“U.S. intelligence indicates shells and warheads filled with chemical agents may have been stockpiled in hidden arsenals in and around Baghdad, and are in the custody of Republican Guard and Special Republican Guard units that are trusted by the regime. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told a Pentagon briefing audience Thursday [April 3, 2003] that ‘we’ve always believed’ the risk of chemical attack ‘increased the closer that coalition forces got to Baghdad. …concerns about a possible unconventional attack also have mounted in recent days because of fresh electronic intercepts of Iraqi military radio transmissions and other ‘chatter’ that use ‘euphemisms or code words’ to refer to weapons of mass destruction. ‘There are allusions to using special weapons,’ the official said. ‘There seem to be a lot more now.’ ”
– Bob Drogin, “Iraqi ‘Chatter’ Threatens Use of Chemicals,” The Los Angeles Times, April 4, 2003