today’s “On Deadline” blog is misreporting that it’s nerve gas, too.
Hat tip: Jeff Goldstein, who is monitoring this developing story.
And these are the same geniuses who couldn’t find WMD’s in Iraq and are telling us how cooperative Iran is with their nuclear program.
God help us all.
No Wonder the UN couldn’t find any WMDs!!! They were in the basement at the UN Building in NYC!!! Aaaaa DUH!!!
It must be a slow news day, the Craig story is slowing down, and they are still doing their best to ignore the Hillary took illegal campaign donations story. SOOOOOO Let’s create a story on Iraqi WMDs in NYC!!!
Hot Dayum!!! – Lorica
That tells me everything I need to know about the UN’s “inspection” processes.
It’s interesting that little green footballs seems to be a better fact checker than alot of media outlets.
It is unfortunate that the UN has degenerate into the joke that it is now- a shadow of its former self.
This got almost ZERO coverage — it was 24/7 coverage of larry craig ceepy stuff which the hipocratic dems are just lovin.
The un is an inept institution that we should withdrawn from, give no money to and give NO CREDIBILITY. Wonder what else is in their basement?
6.
I wouldn’t worry so much about the UN’s basement as I would their closet.
A different tangent: I wonder what the headlines of the NYT would be if the phosgene had gotten out of the vials and into the air of the UN?
Think of all these rogue Nations with diplomatic immunity bringing sealed pouches into our largest city that can’t be inspected. U.N. out of the U.S.A.!
tedintheshed, if I wanted your lousy opinion I’d ask for it. Anybody who defends the un is nuts and you my friend, are nuts.
Drewsmom: You know we love you, but I think you misinterpreted Teds comment. I can vouch for him being no defendant of the UN, ergo a man who sees clearly. As to the closet/basement analogy, I think if you re-read it, it’ll be more clear.
Anyone with any brains knows the Democrats or Liberal Left controls the news reported in this country and to the rest of the world. This was a big story when the UN building was being evacuated – when the story progressed to where WMD were found – found in Iraq and at that time were not reported by the United Nations – now it should end the debate of Coalition forces removing Sad-damn! This has to be embarassing for even Collin Powell who had denounced Rummy, W, and the boys – Folks – the United Nations were entrusted to report such findings – they didn’t – but, it’s OUR media who chose not to report this story – I think it’s time to set benchmarks for our new Speaker of the House and Majority Leader – they aren’t getting anything done!