Multiple Tests Confirming Iraq WMD Send Media Into Deep Spin

NewsMax ^ | 1/4/04 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Mulitple tests conducted in Iraq by Danish and British experts indicate that Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction have finally been discovered, but mainstream news editors either ignored the story Sunday morning or are furiously spinning the news as inconsequential.

More than 12 hours after the Fox News Channel, Reuters and the Associated Press carried reports that preliminary tests showed Iraqi mortar shells discovered near Basra contain a deadly liquid blister agent, the New York Times had yet to report the bombshell find on the main page of its Web site – or anywhere in its Sunday morning print edition.

The Washington Post's Web site also chose not to cover the blockbuster news, which ABC News military analyst Tony Cordesman said Saturday would be "the first real confirmation that Iraq actually had deployed chemical weapons and was prepared to use them" if tests confirmed the find.

Saturday night the Fox News Channel revealed that initial tests had indeed confirmed the blockbuster discovery.

"Danish troops are in charge of that area around the village of Al Quarnah, and they have found what they believe are, according to this official, two hundred shells," reported FNC's Greg Palkrow.

Palkrow said the Danish official told him: "They've run four different tests on that liquid inside those shells. And all those tests do indicate that there is blister gas – that's a deadly chemical weapon - inside of those shells."

The AP said that a statement released by Danish officials cited British experts, who had also confirmed that the shells contained "blister gas."

Before the war the Bush administration had alleged that Baghdad was stockpiling blister gas in liquid form.

Both reports noted that the find had yet to be confirmed by the U.S. team in Iraq assigned to search for weapons of mass destruction.

But according to the London Sunday Telegraph, Ali Nimir, a former colonel in an Iraqi Republican Guard artillery unit, had also confirmed the find.

"I remember seeing boxes of these kinds of armaments in our base two years ago," Nimir said. "We were told that they were chemical weapons."

"They were removed from our bases and distributed to secret hiding places about a year before the war," he explained. "I never saw them again."

Still, despite the staggering political consequences of the bombshell discovery – news that could mean total vindication for President Bush against Democrat charges that he "lied" about Iraq's WMDs – mainstream reports consistently downplayed the story.

The New York Daily News, for instance, covered the news on page 24 of its Sunday edition, and then only under a headline that obscured the potential impact of the story: "Old Iraqi Gas Shells."

New York's Newsday echoed the same theme with its page 20 headline, "Weapons Found, but Likely Old" – as if the vintage of Saddam's WMDs somehow mitigated genuine proof of their existence after months of media claims to the contrary.

The only news outlet to refer to weapons of mass destruction in its headline was the New York Post, which labeled its page 2 report: "WMD Gas Shells Dug Up in Iraq."

News of the WMD find was not discussed on the Sunday morning news shows.

[EggsAckley]

So everyone is spinning to suit their own ends.

Yourself included.

[cibco]

This is the most important excerpt from the article:

"But according to the London Sunday Telegraph, Ali Nimir, a former colonel in an Iraqi Republican Guard artillery unit, had also confirmed the find.

I remember seeing boxes of these kinds of armaments in our base two years ago," Nimir said. "We were told that they were chemical weapons.

They were removed from our bases and distributed to secret hiding places about a year before the war," he explained. "I never saw them again." "

[Bluntpoint]

Now, of course, the above scenario will be flamed viciously by people who don't want that to be a possibility, but it's a thousand times more realistic than the idea these shells are part of a grand plan to hide WMDs for use later.

John H K Since Dec 4, 2000

We know who you are!!!!!!!!

[John H K]

Nope, just looking at this objectively as I can based on my knowledge of Iraq and of chemical weapons.

Given that almost no one is able to think and reason in an objective, unbiased manner (thanks to the sorry state of our schools) they tend to project the idea that nobody else is capable of doing so either.

[BagCamAddict]

Anyway, anyone who believes 120mm mortar shells buried in this small a quantity for that long in the condition they are in was part of a grand devious plan to evade inspectors and then use them later is seriously delusional.

True.

But also true is that anyone who believes this small a quantity is all there is to be found is delusional.

Finding this one cache of 200 shells is one piece of a large puzzle. Finding aircraft buried (hidden) in the sand is one piece of the puzzle. Finding centrifuges buried in back yards is one piece of the puzzle.

Each piece of the puzzle may be nothing to crow about on its own. But how many other puzzle pieces are yet to be found? And what is the picture once the puzzle is put together? The big picture is what is important here, not any one individual puzzle piece.

[livius]

"whenever it explodes the illusions of the liberal media." LOL! Love it!

[Diogenesis]

Ignored by the media --- SO THAT DEMOCRATS CAN SAY, "IF IT WERE TRUE, THEN THE MEDIA WOULD REPORT IT"

========= Chemical Weapons found near Basra ============

Danish and Icelandic troops uncovered a cache of 36 shells with liquid blister agents

---

========= Chemical Warhead found in Kirkuk =============

Chemical warhead found at an Iraqi air base, marked with a green band,
the symbol for chemical weaponry. Trace amounts of a nerve agent were found
at two spots along the ~meter-long warhead. These amounts are consistent with
leakage from the chemically armed weapon. A 13-foot missile was found next to it.

---

========= Mass Graves =========

In Najaf, skull unearthed from yet another mass grave of Saddam.

---

========= Halabja =========

Dead children, previously playing in Halabja
Victims of Saddams' WMD in March 1988.

---

=========== Documents linking Atta, Saddam, Nidal, bin Ladin ===========

Handwritten letter dated Feb. 19, 1998 linking bin Laden and Saddam Hussein
discussing arrival of a secret envoy sent by bin Laden to Iraq.
The signature beneath the letter is a codename, "MDA" - the Mukhabarat.

---

=========== 911 Atrocities ===========

Those who do not learn from the PAST or who profit by such terror,
again condemn innocent Americans to repeat it.

[John H K]

But also true is that anyone who believes this small a quantity is all there is to be found is delusional.

Well, I mentioned in the original thread on the subject that the only real significance of this find is further confirmation that the Iraqis have a penchant for burying things and it may signify that there are things that actually ARE of real significance and buried more recently, that possibly could be found later.

What I find fairly silly is the idea that this find, in and of itself, is a huge earthshattering deal, or something that the Democrats are quaking in their boots about, or something that would remotely change the mind of anyone unsure or opposed to the war.

[pgkdan]

These shells are over 20 years old...hardly proof of an ongoing WMD program. We know Saddam had a WMD program and we know he was a threat to the region...it undermines our case to make a big deal over surplus from the Iran-Iraq war. We should send SF teams into Syria and find the real deal.

[livius]

Err, I won't dispute your vast knowledge of chemical weapons, but I believe Saddam was not only supposed to get rid of his chemical and other weapons, but to show the UN convincing proof that he had done so. Even the UN said that he hadn't given them this proof. And now it looks like he didn't give them that proof because he didn't have it - because he actually hadn't done it.

But, heck, maybe he just forgot. I mean, what's a crazed. homicidal dictator supposed to do, remember everything?

[firerosemom]

LOL! I like that one!

[RoseofTexas]

GEEEEZZZZZZZZZZ, why am I not surprised! It wouldn't benefit their search and destroy agenda against W that's why! One reason why I HATE DESPISE the media WHORES!

[TexasCowboy]

"just looking at this objectively as I can based on my knowledge of Iraq and of chemical weapons."

Would you please list your credentials as proof that you're an expert on either one?

[BagCamAddict]

I tend to agree with that. This isn't what we're looking for, but it's a "fun" find nonetheless. I just don't happen to have any doubts that we will eventually find what we're looking for... even if it happens to have been moved to Syria, or other locations.

[Keith]

NOTHING will change the mind of those opposed to the war, or who hate Bush. Those people are a lost cause.

It's the mushy middle that are the ones whose opinion will decide this election...

[New Horizon]

but mainstream news editors either ignored the story Sunday morning or are furiously spinning the news as inconsequential.

I'm deeply saddened.

Actually, I'm happy that this may actually shut up the left on this frigging WMD thing. But even that's doubtful, they will find a way to spin this.

Everyone with half a brain knows Sodom had WMD, used WMD, and most of his WMD has been distributed to neighboring fanatic Muslim countries.

I love seeing the libs self-destruct on every issue. This is very tasty indeed.

[reed_inthe_wind]

"Still, despite the staggering political consequences of the bombshell discovery – news that could mean total vindication for President Bush against Democrat charges that he "lied" about Iraq's WMDs – mainstream reports consistently downplayed the story."

Take one step back gentleman - the real story is about a victory for America more than politics. These shells will never be used against Americans on our own soil. Now where are the rest of the WMDs.

[John H K]

Professionally...none. (Though as a Poli Sci undergrad at MIT and Cornell I mostly studied military analysis/military history. Unfortunately haven't really employed that in any jobs, though I did work for a small company making UAVs for the military for a time...mostly was involved in contracting and sundry other painful and boring duties...ecch.

But, I've certainly kept track of things military over the years, and my primary (highly nerdy) hobby is wargaming both board and miniatures. I do have a playtest credit for the Victory Games "Desert Shield" module for their Gulf War game, if you ever run across that obscure and out-of-print title.

[Dark Wing]

fyi

[Paul Ross]

Jeepers, I hope that no one is at all surprised with this report.

I suspect RINO, ex-Secretary of the Treasury (fired, and for cause) Paul O'Neill will be surprised. His 'block-buster' book was poo-pooing any WMD existence in Iraq. How inconvenient for his book sales.