Posted on 09/12/2002 10:13:16 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache
So, the "transnational progressives" are the ones behind Scott Ritter....
He was absolutely sincere... most people with messiah complexes are sincere. He believes that only he can get Iraq to listen and America to listen. If somehow, he could do that, why... they would name schools after him, he would win the nobel peace prize, Barbra Streisand would invite him for dinner.
The world stands on the brink... peace is possible... if only everyone would listen to me!
He is passionate, he is sincere... still haven't heard (came in mid-way through the interview) how he explains away his 180 degree turn around in 1998 when he was screaming that Iraq was dangerous and only the inspectors could save the world. (oh, messiah complex yet again. At least he is consistent) Enlighten me someone!
But...he didn't dispute Asman's question about, "in 1998, you said that Iraq could reconstitute their biological weapons. That's been 4 years ago." "Could they?"
He sung and danced around saying first of all there would be intelligence proof. But he couldn't go into it. Then he said that he set up a way for all these nations to watch Iraq's illegal buying...AND IRAQ WASN'T DOING IT." Again... he couldn't prove it, but he was sure. Ritter seemed quite incredulous that Asman wasn't taking his word for it.
Then he bounced to his next proof that he worked with the Israelis for four years... the Israelis would know. No, he hadn't talked to the Israelis. But, he knew...
Then the mantra, "Make your case, Mr. Bush."
So, we have a man who believed in 1998 that Iraq was a threat. That inspectors needed to be brought back in. Every defector out of Iraq who said Mr. Ritter and the inspectors were fooled and it was business as usual in Iraq is a liar. That even though Mr. Ritter hasn't talked to any one in intelligence for 4 years... he JUST KNEW that Iraq was clean. But, he doesn't know for sure.
Exactly! I haven't seen any Scott RItter interviews etc, so this is the first I've seen of him in a few years. My impression was that he's on a real EGO trip, and that the Iraqui's have stroked his ego (he admits that Iraqi-Americans funded him and have helped him get an "audience" with Husaain.
He tries to throw out his marine corp record etc as some defense, but he could not answer any questions directly and he did what all the slime "spokespeople" for the arabs usually do....they say .. Let me rephrase that question and ask this.
He defends the Iraqi's and questions our government...When put on the spot, and being asked about what the Iraqi VP directing Iraqi's to kill Americans everywhere, on their own soil, its their duty to kill us - he called that a quagmire !!!
He seems like he's lost it, really. His EGO, he's sold out - it doesn't add up. I think he is deluded enough to THINK he's an important player in all this, and he looked a bit stunned when the reporter basically said to him people are saying he's a traitor.
I'm emailing him too! The reporter who followed him even commented on what a great interview that was! He really took RITTER right down to the curb!
1. Ritter was a marine and served honorably.
Glad to hear it. That has zero relevance to the question at hand. Marines are not gods, nor are they omniscient, nor does the fact that one served in The Corps give everything they say the sheen of truth and honesty.
2. He was distinguished enough to get a high-profile role on the US Inspection Team.
Nice. Good for him. But what, exactly, does that have to do with the question at hand: Which Ritter to believe, Version 1998, or Version 2002?
3. He was a vocal critic during the inspection time when he felt that the inspections were not fully effective and that they were prevented from getting everything and full access.
Yes. This is what makes his current behavior so bizzare.
4. He later added that his conclusion was that the inspection team, led by Butler and with Butler's apparent approval, was in fact spying on Iraq, probably with the idea of a regime change, which was not something authorized by the Agreements, and certainly something that Hussein would not agree to.
Of course the U.N. inspectors were "spies" -- though overt ones. They were trying to determine whether or not Iraq was violating the terms of the cease fire. And let's note that the idea that Butler was a "spy" for the U.S. is backed up by nothing other than Ritter's opinion -- which happens to be Iraqi propaganda. Meanwhile, the existance of Iraq's ongoing WMD program is verified by several other U.N. inspectors and plenty of defected Iraqis. Based on that reality, I think we should look more suspiciously upon Ritter than on Butler.
5. If Saddam found out that this Inspection Team was spying (which he probably suspected would happen all the time) it would not be difficult to blame him for not cooperating with the Inspectors afterward.
Saddam didn't cooperate with inspectors from DAY ONE. And he used the "spy" excuse as propaganda -- just like the supposed "Baby Milk Factory" nonsense.
Aren't you just a little disturbed by the sight of a former Marine leading the press on Saddam-approved tours of innocent factories, as if that "proves" anything other than we are seeing what Saddam wants us to see? Aren't you a little disturbed by the realization that a former Marine takes the word of known murderers and liars over that of his own president? "Make the case, Mr. Bush"? The case has been made. But Ritter is either too brainwashed, paid-off, or delusional to see it.
And so, apparently, are you.
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