Iraq Seeks Nerve Gas Antidote

In a sign that Saddam Hussein may use chemical weapons in a conflict with the U.S., Iraq has ordered a million doses of a nerve gas antidote from a company in neighboring Turkey.

As CBS News Correspondent David Martin reports, it is one of the military's worst nightmares -- Saddam Hussein fires chemical weapons at American troops as they advance on Baghdad. And Saddam is sending an unmistakable signal that he intends to make that nightmare a reality.

Iraq is trying to buy one million atropine injection kits which are used as an antidote to deadly nerve agents like sarin and VX.

U.S. soldiers are trained to administer atropine to each other, and the fact that Saddam wants it for his own troops is a clear signal he is preparing to use sarin or VX and is taking steps to protect Iraqi soldiers and civilians who could also be exposed to the gas depending on which way the wind is blowing.

The U.S. is pressuring Turkey to stop the reported sale, but it is unclear how much of the antidote may have already reached Iraq. But whether or not the order goes through, Saddam has succeeded in sending the message that this time he intends to use his weapons of mass destruction.

Hospitals and clinics around the world commonly stock atropine to revive patients who have had heart attacks. But officials say the Iraqi orders far exceed what would be needed for normal hospital use.

In the last Gulf War, Saddam ordered his military to fire their chemical weapons if he was about to be driven from power. But as CBS News Correspondent David Martin reports, the U.S. army stopped well short of Baghdad and the Iraqis held their fire. Years later they told then U.N. weapons inspector Charles Duelfer they believed the mere threat of chemical weapons saved the regime.

"They were convinced that a strong element of President Bush the elder's decision not to go to Baghdad was because the United States knew they had chemical and biological agents and would use them if they proceeded to Baghdad," Duelfer told CBS.

Now, President Bush the younger is planning to go all the way to Baghdad, and Saddam is threatening in no uncertain terms that this time he will fire those chemical weapons.

One official says Baghdad has also placed orders for another antidote for chemical weapons.

At the White House, Deputy Press Secretary Scott McClellan says it's no secret that Saddam Hussein has chemical weapons -- and has used poison gas in the past.

And McClellan says the Pentagon will take all necessary steps to protect U.S. forces if they're ordered to attack Iraq.