Pentagon Ousts Official Who Tied Russia, Iraq Arms

The Washington Times ^ | December 30, 2004 | Bill Gertz

[DainBramage]

Russian special forces units were involved

Seems a very important part. Declaration of Russian military involvement against the coalition, and as war unfolded.

[piasa]

The guy has tried to paint himself- or perhaps the press has tried to paint his as a conservative, upstanding guy... but does this terminology sound conservative to you or more loike something from DU?

He threatened DiRita that, if forced to step down, he would unleash "Iran Contra II," a reference to the scandal that roiled the Reagan administration.

This guy leaked the bogus story of "missing munitions" perhaps to help out the Democrat party and to cover for his own little self and his ethical problems. Or both.

[dennisw]

Administration blabbermouths are being put on notice. In the CIA and elsewhere. They are not appreciated in this era of a biased mass media.

[Hostage]

No it was Roger M. Boisjoly, an engineer at Morton-Thiokol in Utah the manufacturer of the STS SRBs (solid rocket boosters) located in Utah.

He risked his career and the jobs of all his coworkers by displaying an ethical conscience. Morton-Thiokol's livelihood depended on their sole contract to NASA.

He had many heated discussions even the night before the fateful Challenger launch to plead for a review of past O-Ring blowbys. The SRBs were parachuted after launch and retrieved in the sea. They were then sent to Morton-Thiokol for inspection.

Roger was told to 'take off his engineering hat and put on his management hat'.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

His crime is having put Russia in a situation not easily "forgivable"...

I can't understand why the US would be so reticent to expose ANY nation that was doing this in a clear attempt to contravene our efforts to neuter Sadaam. Especially, in light of information coming out about how the Russians profited from the Oil-for-Food debacle. Putin is not our friend. I hope the President realizes this.

[Woodworker]

Mr. Shaw's background is unknown to me. Bill Gertz's byline caught my eye. The story seemed, at least at first glance, to concern Gertz's sources.

[OldFriend]

I'm with you on this. I don't like leaking to Gertz at the Wn. Times any more than I like leaks to the NYSlimes or the Washington Poost.

[Wiz]

John A. Shaw might have not followed the legal steps for disclosure but without his contribution, the liberals would have continued to blame for no evidence of WMD until the end of election. This news may have had some effect not just to justify the Iraq War but also justify President Bush for his judgement leading to Iraq War in the last few weeks of the election to show the truth to the public. John A. Shaw might deserve criticism but should not be punished hard. The real enemy to be punished are terrorist supporting Russia and Syria that have hidden the WMDs.

While Russian involvement was not clear, this was also already news in the early days of year 2004 even before John A. Shaw made it public. Related news was also posted on Free Republic about WMD stored in Syria. My memory is not clear but I also thought there was also news in the first few weeks of Iraq War about Russian special force involvement in Iraq.

Syria stores Iraq's WMD that was reported in Jan 2004. http://www.2la.org/syria/iraq-wmd.php
http://www.2la.org/syria/wmd.html

[GarySpFc]

Russian special forces units were involved.

And this has been discredited.

[GarySpFc]

I can't understand why the US would be so reticent to expose ANY nation that was doing this in a clear attempt to contravene our efforts to neuter Sadaam. Especially, in light of information coming out about how the Russians profited from the Oil-for-Food debacle. Putin is not our friend. I hope the President realizes this.

Nonsense! The Russias were being pragmatic. Russia was owed billions by Saddam, and that was one of the reasons they did not want us to invade. The oil for food profits Russia received were simply payback on money owed to them.

[marty60]

We are at War, what is wrong with these people for pete's sake.

[OldFriend]

The media considers itself more important than national security.

For the most part, if they can't get a leak, they make up stories, Rather style.

[elfman2]

"And this has been discredited"

That’s the first I’ve heard. Do you have a source?

[elfman2]

"Nonsense! The Russias were being pragmatic. Russia was owed billions by Saddam, and that was one of the reasons they did not want us to invade. The oil for food profits Russia received were simply payback on money owed to them. "

Were the French just being more pragmatic?

[GarySpFc]

Were the French just being more pragmatic?

The French were just practicing their usual dishonesty.

[conservativeharleyguy]

Mere dismissal for one's job is too small a price to pay for deliberate and unauthorized disclosure of CLASSIFIED information, especially when it's done just to prove some philosophical point!

Just because we might agree with his message, doesn't mitigate his legal culpability.

There has been far too much of this kind of thing in Washington in the past several years.

If I were to intentionally disclose (i.e. "leak") classified information, I'd consider myself fortunate to merely lose my job.

It is against the law,and should be treated as such!!! Anyone who does this should be prosecuted.

[Atlantic Friend]

Well, I guess there are always financial interests, and I'm sure the Russian ambassador came screaming that the Bush administration was defaming his motherland, so just to calm things down the Administration had to do something.

And really, it was not very bright of this guy to spill the beans. I can easily imagine his indignation, but this kind of move is best left to the SecState and President. You can't have aides thinking their personal feelings override their duties - and discretion is usually the first of the duties when you're kucky enough to work with the big boys.

[elfman2]

" The French were just practicing their usual dishonesty."

Same could be said to a lesser degree of the Russians.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The oil for food profits Russia received were simply payback on money owed to them.

You are joking, right?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

And really, it was not very bright of this guy to spill the beans.

No doubt. But the Administrations stance towards the whole thing seems odd. The State Dept. should have been in the lead in getting this sort of thing out in the open. Pronto.