380 tons of explosives missing

[trust no one]

Preface. I was told I was sarcastic for quoting the President. There is just one Presidential quote below, and I believe it is an important one for the debate.

We went to war in Iraq with the justification Saddam was concealing weapons of mass destruction (WMD’s). We didn’t find any, and we now know the President was told by experts before the invasion there were most likely no ready and usable WMD’s in Iraq.

It now materializes tons of conventional explosives, isolated and guarded in prewar and pre-confrontational Iraq, are now “missing,” and, considered by our government, “looted.”

This open wound can only exhibit an “incompetency” at the highest levels, in it most basic form. The fact is anti-American sects in the region were challenged by our President to come in and oppose and challenge our wartime presence. These anti-American fighters took the issue seriously by stealing hundreds of tons of explosives from under our noses, thereby creating one more serious problem for us in the region. We all know, we really don’t need another problem in Iraq. “Bring it On,” said the President, arrogantly, and it appears now they did just that, and took it away.

Let us pray these stolen explosives never resurface against our troops.

As Andrew Sullivan, a Republican, summarized, “The whole point of the invasion was to prevent this kind of transfer from taking place. Yet, thanks to this administration, it may have precipitated it. Sure, we have enough troops. Sure.”

[mayor]

Originally Posted by trust no one

It now materializes tons of conventional explosives, isolated and guarded in prewar and pre-confrontational Iraq, are now “missing,” and, considered by our government, “looted.”

Pssst... this is NINETEEN MONTH OLD story, repackaged by the New York Times for the sole purpose of making Bush look bad the week before the election. And you fell for it as though it were really front-page news...

I can't believe George W. Bush wasn't personally standing in front of that bunker to guard these weapons.

[CagedTroll]

Pssst! 19 months, and yet the National Security Advisor (appointed by Bush, and busy on the campaign trail in swing states) was only informed within the past month...?!?

BTW, add this story to every one I've ever posted on this board about looting being allowed at al-Tuwaitha (which the Bushiites insist on ignoring) and there's a serious problem.

[mayor]

Originally Posted by CagedTroll

Pssst! 19 months, and yet the National Security Advisor (appointed by Bush, and busy on the campaign trail in swing states) was only informed within the past month...?!?

I read about this last year. Are you telling me I knew before Bush did? I don't think so.

Besides, there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

[mayor]

Drudge nailed it...

-------------------

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX MON OCT 25 2004 22:45:05 ET XXXXX

NBCNEWS: HUGE CACHE OF EXPLOSIVES VANISHED FROM SITE IN IRAQ -- AT LEAST 18 MONTHS AGO -- BEFORE TROOPS ARRIVED

The NYTIMES urgently reported on Monday how the Iraqi interim government has warned the United States and international nuclear inspectors that nearly 380 tons of powerful conventional explosives are now missing from one of Iraq's most sensitive former military installations.

Jumping on the TIMES exclusive, Dem presidential candidate John Kerry blasted the Bush administration for its failure to "guard those stockpiles."

"This is one of the great blunders of Iraq, one of the great blunders of this administration," Kerry said.

In an election week rush:

**ABCNEWS Mentioned The Iraq Explosives Depot At Least 4 Times
**CBSNEWS Mentioned The Iraq Explosives Depot At Least 7 Times
**MSNBC Mentioned The Iraq Explosives Depot At Least 37 Times
**CNN Mentioned The Iraq Explosives Depot At Least 50 Times

But tonight, NBCNEWS reported, once: The 380 tons of powerful conventional explosives were already missing back in April 10, 2003 -- when U.S. troops arrived at the installation south of Baghdad!

An NBCNEWS crew embedded with troops moved in to secure the Al-Qaqaa weapons facility on April 10, 2003, one day after the liberation of Iraq.

According to NBCNEWS, the HMX and RDX explosives were already missing when the American troops arrived.

It is not clear why the NYTIMES failed to report the cache had been missing for 18 months -- and was reportedly missing before troops even arrived.

"The U.S. Army was at the sight one day after the liberation and the weapons were already gone," a top Republican blasted from Washington late Monday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors last saw the explosives in January 2003 when they took an inventory and placed fresh seals on the bunkers.

Developing...

[luvmetender]

Did FoxNews mention it?

[CagedTroll]

Originally Posted by mayor

I read about this last year. Are you telling me I knew before Bush did? I don't think so.

First of all, I didn't say Bush, I said Condi. Second, YEAH, [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now], despite what you think.

From this morning's press gaggle:

Q When did the President find out?

MR. McCLELLAN: That's why I said, we were informed on October 15th. Condi Rice was informed days after that. This is all in the last, what, 10 days now.

Q She was informed days after October 15th?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, and she informed the President.

[crazytimes]

It Druge would post some stories/video or something to back up his claims I might believe him.

[monkee]

I heard this on the news this morning (radio) that the explosives were already gone when the troops got there. They were citing an NBC news report from April, 2003. It's not just Drudge making this up, it appears to be a legitimate point. Wonder if Kerry actually enjoys the taste of his foot? He seems to stick it in his mouth enough.

[tlspiegel -Closed]

This is so old... you could call it Mummy News.
Unbelievable.

[CagedTroll]

Okay, so once again, could someone explain to me how the Bush administration didn't find out till 11 days ago..., since the news is so friggin' old?

Honestly, our troops knew the stuff was stolen 18 months ago, and yet the Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Armed Forces remained un-informed till a couple of weeks ago...?!? YEAH, you just swung my vote! Maybe Bush's campaign slogan should be "Bush/Cheney '04: Because ignorance is bliss!"

[chippers21]

The onslaught of "everything we can possibly find to discredit the President" goes on and on. Old news is better than no news. Just make it sound like something new....
Did we ever have politicians who focused on what they could do for our country instead of mudslinging? Certainly we do not have any this election. Especially not Kerry.

[mayfly]

the rumor is 60 minutes plans on running a "special" on this old misleading news the night before the election, because they think that people don't pay enough attention to current events to realize this happened in April 2003.Jeff Fager, executive producer of the Sunday edition of 60 MINUTES, said in a statement that "our plan was to run the story on October 31." Notice the media manipulation and prejudice there.

[CagedTroll]

Originally Posted by mayfly

the rumor is <...SNIP>

the RUMOR I just heard is that there's going to be a STAGED terrorist attack in Minnesota, just to disrupt elections, within the next two weeks. "Whatever", says I.

Seriously, I think you should feel free to post whatever RUMORS you may have heard (on whatever subject) to this thread. Ever since The X-Files ended I've been feeling like something trivial was missing from my life.

[mayfly]

hey it keeps you entertained and posting! !!!