"That leaves open the question whether they might or might not have them, but not in their ordnance inventories, which neither you nor I know."

They undoubtedly do have them - how else can you develop protective suits, medicines and equipment for your troops who might be faced with the threat. Munitions for these types of weapons are very specialised. The US and NATO do not have them.

"After all, Saddam Hussein hasn't got them in his ordnance inventories either, but it appears that isn't seen as conclusive proof he hasn't got them."

Wrong Kevin, from 1998 the UN knows that he does have them (around 6500 of them in fact). So far the UNMOVIC teams turned up 12 and the Iraqi's themselves found another 4. What Saddam has to do is give up the remainder, plus the stuff that goes into them.