Saddam Hussein’s Iraq did have chemical weapons, though not an active program when the U.S. invaded in 2003. The New York Times reports, “From 2004 to 2011, American and American-trained Iraqi troops repeatedly encountered, and on at least six occasions were wounded by, chemical weapons remaining from years earlier in Saddam Hussein’s rule. In all, American troops secretly reported finding roughly 5,000 chemical warheads, shells or aviation bombs, according to interviews with dozens of participants, Iraqi and American officials, and heavily redacted intelligence documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.” In all, the Times “found 17 American service members and seven Iraqi police officers who were exposed to nerve or mustard agents after 2003. American officials said that the actual tally of exposed troops was slightly higher, but that the government’s official count was classified.” The soldiers say they were ordered to keep quiet about the findings and wounds. Saddam’s non-compliance with UN requirements was a major justification for the Iraq war, but because the weapons were manufactured in the 1980s, the Times says, “The discoveries of these chemical weapons did not support the government’s invasion rationale.” Now, of course, ISIL controls the facility where many of the weapons were found and remain. More…