WMD attack in Iraq

NY Times:

A truck bomb that combined explosives with chlorine gas blew up in southern Baghdad on Wednesday, and officials said it might represent a new and deadly tactic by insurgents against Iraqi civilians.

It was at least the third truck bomb in a month to employ chlorine, a greenish gas also used in World War I, which burns the skin and can be fatal after only a few concentrated breaths. The bomb killed at least two people and wounded 32 others, many of them sent to hospitals coughing and wheezing, police and medical officials said.

Iraqi and American officials said the use of chlorine seemed aimed at bringing a new level of fear and havoc to Iraq as a new security plan for Baghdad takes shape.

Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, an American military spokesman, said the attacks highlighted the fluidity of insurgent tactics in Iraq, dominated by militant groups that often notice and repeat attacks that attract the most attention and cause the most suffering.

...

They have not perfected this weapon and so far the three attacks combined have yielded feweer casualties than their typical car bomb attack in a market area. What is missing from these stories is any discussion of the war crimes involved in the attacks. The violations are too numerous to recite again here, but at least the media should make reference to the fact that the attacks are a war crime.

The Jawa Report also discusses the WMD attacks. Westhawk says the attack may have been inspired by a Homeland Security publication.

Update: It appears that the source of the WMD attacks has been found and captured by US troops.