Hans Blix on NPR this morning - great!

[Richardo]

Best line: When Bob Edwards asked about the alleged British bugging of his UN office, Blix said: "I wish they had listened closer to what we were saying."

Last WMDs found in Iraq: 1994. Blix said this was widely known but not widely reported (obviously).

Blix made very measured responses, but in the main they were right on. (He's a diplomat, how can you blame him?) The conspicuous "politically correct" statement he made was that he thought Bush would actually back down from war if Saddam came clean. I think we all know that was never going to happen.

Answering the "was it worth it" question, said "the balance sheet is negative at this point."

[kclown]

1. Mr. Blix tied up Mr. O'Reilly last night

O: "They were in violation of a war treaty." B:
"It was a cease-fire."  O: "It was a
treaty." B: "No, it was a cease-fire agreement.  I
am trying to be precise.  You, sir, are imprecise." O:
Silence.

[kskiska]

6. I loved the O'Reilly exchange

Know-it-all O'R was slapped down at every one of his assertions. Usually, he gets away with making false statements, but Blix countered each and every one with the truth. O'R ended the interview abruptly, not having gained any ground.

[rocktivity]

2. Oh, you poor naive little thing!

The only "political" statement (Blix) made was that he thought Bush would actually back down from war if Saddam came clean.

You haven't figured it out yet? Saddam COULDN'T be allowed to come clean. If he had, there would have been no weapons found. With no weapons, there would be no reason to invade. And without an invasion, the Bush Regime couldn't take Iraq's oil on their terms. THAT'S why Bush beat the war drums and rushed in before you were done inspecting--THEY COULDN'T ALLOW YOU TO NOT FIND ANY WEAPONS.

There is NOTHING Saddam could have done that would have stopped the invasion, because it didn't have ANYTHING to do with fighting terrorism, removing him from power, or liberating anybody!

Blix did MSNBC and Fox last night, too. Short on cash? Job hunting?

:headbang:
rocknation

[Richardo]

3. Book tour!

Blix did MSNBC and Fox last night, too. Short on cash? Job hunting?

"Disarming Iraq" available in your local bookstore.... or:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=2TBM5ZD12G&isbn=0375423028&itm=1

[PaDUer]

9. I wonder if he's going to be selling

his book when he comes to the University of Scranton on April 21?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1220448

http://www.scrantontimes.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=11112504&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=415898&rfi=8

[spanone]

8. Actually Saddam came clean. He stated they had no weapons.

this has been proven so far to be true. This was American warmongering at it's best or worse.

[Eumenides]

4. MSNBC Last Night

I really enjoyed listening to him. Too bad no one else in the adminstration did. Here is an interesting review of his book. The review also addresses the Hutton enquiry.

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/17005

<snip>
If further proof of antipathy to UNMOVIC was needed, The Washington Post reported that Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz had requested a CIA investigation of Blix's performance at IAEA and had "hit the ceiling" when nothing could be found to undermine Blix and the inspection program. According to the Post, Wolfowitz allegedly feared that the inspections could "torpedo" plans for military action against Saddam Hussein.

[tabasco]

5. Blix is very, very smooth.

He would make an excellent diplomat. He can call someone an asshole and they think he's complimenting them. I think he is a credit to Belgium and the UN.

[Jacobin]

7. I liked his statement that Smirk's evaluation of intelligence was

"faith based"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:bounce:

Nail, meet head.

[KAZ]

11. That should read "Feith" based.

As in Douglas.

[Jacobin]

12. good point

[Cocoa]

10. he was very generous with the Bushies

as far as their motivations and sincerity about WMD. I think he's holding back about that, but it makes his charges against them very effective, especially considering how harsh they were with Blix himself.

[Richardo]

13. Actually makes his argument more palatable to the swing voters, IMO

...not coming from obvious foaming rabid liberal Bush-haters like ourselves. :D

It's a good thing!