US calls off search for weapons of mass destruction

[Norbert]

The Bush administration has quietly withdrawn a 400-member military team it sent to Baghdad to scour Iraq for evidence of unconventional weapons, write Conor O'Clery in New York & Deaglán de Bréadún in Dublin.

The move indicates that the US does not now expect to find illegal weapons, the main reason given by President Bush for the war last year that toppled Saddam Hussein.

At the same time, a prestigious Washington-based research foundation, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has published a scathing report on President Bush's case for war.

The US weapons team, whose withdrawal was reported yesterday by the New York Times, is the key unit of a 1,400-member US survey group sent to find weapons of mass destruction. Head of the group Mr David Kay is in Washington with his deputy, Gen Keith Dayton, and may quit his post soon, the paper also reported.

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/front/2004/0109/901262949HM1IRAQ.html

This is a confirmation of the findings of the Carnagie Foundation.

[Disandra]

1. I wonder what all those Freepers will say now?

Every time I have pointed out that there has been no WMD's found, I always get screamed at "But, they are there! We will find them!"

I hope this gets more press coverage....

[Military Brat]

2. They'll say Saddam hid them too well, or sold them to "terra-rists"

You can't win over someone with a closed mind. But maybe, just maybe, the seeds of doubt will be planted. Just think of the freeper with a relative or friend in danger in Iraq ...

[Disandra]

7. Someone already to sell me "He sold them to 'terra-rists' " line...

...when I pointed out that the Bush administration was "tracking" these WMD's leading up to the war, so they would know if they were being shipped off somewhere I was told to "shut up" because the US "boob-ment" knew better than I did.

Sigh.

As far as the freeper with the relative or friend in danger in Iraq, they probably would call them a "hero" and be done with it.

Sorry, I'm just a little cynical tonight. I guess that is what reading some of the forums over at the Free Republic will do to you. ;-)

[NickB79]

36. And did he also sell

The massive production factories, scientific labs and purification centers needed to produce viable nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, which we also can't seem to find? Almost all bio/chem weapons degrade within 5 yrs of production, so if they did sell anything left lying around that were made in a now-dismantled factory/lab, they sold worthless crap.

[scottcsmith]

5. "Americans don't care about WMDs"

That's the standard freeper response. They're all about revisionist history.

[Disandra]

8. I'm with you on that one. n/t

[saigon68]

47. Amerikans care about Kobe, Scott Peterson and Michael Jackson

They care about soccer camp, the price of a trip to disneyland and whether the happy meal will be eaten by the kids.

They care nothing about death in a foreign country, starving children or anything else graphic or upsetting

Rove and his ilk know this therefor -- no body shots--- no blood, no screaming and so far no accounts from the troops about anything.

[JoeNormal]

17. I'll hazard a guess what the hard-heads will argue...

I wonder what all those Freepers will say now?

The WMD was obviously shipped to Syria.

[Disandra]

20. Yeah...it is about time ol Dubya start a new war. *sarcasm* n/t

[BuckeFushe]

25. NYT link

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/08/international/middleeast/08WEAP.html

[Jim__]

3. I don't believe they've completely called off the search

I agree that they really don't expect to find any WMD - I think they've known that for a while now. But, I believe they do still have the vestiges of the team there. Technically, I think they're still searching.

[alcuno]

16. Welcome to DU, Jim

I think that you are correct. It's better for them to keep up the pretense of "looking" for WMD's while no longer talking about them to any extent.

[metisnation]

37. Welcome to DU

trust your instincts on this one who could possibly to get the truth from TV? I think you will like it here cheers brother!

:toast:

[0007]

4. What did O'Reilly say he'd do if WMD were not found?

[Disandra]

10. He said this in April 2003 on "Good Morning America"

"...if the Americans go in and overthrow Saddam Hussein and it's clean, he has nothing, I will apologize to the nation, and I will not trust the Bush administration again."

Source: http://www.oreilly-sucks.com/oreillywmd.htm

I'm not holding my breath.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. that does not stop me from sending him a nasty gram

The header is time to apologize

The teams are being pulled out... from the WMD search, this is front page news all over the place.

There is nothing there... and yes they lied and so far close to 500 troops have paid the ultimate price.

Here is what you said...

"...if the Americans go in and overthrow Saddam Hussein and it's clean, he has nothing, I will apologize to the nation, and I will not trust the Bush administration again."

So we will be waiting for your apology, though quite frankly I think a snow ball has a better chance in Hell than you ever issuing that apology.

Sincerely
XXXX

[Capablanca]

18. I am Sorry

I was one of those trusting souls who swore that surely we would never go to this extent unless we had incontrovertible evidence of WMD. I was confident that this was done to protect our country and as a father I as glad. I believed them.

I AM SORRY. I WAS WRONG. I WAS MISLEAD. NOW I AM PISSED!!!!!!!!!

I am now asking many questions. One of which is which candidate will I vote for other than Bush.

[Disandra]

22. *Applauds*

I hope your response will become the typical one of the American people come election time.

[mike_c]

24. welcome to DU, Capablanca...

...where truth still finds it's way to the surface every now and then!

[alcuno]

27. Welcome to DU, Capablanca

I think it's very painful for many of us to see what those in our government have done. Even if they find something now, it's just so obvious that this country was not threatening us.

[DarkPhenyx]

34. Welcome to the family Capa.

There are going to be a lot more of you in the near future.

BTW: if anyone on here tell you "we told you so" tell tehm to kiss you ass. :)

[leesa]

38. Welcome and I'm glad to hear you are angry. They done us wrong

in so many ways.

[October]

44. Welcome

May you find refuge and enlightenment here at du.

[ChickMagic]

50. Welcome to DU!

Epiphanies can be painful, can't they? I think you are going to be stunned at the level of deception this administration has used against Americans. You think you're angry now, just wait. We're all glad you're here and can help spread the word. :hi:

[kskiska]

41. And I doubt that Hillary will bring him a cake

He's alone on this one. His nemesis Drudge will have the last laugh.

[wildwww2]

48. O`reilly is a tentacle for Bu$h Inc. anything he ever says is crap. And it

just takes a small amount of intelligence to figure that out. Beleive me I`m not that smart and I figured it out years ago. Yes please do not hold your breath. If he even ventures to the subject of his stupid promise it will be down played like the dead girl in Joe Scarbourough`s office.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[DemoTex]

6. Colin Powell says they (WDMs) are there.

Grasping. Really, grasping.

[theHandpuppet]

33. I was watching a newsclip of Colin Powell...

... on CNN when, during a press conference, he said something to the effect of, "just because we haven't found large caches of WMDs..." Note, he referred to not having found "large caches" instead of saying what is really the truth: we have found NONE. ZERO. ZILCH. Yes, still playing those mind-f**king word games. Powell has absolutely NO integrity. NONE. I don't know how that liar can live with himself, knowing that his lies and those of his boss have cost hundreds of American lives and thousands of Iraqis, including innocent women and children.

Ourr nation's leaders should be brought before the World Court for war crimes.

[Barkley]

42. Callin' Powell A Liar

Broadcast on 60 Minutes II, Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.



Ex-Aide: Powell Misled Americans

The person responsible for analyzing the Iraqi
weapons threat for Colin Powell says the Secretary
of State misinformed Americans during his speech
at the U.N. last winter.


Greg Thielmann tells Correspondent Scott Pelley that at the time of Powell’s speech, Iraq didn’t pose an imminent threat to anyone – not even its own neighbors. “…I think my conclusion now is that it’s probably one of the low points in his long distinguished service to the nation,” says Thielmann.

Steve Allinson and a dozen other U.N. inspectors in Iraq also watched Powell’s speech. “Various people would laugh at various times because the information he was presenting was just, you know, didn't mean anything -- had no meaning,” says Allinson.

“They knew what they wanted the intelligence to show. They were really blind and deaf to any kind of countervailing information the intelligence community would produce. I would assign some blame to the intelligence community and most of the blame to the senior administration officials.”

Steve Allinson and a dozen other U.N. inspectors in Iraq also watched Powell’s speech. “Various people would laugh at various times because the information he was presenting was just, you know, didn't mean anything -- had no meaning,” says Allinson.



Allinson gives Pelley several examples of why he believes Iraq didn’t have weapons of mass destruction. One time, he was sent to find decontamination vehicles that turned out to be fire trucks. Another time, a satellite spotted what they thought were trucks used for biological weapons.

“We were told we were going to the site to look for refrigerated trucks specifically linked to biological agents,” Allinson tells Pelley. “…We found seven or eight , I think, in total, and they had cobwebs in them. Some samples were taken and nothing was found.”

[Unforgiven]

9. Fear Not

There is always Lybia and Iran.

[Disandra]

11. Don't forget North Korea...

I heard on the news tonight that some soldiers are being trained in Nevada in case we will "be forced" to attack North Korea. Not that the administration really wants that *wink, wink*.

[Unforgiven]

39. Nod, Nod

Know what I mean, Know what I mean?

[Solly Mack]

12. Can my husband come home now?

Didn't think so....

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. That is why we will continue to work to bring the troops home

[Solly Mack]

15. Let me tell you what the army is trying to do to people here

There is a CSM actually telling those in the process of retirement to "just hang around another month" (while holding up their retirement paperwork...by not having it signed)..as if the Army extends for a single month...any extension at all will put them in jeopardy of stop-loss. ..and the big catch is...if they extend..stop-loss gets them for 3 months out and 3 months in...making them legally obligated to deploy another whole year..without being allowed to retire until the 2nd tour is over.

If our company were stateside, they would be non-deployable for lacking the troop strength to deploy. We are way below in our numbers.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. I am sorry to hear this.

I assume your husband is caught in this?

And yes I am sure glad teh Navy has not, as of yet, played these games...

[Solly Mack]

23. He's been caught by stop-movement and just the other day stop-loss got him

but we are 2 years away from retirement..and the chances are good he'll spend most of those in Iraq or Afghanistan...or even Cuba.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. I'm sorry to hear that

We are PCSing out of here, last move with the Military... so far.. he gets to retire

[Solly Mack]

28. Congrats!!

I look forward to that day myself.

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. I know it was a great day

I hate to move, but hey final move, going back home.

Anyhow we are gong to So Cal, so we may be able to meet some people

[osaMABUSh]

19. Was the war in Iraq justified if no WMD? take the cnn.com poll

Voice your opinion at http://www.cnn.com/

"Was the war in Iraq justified if Iraq was not pursuing a weapons of mass destruction program?"

currently 55% NO. Pehaps the sheeple are waking up again. I mean its been almost a month since Saddam was pulled out of the hole and we do have short memories.

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. its being freeped right now

[Blue_Roses]

31. It sickens

me to think of the loss of life for this administration's lies and propogated war. When, WHEN, will this been seen as the distortion that it really is? WHEN? How long will they continue to get away with their lies, while the American people just look away.

I have to believe that what goes around does come back around--this time it will be two-fold.

[NoPasaran]

32. I really hate being right

Back in March I felt that the U.S. had about as good a case for invading Iraq as Germany had for invading Poland. I hoped I was wrong. I hoped that my country---the United States of America---the last best hope of mankind---was incapable of such a savage and criminal act against international law. I am appalled to have been proven correct.

I wonder what the 48361 who still think this crime was justified can possibly believe.

[DarkPhenyx]

35. Know the feeling.

Honestly...I really do hate being right as often as I am. I think it comes with being a cynic though.

[xxqqqzme]

40. and I keep coming

back to those 5 children orphaned.....My distaste, revulsion grows daily.

[lfairban]

43. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on C-SPAN . . .

. . . now!

[truthisfreedom]

45. hmm. i guess torturing and drugging and interrogating saddam didn't

lead to anything after all. hmm.

[TacticalPeek]

46. I wonder.

"Head of the group Mr David Kay is in Washington with his deputy, Gen Keith Dayton, and may quit his post soon, the paper also reported."


Maybe he's quitting to become a dean at Pepperdine?

:evilgrin:

[dusty64]

49. Anyone see anything about

this in their papers or the news (I no longer watch). This really proves everything we ever thought about this bogus "war on terra" in Iraq. I would hope the Democratic candidates would make a big deal out of this, although I can understand the silence from 4 of them.