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As the self-proclaimed Islamic State terrorist group loses ground in Syria, diplomatic sources report that IS militants have “most probably” used chemical weapons against Kurdish forces in Iraq.

When exposed to Sulphur mustards, the human body can become covered in blistering chemical burns within 24 hours. If inhaled, it can cause severe respiratory problems, and even those who don’t die from the exposure suffer through a painful and slow recovery process.

It’s also known as mustard gas, and it’s reportedly in the hands of the Islamic State.

According to Kurdish authorities, 35 troops stationed near the Iraqi city of Erbil fell ill after a chemical attack in August. Earlier this month, blood samples taken from those individuals seemed to indicate that they had become infected by Sulphur mustards.

"Most probably it was mustard gas," a diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters. "But we want to make sure and we want to know where it came from because it is very difficult to get."

To investigate these suspicions, a team of inspectors with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will travel to Iraq, according to Reuter’s sources.

If the OPCW does, in fact, verify the terrorist group’s use of a banned WWI chemical agent, then that raises an important question: where are they getting it from? There are no known mustard gas stockpiles anywhere in the Middle East. A signatory of the Chemical Weapons Convention, Syria has no such supplies, and none have been reported in Iraq since the American occupation.

With the success of Russia’s airstrikes against IS targets in Syria, the Iraqi government has shown an increased willingness to work with Moscow. Russia, Iraq, Iran, and Syria are already coordinating military actions through an information center in Baghdad.

On Monday, the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi which stressed “Iraq’s desire to build better relations with Russia in order to serve the interests of the two peoples.”

Stemming the tide of IS is likely to be one of those goals.

Cog wrote:Cid will be supporting Obama until his last day in office. Then he will transition to Hillary. Nothing changes in his world except support of Democrat policies, which have wrecked the MENA.

Calling the disturbing incidents a persistent source of anguish, GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson told reporters at a Monday campaign stop that he has been tormented by periodic rational thoughts for the past several years. “They certainly aren’t around all the time, but every now and then I’m afflicted by these very distressing impulses to do or say something logical about immigration or gun control,” said Carson, describing the severe mental discomfort that he has suffered from intrusive coherent thoughts on climate change, abortion, and homosexuality. “When they do appear, it’s like a dagger in my mind urging me to act reasonably. If I really concentrate and calm myself down, I can make them go away. But I can only ignore them for so long. One day, I might slip up and behave sensibly if I don’t remain vigilant.” At press time, a visibly upset Carson had reportedly closed his eyes and quietly repeated, “Just go away” in an effort to silence the voices in his head urging him to apologize for equating the Affordable Care Act to slavery.