Bomb-Gate(Ammogate) NY Times Iraqi arms story based on a false letter! (HERE WE GO AGAIN!)

National Review ^ | Cliff May

[The G Man]

This is a post by NR writer Cliff May on their "Corner" blog at NRO:

~~~~~~~~~~

BOMB-GATE [Cliff May]

Sent to me by a source in the government:

“The Iraqi explosives story is a fraud. These weapons were not there when US troops went to this site in 2003. The IAEA and its head, the anti-American Mohammed El Baradei, leaked a false letter on this issue to the media to embarrass the Bush administration. The US is trying to deny El Baradei a second term and we have been on his case for missing the Libyan nuclear weapons program and for weakness on the Iranian nuclear weapons program.”

(For the record, I don’t reveal my sources so if that means I end up sharing a cell at Sing-sing with Judy Miller, so be it.) Posted at 10:00 AM

[CatOwner]

I love Rush, but he is not MSM. This story needs to reach the undecideds and wishy-washy Democrat voters. They are not in Rush's audience.

[Howlin]

Not only that, but yesterday somebody said that there is absolutely NO sign that any of this has been used in Iraq since the war started.

[Peach]

I'm trying to write a letter to the editor about this matter right now and gathering the facts to put in the letter. (We're a small town and they need letters and publish quickly).

Do you remember where you heard that the ammo hadn't been used against our troops?

[johnny7]

I agree. This isn't getting reported anywhere but here and on talk-radio!

[.38sw]

Rush is absolutely on fire over this. Good.

[AFPhys]

There were over 400,000 tons in Iraq. The amount missing is about 0.1%

[prairiebreeze]

"Foolish Has-Been"

[Howlin]

Mohamed El Baradei's report to the UN security council

February 13, 2003:

"We have also continued to investigate the relocation and consumption of the high explosive HMX. As I reported earlier, Iraq has declared that 32 tonnes of the HMX previously under IAEA seal had been transferred for use in the production of industrial explosives, primarily to cement plants as a booster for explosives used in
quarrying."

"Iraq has provided us with additional information, including documentation on the movement and use of this material, and inspections have been conducted at locations where the material is said to have been used. However, given the nature of the use of high explosives, it may well be that the IAEA will be unable to reach a final conclusion on the end use of this material. While we have no indication that this material was used for any application other than that declared by Iraq, we have no technical method of verifying, quantitatively, the declared use of the material in explosions. We will continue to follow this issue through a review of civilian mining practices in Iraq and through interviews of key Iraqi personnel involved in former relevant research and development activities."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,895890,00.html

[Stellar Dendrite]

Ammogate is good, I had another hilarious idea -- how about

QaaQaaGate

Also, my mom called the local TV/Radio stations regarding this story....one of the people said rudely: "You want us to report what RUSH says??"

[rotundusmaximus]

I wrote to Jill Abramson, I am sorry to say that writing is not my forte.

Ms. Abramson:

I am addressing you since as Managing Editor it's in your realm of responsibility to ensure that a story is verified and reported correctly. Why you are allowing your paper to report a story which is contextually false and written to mislead your readers?

Ms. Abramson, it appears like you had the facts already when you allowed your reporters to write this story in a misleading manner. You reported the Administration's response on page 3 of your on-line story, (not page 1 and only one paragraph) but failed to develop it. Why, I wonder? Perhaps because then the tone of the story would lose is accusatory tone?

Why have you not followed up this story with a clarification, you know that NBC's embedded reporters have reported the story to be false. You also know that El Baredei has no love for this Administration who have made no bones about not supporting him for a third term.

This is a perfect example of the Media's Liberal Democratic bias, the bias that is so emphatically denied by your organization as well as other media organizations.

Where is the truth Ms. Abramson? You journalist want to make us believe that TRUTH is the essence of your lives, more important to you than anything else; then, what about telling the truth, and unmasking this very blatant and pro Kerry deceit on the eve of elections.....Or are you aiding the Kerry campaign and thus trying to throw the election by the use of lies?

I accuse.

[jimbo123]

DANIEL OKRENT
Public Editor

E-mail: public@nytimes.com

(212) 556-7652

[petercooper]

I asked the kid after he told me they just reported the facts- "since when are lies, facts"? He stammered and said hold on to leave a comment.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Below is part of a statement by IAEA that shows that HMX, previously under seal, was moved by the Iraqis. This was in Feb. 2003 before the war. This is just what they declared. Who knows how much was actually moved and when?

February 17, 2003 IAEA statement on Iraq

"..Use of HMX

The IAEA has continued to investigate the relocation and consumption of the high explosive HMX. As I reported earlier, Iraq has declared that 32 tonnes of the HMX previously under IAEA seal had been transferred for use in the production of industrial explosives, primarily to cement plants as a booster for explosives used in quarrying.

Iraq has provided us with additional information, including documentation on the movement and use of this material, and inspections have been conducted at locations where the material is said to have been used. However, given the nature of the use of high explosives, it may well be that the IAEA will be unable to reach a final conclusion on the end use of this material..."

[Peach]

Thanks so much, howlin. I'm finishing my letter now and will include that information.

[rotundusmaximus]

Thanks, I sent him a copy of the e mail to Abramson and tried calling but I was unable to leave a message due to the fact that his box is full!!! Go Freepers!

[kinsman redeemer]

Thanks for the NYT Number...

CALL THIS NOW!

Phone number is (212) 556-1234 then hit the following prompts: 5-then-1-then-4. That will bring you to the foreign desk.

[Carolinamom]

The IAEA also recently received some additional information relevant to this issue [Iraq's importing uranium], which will be further pursued, hopefully with the assistance of the African country reported to have been involved.

Niger? Joe Wilson, where are you?

[Howlin]

Check your pings.

[Blood of Tyrants]

ellil is right. Rather was planning on airing this story the night before the election pretending it was news, all the time knowing it was 19 months old.

[firewalk]

Thanks for the ping