The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "chemical weapons" ...
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Curveball: Spies, Lies, and the Conman who caused a war
The book lays out the defining story of the pre-intelligence failure in Iraq. It focuses on CURVE BALL, the American-issued code name for a young Iraqi chemical engineer who defected to Germany in 1999. During dozens of debriefings with German intelligence officers, he claimed that he had helped design and build sophisticated biological weapons for Saddam Hussein." The story was a hoax, yet the CIA used this evidence as its pretext for war despite numerous warnings about the validity of the claims. Only after its invasion of Iraq did the US formally acknowledge that CURVE BALL was a fraud.
Tags: CIA; Iraq; weapons of mass destruction; WMD; war on terror; terrorism; George Tenet; George W. Bush; Colin Powell; intelligence; Dick Cheney; Bill Drogin; spies
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The Last Ghost of War
"Over three decades after the Vietnam War, deadly dioxin has worked its way into the food chain and, some argue, the gene pool, with tragic results." This documentary details several plaintiffs in a class action suit, who are "seeking justice and compensation for medical care from U.S. chemical companies."
Tags: disabled children; Agent Orange; chemical weapons; dioxin; Saigon
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The One Percent Doctrine: Deep Inside America's Pursuit of its Enemies Since 9/11
Suskind identifies the doctrine, formulated by Vice President Cheney,as one that "separates analysis from action and embraces suspicion as a threshold for the use of American power." Suskind says Cheney was "the primary architect of U.S. foreign policy" during the period the book profiles, from immediately following 9/11/2001 until 2004. Suskind says in his IRE contest questionnaire that he was able to reassure several sources that he was willing to go to jail for an indefinite period of time to avoid nasming sources; and gave an example of his unwillingness "to reveal sources within ther government to quash the disinformation from ther FBI. Suskind says "The incident is, tereby, instructive in regard to new rules of engagement: the government will release information to cloud an independent report if they are convinced the reporter will be unable, or unwilling to reveal his sources."
Tags: FBI; CIA; NSA; NSC; Iraq; Pentagon; bin Laden; Zawahiri; White House; war on terror; al Qaeda; disinformation; Weapons of Mass Destruction; WMD; Chemical weapons; human sources; humint; sigint; George Tenet; Condoleeza Rice; Zubaydah; DCI
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The Deadliness Below: Decades of Dumping Chemical Arms Leave a Risky Legacy
The Army secretly dumped at least 64 million pounds of chemical weapons off the coastlines of 11 states and 16 other countries, didn't tell anyone about it, and 20 years ago stopped checking the few sites that were ever inspected. The weapons are incredibly dangerous, likely are leaking, and will pose a threat for generations. The Army doesn't know where all the dumpsites are located, and admits that more likely exist than have been discovered.
Tags: chemicals; military; Armed Forces; government conspiracy; environment; water pollution; public safety; public health; chemical weapons; offshore dumping
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Project security: Indiana's WMD
This WISH investigation reveals the danger to the public from the 1,200 tons of VX stored at the Newport Chemical Weapons Depot in Indiana. The TV station uncovers a number of security lapses at the depot, questions the efficacy of the government's disaster plan, and exposes a number of lies by the U.S. Army regarding the safe destruction of the chemical.
Tags: TAPE; TRANSCRIPT; VX nerve agent; chemical weapons; weapons of mass destruction; WMD
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Danger Dismissed: How the Pentagon downplays the risks of depleted uranium weapons
Evans discovers that the veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf War "have a disability rate three times as high as that of Vietnam and World War II veterans," and that this trend may be the result of using depleted uranium weapons. His eight-chapter series takes an in-depth look at the science of depleted uranium weapons, centralizing his focus around Matt Rohman, a Gulf War veteran who lives every day in pain. Evans explores different concepts of radiobiology, geology, radiation physics, and health science, and takes a look at what depleted uranium weapons could mean for today's soldier.
Tags: depleted uranium weapons; Pentagon; Gulf War Syndrome; Gulf War illness; war-related illness; ill veterans; nerve disorders; Lou Gehrig's disease; nuclear weapons; chronic fatigue; bystander effect; radioactive dust; military munitions; depleted uranium exposure; veterans with cancer; pyridostigmine bromide; chemical weapons; biological weapons; Fort Eustis; C-4 plastic explosive
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Chemical Insecurity
60 Minutes learned that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had documents showing that 100 chemical facilities in this country stored enough toxic chemicals for each to put more than a million people at risk in the event of an accident or deliberate attack. The news team investigated what kind of security existed at "high-risk" facilities, talked to experts, present and former government officials and environmentalist groups to put this report together. The three month investigation looked at plants in highly populated cities like Los Angeles, New York, Houston and Chicago; and found that there are no federal regulations in place when it comes to security.
Tags: TAPE; chemical insecurity; bio terrorist; terrorist attack; chemical weapons; nuclear weapons; chemical plant; nuclear plant; WMD; toxic chemicals; deliberate attack; security; terrorism; anti-terrorism expert; risk management plan; Environmental Protection Agency; Clean Air Act; Chemical Safety Board; American Chemistry Council; chemistry; chlorine gas
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Mask Confusion
Indiana began buying equipment after 911 that would protect police, firefighters, and medics from a weapon of mass destruction. In a statewide investigation, WISH-TV showed that the state purchased gas masks that put first responders in danger. They proved the state broke both state and federal laws by even making the decision on what masks to buy. First responders admitted they did not want to wear the masks because they would not protect them. Some of the comments include: "I want the better mask", "We're going to get first responders hurt or killed." The investigation prompted the state to reconsider the multi-million dollar purchase and return the gas masks.
Tags: TAPE; TRANSCRIPT; police; firefighters; paramedics; weapon of mass destruction; gas masks; OSHA; U.S. Department of Justice; emergency rescue; mustard gas; silicone mask; butyl mask; Biological weapons; chemical weapons; nuclear weapons; U.S. Army's Dugway; Tipecanoe County; Marion County; respiratory hazard
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Truth and Consequences
This story offers the first behind-the-scenes account of Bush administration deliberations about the existence of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. It revealed for the first time the doubts among top officials, including secretary of state Colin Powell, about the quality of intelligence on Iraqi WMD.
Tags: Dick Cheney; George W. Bush; CIA; intelligence; Iraq; WMD; weapons of mass destruction; chemical weapons
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Made in the USA
This article uncovers the various law suits that have been filed by some 3,500 sick vets from the first Gulf War against American companies that have supplied weapons to the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq. The supply of weapons include nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. The article goes back in history when presidents Ronald Regan and George Bush were proponents of this aid to Iraq. The article looks at the fact that the initial aid given to Iraq was economically favorable for the U.S.
Tags: First Gulf War; war on terrorism; Saddam Hussein; George Bush; Ronald Regan; biological weapons; veteran soldiers