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The Financial Times: Russians ‘May Have Taken Iraq Explosives'
The Financial Times ^ | October 28, 2004 | Demetri Sevastopulo, Guy Dinmore and James Harding

Posted on 10/27/2004 9:04:27 PM PDT by quidnunc

Washington DC and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania – The controversy over Iraq’s missing explosives intensified on Wednesday as the Bush administration rejected charges of incompetence and a senior Pentagon official claimed the munitions may have been removed by Russians before the US-led invasion.

Breaking his silence over an issue that has dominated headlines since Monday, President George W. Bush accused John Kerry, his Democratic challenger, of making “wild charges” over the 350 tonnes of explosives and weapons.

The Pentagon is still investigating their disappearance. But Scott McClellan, White House press secretary, said there was a “very real possibility” the munitions were taken by the Saddam Hussein regime before US troops arrived at the munitions facility at al-Qaqaa, south of Baghdad.

At a rally in Iowa on Wednesday, however, Mr Kerry claimed that Mr Bush had allowed the explosives to fall into the hands of Iraqi rebels. Later, his campaign conceded that the Hussein regime might have removed the munitions before the invasion.

But in a further development, John Shaw, a deputy under-secretary of defence, suggested that “Russian units” had transported the explosives out of the country.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Shaw said: “For nearly nine months my office has been aware of an elaborate scheme set up by Saddam Hussein to finance and disguise his weapons purchases through his international suppliers, principally the Russians and French. That network included. . . employing various Russian units on the eve of hostilities to orchestrate the collection of munitions and assure their transport out of Iraq via Syria.”

-snip-

(Excerpt) Read more at news.ft.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Extended News; Politics/Elections; Russia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaqaa; ammogate; bush; cbs; explosives; hmx; iraq; kerry; nyt; nytrogate; rdx
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1 posted on 10/27/2004 9:04:28 PM PDT by quidnunc
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To: quidnunc

Ion Pacepa has been trying to tell us what really happened to the WMD all along...apparently no one was listening.

http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=10111


2 posted on 10/27/2004 9:05:04 PM PDT by TapTheSource
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To: quidnunc

Let this be true.


3 posted on 10/27/2004 9:05:18 PM PDT by Howlin (Bush has claimed two things which Democrats believe they own by right: the presidency & the future)
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To: quidnunc

NY Times,CBS & Kerry: Conspiracy To Divert Attention From Bombshell Documents?
10/27/2004

Posted on 10/27/2004 8:11:50 PM PDT by notkerry
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1259525/posts

Why are the New York Times, CBS and John Kerry hyping a fraudulent story on the missing explosives? Why did CBS state the story would not hold until 48 hours before the election?

My opinion is they knew John Kerry’s presidential run was over when the following documents broke on October 26, 2004 if press and public where not all distracted elsewhere.

Documentary evidence was reveled on October 26, 2004 establishing that John Kerry worked with the Vietnamese communists while Vietnam War was still ongoing. The documents clearly state:

“The spontaneous antiwar movements in the US have received assistance and guidance from the friendly ((VC/NVN)) delegations at the Paris Peace Talks.”

The documents further state:

“Of the U.S. antiwar movements, the two most important ones are: The PCPJ ((the People's Committee for Peace and Justice)) and the NPAC ((National Peace Action Committee)). These two movements have gathered much strength and staged many demonstrations. The PCPJ is the most important. It maintains relations with us.”

The proof that John Kerry’s anti-war group, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, was working with People's Coalition for Peace and Justice is contained in an April 20, 1971 letter written by Kerry VVAW sidekick, Al Hubbard. The letter is addressed from the offices of the VVAW in Washington, D.C. and states:

“This is an appeal for help for the Peoples Coalition for Peace and Justice. Over the past months the Peoples Coalition has supported the Vietnam Vets Against the War in many ways. The Coalition has made office space available at no charge, and permitted the use of all necessary office equipment such as mimeograph machines, stencil-making machines, folders and typewriters. They have loaned us cars, bullhorns, and public address equipment. Their staff has taken messages for us and joined fraternally in building our progress. Now we can return this support.”

John Kerry has admitted that he met with leaders of both communist delegations to the Paris Peace Talks in June 1970. This meeting actually included Madame Binh, foreign minister of the Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG) of South Vietnam, also known as the Vietcong. The recently discovered documents clearly state that:

"The Nixon-Thieu clique is very embarrassed because the seven-point peace proposal is supported by the SVN people's (( political struggle)) movement and the antiwar movements in the US. Therefore, all local areas, units, and branches must widely disseminate the seven-point peace proposal, step up the people's ((political struggle)) movements both in cities and rural areas, taking advantage of disturbances and dissensions in the enemy's forthcoming (RVN) Congressional and Presidential elections. They must coordinate more successfully with the antiwar movements in the US so as to isolate the Nixon-Thieu clique."

John Kerry completed his betrayal of the country on July 22, 1971 when he called on President Nixon to accept the seven-point peace proposal supported by the Vietcong. The FBI files even document that Kerry returned to Paris to meet with the North Vietnamese delegation in August of 1971.

See: John Kerry and the VVAW: Hanoi's American Puppets? Newly discovered documents link Vietnam Veterans Against the War to Vietnamese communists

http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/staticpages/index.php?page=puppets


4 posted on 10/27/2004 9:06:35 PM PDT by notkerry
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To: quidnunc

U.S. Says Russian Engineers Aided Iraq's Missile Program

By James Risen

The New York Times -- WASHINGTON

A group of Russian engineers secretly aided Saddam Hussein's long-range ballistic missile program, providing technical assistance for prohibited Iraqi weapons projects even in the years just before the war that ousted him from power, American government officials say.

Iraqis who were involved in the missile work told American investigators that the technicians had not been working for the Russian government, but for a private company. But any such work on Iraq's banned missiles would have violated U.N. sanctions, even as the U.N. Security Council sought to enforce them.

Although Iraq ultimately failed to develop and produce long-range ballistic missiles and though even its permitted short-range missile projects were fraught with problems, its missile program is now seen as the main prohibited weapons effort that Iraq continued right up until the war was imminent.

After the first Persian Gulf war in 1991, Iraq was allowed only to keep crude missiles that could travel up to 150 kilometers, or about 90 miles, but the Russian engineers were assisting Baghdad's secret efforts illegally to develop longer-range missiles, according to the American officials.

Since the invasion in March, American investigators have discovered that the Russian engineers had worked on the Iraqi program both in Moscow and in Baghdad, and that some of them were in the Iraqi capital as recently as 2001, according to people familiar with the intelligence on the matter.

Because some of the Russian experts were said to have formerly worked for one of Russia's aerospace design centers, which remains closely associated with the state, their work for Iraq has raised questions in Washington about whether Russian government officials knew of their involvement in forbidden missile programs. “Did the Russians really not know what they were doing?” asked one person familiar with the U.S. intelligence reports.

"The U.S. has not presented any evidence of Russian involvement," said Yevgeny Khorishko, a spokesman for the Russian Embassy.

Russia and the former Soviet Union were among Iraq's main suppliers of arms for decades before Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, leading to the first gulf war.

The Bush administration has previously said it had uncovered evidence that Iraq had unsuccessfully sought help from North Korea for its missile program, but had not disclosed the evidence that Iraq had also received Russian technical support.

CIA and White House officials refused to comment on the matter, and people familiar with the intelligence say they believe that the administration has been reluctant to reveal what it knows about Moscow's involvement in order to avoid harming relations with President Vladimir V. Putin.

"They are hyper-cautious about confronting Putin on this," complained one intelligence source.

In his public testimony last week about the worldwide threats facing the United States, George J. Tenet, the director of central intelligence, restated Washington's longstanding concerns about Russia's controls over its missile and weapons technology, without mentioning the evidence of missile support for the Saddam government.


This story was published on Friday, March 5, 2004.
Volume 124, Number 10

5 posted on 10/27/2004 9:08:15 PM PDT by RightFighter
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To: Howlin
This could be the biggest story of our lifetime if the Russians removed Saddam's WMD's. How Bush and Putin handle this situation will define our relations with Russia for the next 30 years. I have a gut feeling that this administration has known about this for a while and know just how they are gonna handle this situation from here. this might explain Putin's defense of President Bush lately :-)
6 posted on 10/27/2004 9:09:19 PM PDT by MJY1288 (A MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK HAS NEVER LED ANY TEAM TO VICTORY)
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To: Howlin

Check out this find by another freeper:

Russian convoy caught in crossfire; escape to Syria.

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1259570/posts


7 posted on 10/27/2004 9:12:47 PM PDT by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed)
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To: MJY1288

This whole thing is too good to be true. I'm wondering if Bush set up the press and Kerry for a fall. Hilarious if so. Putin is probably in on the deal.


8 posted on 10/27/2004 9:12:58 PM PDT by Mount Athos
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To: MJY1288

I wrote on another thread that due to Russia's new found desire to fight the war on terror both Putin and President
Bush could spin it as Russia taking out explosives and WMD out of Iraq to protect our servicemen and to protect Iraqi civilians. Bush could also report he did not want to let this out because of security concerns about terrorists getting the materials (and with any luck also state the Kerry knew about this but was playing politics or at least would have known if he was attended his senate intelligence hearings). It would be game over, thanks for playing Senator Kerry we have some wonderful parting gifts for both you and Mr. Dachle.


9 posted on 10/27/2004 9:13:27 PM PDT by Dr Snide (vis pacem, para bellum - Prepare for war if you want peace)
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To: Mount Athos

Could be, Putin has said he wants Bush to be reelected....


10 posted on 10/27/2004 9:14:33 PM PDT by LegalEagle61
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To: MJY1288; Peach; conservativepoet

I feel lost on this story and I thought I had a handle on it this afternoon!

Do you honestly believe this is true?

Look:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1259467/posts?page=650#650


11 posted on 10/27/2004 9:14:34 PM PDT by Howlin (Bush has claimed two things which Democrats believe they own by right: the presidency & the future)
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To: Howlin
Look for Putin to blame Yeltsin for transferring the WMD and the precursors, and take credit for removing them before they could be used against our troops. Then he can say that Russia's policy changed after 9/11
12 posted on 10/27/2004 9:15:04 PM PDT by MJY1288 (A MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK HAS NEVER LED ANY TEAM TO VICTORY)
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To: Howlin

If it is true, Kerry will have a lot of backpedaling to do. How do you explain and sell the need for a global test while downplaying the fact that the folks testing you are not only getting rich in a conflict of interest, but running special operations that aid your enemy.... Grab some popcorn, kick back, and watch rats go hysterical on this one...


13 posted on 10/27/2004 9:15:36 PM PDT by Joe Anybody
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To: Howlin

Whew! I'd like to believe that. I guess I'd like to know the sourcing on that.


14 posted on 10/27/2004 9:16:09 PM PDT by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed)
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To: quidnunc
At a rally in Iowa on Wednesday, however, Mr Kerry claimed that Mr Bush had allowed the explosives to fall into the hands of Iraqi rebels. Later, his campaign conceded that the Hussein regime might have removed the munitions before the invasion.

Take it back public ally, you lying sack of sh#t, Kerry! You called our Vice-President a liar, now take it back! You won't because you have NO character.

A_R

15 posted on 10/27/2004 9:16:28 PM PDT by arkady_renko
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To: Joe Anybody

How do you explain wanting to be CIC when you go off halfcocked on a story like this?


16 posted on 10/27/2004 9:17:58 PM PDT by Howlin (Bush has claimed two things which Democrats believe they own by right: the presidency & the future)
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To: MJY1288

Let's see: night vision goggles, trucks, and whatever else -- Oil For Food, and now this?

My head is spinning.


17 posted on 10/27/2004 9:18:37 PM PDT by Howlin (Bush has claimed two things which Democrats believe they own by right: the presidency & the future)
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: Howlin

freepmail


19 posted on 10/27/2004 9:18:56 PM PDT by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed)
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To: notkerry

10


20 posted on 10/27/2004 9:20:20 PM PDT by hole_n_one
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