A tenuous link perhaps...

[puddlepirate]

LW/JB others...

Hi chaps.

Does anyone know anything about any chem weapons being transported via the twin bases en route for delivery to Iraq in late 1980? From various media reports on the web (e.g. http://www.ithaca.edu/gagnon/talks/us-iraq.htm) it is known that the US had a close involvement with Iraq from early 1980, which peaked in 1983 with Rumsfledt's visit to SH and supported Iraq in its war with Iran following the Shah's departure into exile in Jan 1979.

This probably has nothng whatever to do with the RFI but several witness reports and statements regarding medical problems later on, seem to lean towards contact with chemicals of some kind.

Comment?

[Observer]

I am not sure if chemical weapons would be transported to Iraq via the UK, its possible but i would have thought they would go direct, even by sea. If they were transported via the twin bases this is obviously by cargo aircraft. This means they would be stowed on pallets inside the aircraft's hold and strapped down.
If it was via the twin bases the stop over would be for refuelling and a nights sleep and not much else. The aircraft would only land at BW as it had a secure area which may explain the armed guard that JB mentioned. Or put it another way, they would not leave a cargo aircraft loaded with chemical weapons or even the componants of in an unsecure area. I cannot see how a chemical weapon found its way into the forest from a secure aircraft. It certainly didn't fall out the back door because the security systems on those types of aircraft won't allow it to take off untill doors are shut and secured.

This is not to say that a chemical weapon was not involved as puddle high lighted the possible effects that the men experienced from alleged exposure. Equally, though, the symptoms that they have reported are quite representative of mild radiation sickness.
Obs