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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Thomas A Watson who wrote (71865)	2/6/2003 3:34:38 PM
From: Rascal	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 281500

More Humor Colin Powell and I have something in common. Apparently we both have respect for Graduate Students.But I wouldn't base my UN Presentation or WW111 on plagerized research. I wonder how many of the other graphics and factoids are plagerized. Downing St dossier plagiarised Iraq Published: 6 February 2003 Reporter: Julian Rush The government's carefully co-ordinated propaganda offensive took an embarrassing hit tonight after Downing Street was accused of plagiarism. The target is an intelligence dossier released on Monday and heralded by none other than Colin Powell at the UN yesterday. Channel Four News has learnt that the bulk of the nineteen page document was copied from three different articles - one written by a graduate student. On Monday, the day before the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell addressed the UN, Downing Street published its latest paper on Iraq. It gives the impression of being an up to the minute intelligence-based analysis - and Mr Powell was fulsome in his praise. Published on the Number 10 web site, called "Iraq - Its Infrastructure of Concealment Deception and Intimidation", it outlines the structure of Saddam's intelligence organisations. But it made familiar reading to Cambridge academic Glen Ranwala. It was Copied from an article last September in a small journal: the Middle East Review of International Affairs. It's author, Ibrahim al-Marashi, a postgraduate student from Monterey in California. Large sections do indeed appear, verbatim. A section, for example, six paragraphs long, on Saddam's Special Security Organisation, the exact same words are in the Californian student's paper. In several places Downing Street edits the originals to make more sinister reading. Number 10 says the Mukhabarat - the main intelligence agency - is "spying on foreign embassies in Iraq". The original reads: "monitoring foreign embassies in Iraq." And the provocative role of "supporting terrorist organisations in hostile regimes" has a weaker, political context in the original: "aiding opposition groups in hostile regimes." Even typographic mistakes in the original articles are repeated. Of military intelligence, al-Marashi writes in his original paper: "The head of military intelligence generally did not have to be a relative of Saddam's immediate family, nor a Tikriti. Saddam appointed, Sabir Abd Al-Aziz Al-Duri as head..." Note the comma after appointed. Downing Street paraphrases the first sentence: "Saddam appointed, Sabir 'Abd al-'Aziz al-Duri as head during the 1991 Gulf War." the second is cut and pasted, complete with the same grammatical error. plagiarism is regarded as intellectual theft. Sample text Government dossier: (page 13) "Saddam appointed, Sabir 'Abd al-'Aziz al-Duri as head during the 1991 Gulf War. After the Gulf War he was replaced by Wafiq Jasim al-Samarrai. After Samarrai, Muhammad Nimah al-Tikriti headed Al-Istikhbarat al-Askariyya in early 1992 then in late 1992 Fanar Zibin Hassan al-Tikriti was appointed to this post. These shifting appointments are part of Saddam's policy of balancing security positions. By constantly shifting the directors of these agencies, no one can establish a base in a security organisation for a substantial period of time. No one becomes powerful enough to challenge the President." al-Marashi document: (section: "MILITARY INTELLIGENCE") - relevant parts have been underlined Saddam appointed, Sabir ‘Abd al-‘Aziz al-Duri(80) as head of Military Intelligence during the 1991 Gulf War.(81) After the Gulf War he was replaced by Wafiq Jasim al-Samarrai.(82) After Samarrai, Muhammad Nimah al-Tikriti(83) headed Military Intelligence in early 1992(84) then in late 1992 Fanar Zibin Hassan al-Tikriti was appointed to this post.(85) While Fanar is from Tikrit, both Sabir al-Duri and Samarrai are non-Tikriti Sunni Muslims, as their last names suggest. Another source indicates that Samarrai was replaced by Khalid Salih al-Juburi,(86) demonstrating how another non-Tikriti, but from the tribal alliance that traditionally support the regime holds top security positions in Iraq.(87) These shifting appointments are part of Saddam’s policy of balancing security positions between Tikritis and non-Tikritis, in the belief that the two factions would not unite to overthrow him. Not only that, but by constantly shifting the directors of these agencies, no one can establish a base in a security organization for a substantial period of time, that would challenge the President.(88) <http://www.channel4.com/news/home/z/stories/20030206/dossier.html So the most trusted person in the administration is ill-served by a support staff guilty of intellectual theft. Does it bother anyone that 60% of Americans trust Powell on Iraq while only 30% Trust President Bush on Iraq? Does it bother you that BUsh could not or would not present this in the State of the Union Message? Does it bother you that he never has press conferences? Is anyone concerned that the military has plans to incinerate soldiers if they are contaminated instead of bringing them home for burial? Many military plans have been leaked. WHere are the ones which project human losses (our soldiers as well as Iraq citizens.)? WHy are some happy that Secretary Powell was able to deliver something that sounded logical and believable? Why has it taken so long to come up with a reason for war? Was war decided first with reasons to follow later? Is anyone besides me tired that Ari FLeischer tells me and the media every day what this President thinks? Why can't President Bush speak for himself? Why has this Administration focused exclusively on Iraq since last Summer. What about job losses, NKOrea? Oh I forgot he had time to trash-talk Affirmative Action. How did our country get so off track? Why does everyone parrot "If the President wants war he will get war." What happened to the COnstitution? What will happen to us? Rascal@ upisdownanddownisup.com