Ritter cancels a trip to Iraq

Albany Times-Union | 22 Jan 03 | By ALAN WECHSLER and MIKE GOODWIN, Staff writers

[Petronski]

Decision comes amid news of 2001 Internet sex charge against former U.N. weapons inspector

Scott Ritter, the former U.N. arms inspector turned critic of a proposed war against Iraq, has canceled a trip to Baghdad in the midst of controversy over a minor sex charge he faced in 2001.

Ritter, reached on Tuesday in New York City where he arrived after a book signing in San Diego, confirmed he changed his mind about going on the trip. He had planned to fly to Iraq to offer advice to the Iraqi government on ways to avoid a conflict with the U.S.

"I'm not going," Ritter said, declining to comment further.

Ritter served as a U.N. weapons inspector for seven years. He resigned in 1998, saying that Iraq remained a threat but also saying the United States had damaged the inspection process by using intelligence from the U.N. to help determine subsequent bombing targets.

Ritter visited Iraq in September, becoming the first American to speak before the Iraqi National Assembly. He encouraged the Iraqi government to allow independent arms inspectors back into the country -- a decision Saddam Hussein agreed to not long after he left.

But Ritter's work as fervent spokesman against President Bush's proposed war was overshadowed by news earlier this week that he had been arrested in June 2001.

Ritter, 41, of Delmar, was accused of trying to lure a 16-year-old girl he met on the Internet to a Burger King restaurant, according to a person familiar with the case. The girl was actually an undercover Colonie Police Department investigator posing online as a minor as part of an investigation into Internet sex crime. Ritter was charged with attempted endangerment of a child, a class B misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of 90 days in jail. Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Preiser agreed to have the case adjourned in contemplation of dismissal, which means the charges would eventually be dropped if Ritter stayed out of trouble, and the case was subsequently sealed.

District Attorney Paul Clyne fired Preiser, a 15-year veteran, last week because she failed to tell him about a "sensitive" case, but Clyne has refused to confirm that it involved Ritter.

In April 2001, Ritter, a former Marine intelligence officer, tried to meet a 14-year-old girl he chatted with online and was instead met by police officers, the source said. Ritter was released without being charged.

Despite the controversy, Ritter continues to plan to speak about Iraq.

Ritter is scheduled to give a speech Feb. 12 at Schenectady County Community College. There are no plans to cancel Ritter's appearance, for which he'll be paid $4,000, SCCC spokesperson Heather Meaney said.

The two-year school hosts periodic guest speakers throughout the year. Ritter was chosen after a professor suggested last year that he be invited to speak to the school.

"Based on that, we researched him and decided to have him here in February," Meaney said.

In the past year, Ritter has spoken to audiences in dozens of local churches, colleges and other public forums.

[Petronski]

$4,000 for his rants?

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[Petronski]

Ping for the main list.

Emir el-Ritar's world is shrinking.

[Catspaw]

"Based on that, we researched him and decided to have him here in February," Meaney said.

They didn't research him all that well, now did they?

And this just cries out for a FREEP!

[Republic of Texas]

Now that the news is out, he has no more use for them, and they have no more use for him.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Schedule the meeting at the Bagdad Burger King and say "punching the clown" is on the menu and I bet he'll be there in a heartbeat.

[anniegetyourgun]

Ritter gives actual meaning to the word "heathen".....

[The Great Satan]

Saddam has no use for him after this weekend. In fact, Ritter is a liability for his puppet-master at this point. I don't blame him for cancelling the trip. Wouldn't want to risk an "accident."

[Petronski]

Skat el-Ritar: the perve who was left out in the cold.

[Petronski]

Old 'Pervy McLickspittle' seems to have gotten himself caught in a big ringer.

[Quilla]

Or possibly Saddam's blackmail evidence has just become irrelevant. Ritter may not have to speak on Iraq's behalf any longer.

[The Great Satan]

Oh, the cancellation and this weekend's revelations are related. Make no mistake about that.

[MadIvan]

Hell, I can use the $4,000 - I'll rant about how Scott Ritter is an utter loon. It'll be more coherent than what he'd say. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[Mr. K]

"...controversy over a minor sex charge he faced in 2001..."

Anyone wanna bet that if this was a pro Bush, Republican, or conservative this would not have been called a 'minor sex charge'...

NOTE: IT WAS INTENT TO HAVE SEX WITH A MINOR- NOT A 'MINOR SEX CHARGE'

[TLBSHOW]

Ritter is scheduled to give a speech Feb. 12 at Schenectady County Community College. There are no plans to cancel Ritter's appearance, for which he'll be paid $4,000, SCCC spokesperson Heather Meaney said.

ITS FREEP TIME

[CatoRenasci]

Of course the cancellation and the arrest coming out are related. In fact, my guess is that these arrests are only the tip of the iceberg: Saddam's secret police probably learned of Ritter's interest in little girls and set him up with some for the cameras back when he was in Iraq at some point. That'll be when he changed his views. The Iraqis still have him by the short hairs, I'll bet. His credibilty is pretty much destroyed by these arrests, but what if the Iraqis released tapes of him cavoring with girls/boys of the same age as Mohammed's youngest wife when he consummated the marraige: nine!

[guitfiddlist]

We need to have some fun with Freep placard suggestions:

"Yeah Ritter, tell us some more Whoppers."

"New Homeland Security Color Code Announced - Amber Alert. Ritter spotted in area."

[Phantom Lord]

Does Burger King still have those paper crowns for the kids? A bunch of FReepers could get their hands on those crowns and wear them to the speaking engagement.

[Dante3]

What book signing did he attend? If he has a book out that would explain a lot.

[TLBSHOW]

He is in New York City doing a commercial for Peace!