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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: MulhollandDrive who wrote (80851)	10/26/2004 10:49:35 AM
From: Ilaine	Respond to of 793841

Speaking of double-binds, this story is a double-bind for Kerry, too. Was Saddam dangerous, or not? Here is the story that Josh Marshall is quoting from, selectively (no, really?) Notice that IAEA was, at the time, saying that the nuclear material that was found at Tuwaitha was "low grade" -- the story changed after some of it was looted. THEN it was deadly. This is why I think El Baradai is a lying sack of excreta, and he's definitely gunning for Bush. Independent on Sunday (London) April 13, 2003, Sunday SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 4 LENGTH: 418 words HEADLINE: WAR ON IRAQ: EVIDENCE' BODY: The "discoveries" of weapons of mass destruction - and what they turned out to be: Where and when: Outside Najaf, 23 March. The claim: Reporter travelling with 3rd Infantry Division says troops have found a chemical factory. The media seizes on this, particularly Fox News, which suggests facility is camouflaged so it cannot be spotted from the air. The reality: Suggestions scotched by General Tommy Franks, who says reports are "based on speculation". Where and when: Kurdish northern Iraq, 2 April. The claim: US special forces report documents "indicating the presence of chemical and biological weapons" in camp held by Ansar al-Islam, an extremist group suspected of ties to al-Qa'ida. The reality: No further evidence forthcoming. Where and when: Al Qaqaa, south of Baghdad, 4 April. The claim: Members of US 101st Airborne Division find containers of "suspicious" white powder at Latifiyah explosives plant and antidotes for chemical weapons. The reality: Powder turns out to be non-chemical explosive. Where and when: Western desert, 4 April. The claim: US troops find bottle marked "tabun", a deadly chemical agent, at abandoned military training centre. The reality: After initial panic, General Vincent Brooks says: "We believe that was the only sample. Our conclusion is that this was not a weapons site." Where and when: Near Baghdad, 7 April. The claim: Reporter claims discovery of 20 medium-range missiles loaded with sarin and mustard gas. The reality: No official comment. The "find" has not been mentioned again. Where and when: Hindiyah, near Karbala, 7 April. The claim: US troops from 101st Airborne discover two dozen suspect barrels at an empty training camp. The reality: Tests suggest presence of sarin, tabun and mustard gas, but findings "inconclusive". Reports of troops becoming sick later ascribed to fatigue. Samples sent for testing, but General Benjamin Freakly says barrels could simply contain pesticide. Where and when: Tuwaitha nuclear research centre, south of Baghdad, 10 April. The claim: Marines unit discovers underground network of laboratories, warehouses and bomb-proof offices and "many, many" drums of radioactive material. The reality: Drums almost certainly hold stocks of low-grade uranium of no practical utility for making nuclear weapons, say IAEA officials who visited Tuwaitha many times. They also fear Marines broke IAEA seals on drums designed to keep materials safe. LOAD-DATE: April 13, 2003