Once the U.S. invaded Iraq the Pentagon kicked out inspectors and personnel from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) who had been monitoring conditions inside Iraq. On their way out the IAEA warned the U.S. about all of the stockpiles and sites it had been tracking.
Now, it turns out, nearly 350 tons of high explosives have vanished from a military complex 16 miles south of Baghdad, right under the noses of U.S. forces.
The explosives, which can be used in powerful conventional weapons or to detonate nuclear devices were taken some point after the U.S. invasion in April 2003. The IAEA had warned the U.S. about the danger posed by the explosives on several occasions and were specifically told the Pentagon to keep the material secured.
The chemical and explosives complex was repeatedly visited by weapons inspectors and had been under continuous monitoring by the IAEA until the US. invasion of Iraq, after which point it had not been allowed to access the site.
According to the BBC, "It is not yet known whether U.S. President George W. Bush has been informed."
Probably not. Why bother?
BBC News - Tons of Iraqi Explosives Missing
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