Posted on 07/07/2006 9:44:44 AM PDT by Miami Vice
Democrats - and their liberal media myrmidons - often quote former Iraq Survey Group (ISG) Director David Kay about weapons of mass destruction (WMD's) in Iraq - yet they do so selectively.
On June 29, Kay testified before a House Armed Services Committee hearing regarding recent information made public about WMD's found in Iraq. They never mentioned what he said during that hearing.
The hearing was chaired by Pennsylvania Congressman Curt Weldon. During his opening statement Weldon said, "Today, the full committee meets in open session to receive testimony on information - released just last week by the Director of National Intelligence - about the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. This declassified information specifically states that coalition forces have recovered about 500 munitions containing mustard or sarin nerve agent .... Four months ago it was brought to my attention by several former U.S. Intelligence Officers, that we may not have searched all suspected WMD sites in Iraq ... I was surprised to find out, that, as Charles Duelfer stated in a recent briefing '"we just didn't have the resources to check all sites"'.... Some may want to play down the significance of this report or even deny that WMD have been found in Iraq."
Weldon continued, "For those who claim these weapons are not the weapons of mass destruction that the United States went to war over, I would like to refer them to the 17 United Nations Security Council Resolutions that Saddam Hussein violated - and in particular, the 14 that specifically addressed WMD. The very first one ... 687 - directed the destruction of Iraq's stockpiles of chemical weapons. Saddam Hussein violated this resolution ... and the verified existence of such chemical weapons proves that. In part because of such violations, we voted to authorize the use of military force in Iraq. ...Others may claim that this newly declassified information is not significant. In fact in the September 2004 report of the "Special Advisor to the Director of Central Intelligence on Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction" - Charles Duelfer - states that coalition forces could expect to find numbers of these munitions throughout the Iraqi countryside. ... ones that could be sold on the black market, that could fall into the hands of terrorists or insurgents, that could end up outside of Iraq - still exist there ....Third, some people claim that these weapons are pre-Gulf War munitions with a badly degraded chemical agent that is no longer lethal or even harmful. ...I point to the declassified statement from the intelligence report that chemical warfare agents might degrade over time, but they still remain hazardous and potentially lethal." This hearing contained some revelatory testimony that the Democrats try to discredit. Kay's testimony is a perfect example.
When asked by the ranking Committee Democrat, Ike Skelton, if the ISG found the amounts of chemical weapons stated in the October 2002 National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), because of which, "we went to war on March 18," Kay replied, "I came to the conclusion that there were no WMD's as described in the NIE... I thought Iraq was a more dangerous place than I assumed in the NIE, filled with people who knew how to make WMD ...[1]"
Kay was then asked another very relevant question by a committee member, Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter. Hunter, it must be noted, is a former Army Ranger and Vietnam veteran, who voted in favor of the war in Iraq. Hunter asked, "Dr. Kay, in light of your last statement when the gentleman from Missouri was asking you about the existence of weapons of mass destruction and the expectancy versus what we found when we got there, and your answer that you still found Iraq to be a very dangerous place - dangerous to American security. Having gone and done the survey, how would you have voted? Do you think it was worthwhile?
Kay replied, ".... I think the decision to go to war against Iraq was the decision I would have taken. " Hunter then asked a series of questions about the accuracy of statements made in Congress stating there were no WMD's found in Iraq:
Hunter: " ... when we have descriptions on the House floor .... '"There were no,"' and I'm quoting, "there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq."' That's not accurate, is it?"
Kay: "It's not accurate by my personal knowledge."
Hunter (quoting a colleague): '"We are spending billions of dollars to occupy a country that did not have weapons of mass destruction."'
He then asks Kay, "That's not accurate, is it?"
Kay: "That's certainly not how I would phrase it, let me say that."
The following dialogue between Kay and Hunter illustrates how successful the misinformation campaign by antiwar groups, regarding the existence of WMD's in Iraq, has been. Hunter continued questioning Kay:
Hunter (again quoting an antiwar colleague): ... "'We know that there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. We know that to be the case."' That's not accurate, is it?"
Kay: "I think - look, I don't want to get into criticizing your colleagues. We all knew that in Iraq we were going to find chemical weapons produced prior to 1991."
Hunter: "But Dr. Kay, you say we all knew. I don't agree with that. ...that's one reason we're having the hearing ... I think after the massive number ... of statements to the effect of what I just read to you that have been going on in town hall meetings, coming out of the radio, the television, the newspaper - if you ask the average American today ... if there are any weapons of mass destruction ... found in Iraq, I think 99.9 percent of them are going to tell you no. They're going to say no, there aren't."
This is the difficulty with the debate about Iraq. The American public, because of an administration that is not publicizing the facts and some politically partisan journalism, is not being furnished with the information necessary to form an opinion.
It is also unconscionable when our elected representatives make statements in Congress such as: "We are certain that Iraq does not possess weapons of mass destruction -and never did."
Michael P. Tremoglie is the author of the novel A Sense of Duty
"687 - directed the destruction of Iraq's stockpiles of chemical weapons. Saddam Hussein violated this resolution ... and the verified existence of such chemical weapons proves that. In part because of such violations, we voted to authorize the use of military force in Iraq."
How many have forgotten that the reason we went to Iraq wasn't because he was PRODUCING WMD's, but because he REFUSED to destroy the ones he had and hid them so they could be used later?
It didn't matter that they were 'old', it mattered that he HAD THEM!
There was a report last month of a failed al Queda plot to use sarin to kill vast numbers of New Yorkers in the subways during the rush hour, when 6 million people are commuting.
So my question to the crazed democrat party robots is: WHERE did al Queda get its sarin supplies?
eBay? Walmart? www.SarinRUs.com?
don't forget the 2 tons of enriched uranium...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3872201.stm
US reveals Iraq nuclear operation
The US has revealed that it removed more than 1.7 metric tons of radioactive material from Iraq in a secret operation last month.
"This operation was a major achievement," said US Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham in a statement.
He said it would keep "potentially dangerous nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists".
Along with 1.77 tons of enriched uranium, about 1,000 "highly radioactive sources" were also removed.
The material was taken from a former nuclear research facility on 23 June, after being packaged by 20 experts from the US Energy Department's secret laboratories.
snip.
How old is this article? First, Hunter was a Navy pilot, I believe, not an Army Ranger. And secondly, again if I recall correctly, he's been in prison since this spring.
Big Opps....I was thinking Duke Cunningham, not Duncan Hunter. A thousand apologies, especially to Rep. Hunter.
The title has the makings of a song. Doug..?...
ping!
Where are the WMD? Here are the WMD.
"These are Weapons of Mass Destruction. They are real. They are harmful to humans."
This is the biggest mystery about the Bush Administration, IMO.
Would be nice to get this info to Sean, seems he has forgotten about it (or never knew) Many chemical "Stuff" was dumped into the Euphrates River as we entered Bagdad as well.
Cyanide, sarin, and other nerve gases.
bio-labs hiding under overpasses
jets with such poisons stored under their wings,
These were a among his WMDs
(Sorry, when I read the headline I thought of "These are a few of my favorite things.)
" No wmds no wmds la-la-la-la I can`t hear you "
Pings
>>>> "Kay was then asked another very relevant question by a committee member, Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter. Hunter, it must be noted, is a former Army Ranger and Vietnam veteran, who voted in favor of the war in Iraq.
How old is this article? First, Hunter was a Navy pilot, I believe, not an Army Ranger. And secondly, again if I recall correctly, he's been in prison since this spring."
Randall "Duke" Cunningham is the Navy fighter pilot that is now in prison.
Your confusing Hunter with Cunningham.
Just the facts
W said yesterday that there were no WMDs.
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