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Phred
Fred's son
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Scott Ritter
#1785723 - 08/06/03 04:12 PM (20 years, 8 months ago) |
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Once again in this forum, the name "Scott Ritter" is current. In the hopes of never having to read his name again here, I invested a bit of time with Google. Excuse me if I don't have everything in precise order. There's just so much out there that I may have misplaced something.
Let's start with Mr. Ritter's own words:
from: http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/08/980828-in.htm --
In his resignation letter (August 26, 1998) to Amb. Butler, Ritter wrote,
"The Special Commission was created for the purpose of disarming Iraq. As part of the Special Commission team, I have worked to achieve a simple end: the removal, destruction or rendering harmless of Iraq's proscribed weapons. The sad truth is that Iraq today is not disarmed . . . UNSCOM has good reason to believe that there are significant numbers of proscribed weapons and related components and the means to manufacture such weapons unaccounted for in Iraq today. . .
Iraq has lied to the Special Commission and the world since day one concerning the true scope and nature of its proscribed programs and weapons systems. This lie has been perpetuated over the years through systematic acts of concealment. It was for the purpose of uncovering Iraq's mechanism of concealment, and in doing so gaining access to the hidden weapons components and weapons programs, that you created a dedicated capability to investigate Iraq's concealment activities, which I have had the privilege to head. . . . This investigation has led the Commission to the door step of Iraq's hidden retained capability, and yet the commission has been frustrated by Iraq's continued refusal to abide by its obligations . . . to allow inspections, the Security Council's refusal to effectively respond to Iraq's actions, and now the current decision by the Security Council and the Secretary General, backed at least implicitly by the United States, to seek a 'diplomatic' alternative to inspection-driven confrontation with Iraq, a decision which constitutes a surrender to the Iraqi leadership . . .
The issue of immediate, unrestricted access is, in my opinion, the cornerstone of any viable inspection regime, and, as such, is an issue worth fighting for. Unfortunately, others do not share this opinion, including the Security Council and the United States. The Special Commission of today, hobbled as it is by unfettered Iraqi obstruction and non-existent Security Council enforcement of its own resolutions, is not the organization I joined almost seven years ago. . .
The refusal and/or inability on the part of the Security Council to exercise responsibility concerning the disarmament obligations of Iraq makes a mockery of the mission the staff of the Special Commission have been charged with implementing. The illusion of arms control is more dangerous than no arms control at all. What is being propagated by the Security Council today in relation to the work of the Special Commission is such an illusion . . . "
from http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/747442/posts --
Ritter's very long and detailed article about Iraq's WMDs.
from: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/july-dec98/ritter_8-31.html --
The Aug 31, 1998 (immediately following his resignation) television interview with Ritter.
from: http://slate.msn.com/id/2071502/ --
Ritter changes his tune.
from: http://www.insignificantthoughts.com/blog/archives/000710.html --
a few more Ritter gems.
from: http://quasipundit.blogspot.com/2002_09_08_quasipundit_archive.html#81355198 --
... and still more.
from: http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,6119,2-10-1460_1338708,00.html --
Some comic relief not directly related to WMDS -- Ritter claims US will lose war.
Okay... now let's move on to what some others have to say about Ritter's contradictions --
from: http://www.ropma.net/ritter.htm --
"Let's start with the basics first: In order to believe Scott Ritter is telling the truth that Iraq has been disarmed and no longer contains the capacity or capability to produce WMD's (whether they are nuclear, chemical or biological) you the reader absolutely must believe that every other UNSCOM, and IAEA inspector is wrong or lying, and that Scott Ritter is the ONLY person in UNSCOM, IAEA and in fact the entire US Intelligence Services who knows the truth.? This statement is irrefutable, as Scott Ritter is the ONLY former UNSCOM or US Based Intelligence "source" on record as saying that Iraq has been sufficiently disarmed, and no longer poses a threat to its neighbors, or the United States of America. "
There's a lot more good stuff in there, I just wanted to give you a taste.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn...p;notFound=true
(Ritter's) "Endgame" practically makes the Bush administration's case against Hussein, though it argues for a peaceful resolution. There's a handy seven-page appendix, titled "Iraq's arsenal of weapons of mass destruction." It inventories, in frightening detail, what Ritter knew after seven years of hunting for Iraq's biological, chemical and nuclear capabilities.
Today Ritter says this is not proof of anything.
"Iraq is not known to possess any of that. It's not accounted for."
Where'd it all go? Another mystery.
Again, a lot more good stuff in the entire article. Go ahead and click the link... I know you want to.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/000/524dplvk.asp
One of Stephen Hayes's articles on Ritter. Hayes has been particularly thorough in detailing Ritter's contradictions. If you go to Google and search "Stephen Hayes Scott Ritter", you'll see what I mean. I just included the one article for the sake of saving space.
Note that I have not bothered to include any links covering Ritter's... ummm... "attraction" .... to underage girls, because I personally do not believe his sexual preferences have any bearing on his flip-flop regarding Iraq's WMDs. Plenty of others do, however. Their contention is that his astonishingly abrupt 180 degree reversal in position might possibly be explained if we view him as being blackmailed by Hussein's minions. I find that contention less than convincing, since he stoutly maintains his current position even now that his amorous proclivities are a matter of public record. At any rate, those who wish to investigate it further should have no difficulty working a Google search on their own. I can't be bothered to.
There is more out there -- a LOT more -- but I didn't bother to include every link I came across for two reasons:
1) Most of the more complete links refer to the same core material, although every now and then I came across a real gem buried in the middle of a rehash of stuff I already knew -- I just didn't think it worthwhile to make y'all read through a whole link to get a sentence or two of new stuff, tempting though it was.
2) Quite a few of the pieces I found were Op-Ed articles. Even though some of them were extremely well-done, I felt I had listed enough contradictions already out of Ritter's own mouth, so I tossed in just a couple for the sake of variety. For those of you whose taste runs more to opinion pieces, feel free to do your own Google search.
pinky
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luvdemshrooms
Two inch dick..but it spins!?
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Re: Scott Ritter [Re: Phred]
#1786368 - 08/06/03 07:41 PM (20 years, 8 months ago) |
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Oh no! Say it isn't so! First there are weapons.... Then $400,000.00 dollars finds it way to Mr. Ritter..... Then there are no weapons? What a surprising change! Golly, what could have caused it I wonder? My faith in humanity is destroyed, never to be made whole again. Oh woe is me.
-------------------- You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for that my dear friend is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. ~ Adrian Rogers
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Cornholio
A liberal guy(on hiatus)
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If the fact that Ritter received money for his statements prove that he made the statements solely for the money, then by that same logic, since Bush and Cheney are profiting from the war, they too must be going to war for the money. After all, Cheney still has stock options with Haliburton whose stocks have skyrocketed as a result of the war.
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luvdemshrooms
Two inch dick..but it spins!?
Registered: 11/29/01
Posts: 34,247
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Re: Scott Ritter [Re: Cornholio]
#1786554 - 08/06/03 08:51 PM (20 years, 8 months ago) |
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Hey, anything is possible.
Seeing as the P & VP are watched like hawks for every burp, fart, and giggle..... I suspect if there was proof of such wrong doing, it would have been found. A private citizen hasn't quite the same level of scrutiny.
Does this prove that's what happened? No.
Does it still smell bad? Yuck, sure does.
-------------------- You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for that my dear friend is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. ~ Adrian Rogers
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Xlea321
Stranger
Registered: 02/25/01
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Then $400,000.00 dollars finds it way to Mr. Ritter..... SOunds like a conspiracy!!
-------------------- Don't worry, B. Caapi
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luvdemshrooms
Two inch dick..but it spins!?
Registered: 11/29/01
Posts: 34,247
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Re: Scott Ritter [Re: Xlea321]
#1894379 - 09/08/03 01:27 PM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Alex123 said: Then $400,000.00 dollars finds it way to Mr. Ritter.....
SOunds like a conspiracy!!
Actually the word I'd use is bribe.
-------------------- You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for that my dear friend is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. ~ Adrian Rogers
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Xlea321
Stranger
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Try and think about this logically. You have no WMD's so why on earth would you bother bribing someone to say you havn't got any?
Just doesn't make any sense does it.
-------------------- Don't worry, B. Caapi
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luvdemshrooms
Two inch dick..but it spins!?
Registered: 11/29/01
Posts: 34,247
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Re: Scott Ritter [Re: Xlea321]
#1894506 - 09/08/03 01:58 PM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Alex123 said: Try and think about this logically. You have no WMD's so why on earth would you bother bribing someone to say you havn't got any?
Just doesn't make any sense does it.
I'm sorry, did I miss the conclusive proof somewhere?
-------------------- You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for that my dear friend is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. ~ Adrian Rogers
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z@z.com
Libertarian
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Posts: 2,876
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Re: Scott Ritter [Re: Cornholio]
#1894771 - 09/08/03 02:57 PM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Cornholio said: After all, Cheney still has stock options with Haliburton whose stocks have skyrocketed as a result of the war.
Actually Cheney holds no stock options and would not lose a dime if the company went under and would not gain a cent if they get a big contract etc. He still gets severence pay, but it is a fixed sum and it is insured.
-------------------- "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis "I would rather be exposed to the inconveniencies attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it." - Thomas Jefferson
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shakta
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Re: Scott Ritter [Re: z@z.com]
#1894806 - 09/08/03 03:02 PM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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Gotta link?
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Xlea321
Stranger
Registered: 02/25/01
Posts: 9,134
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I'm sorry, did I miss the conclusive proof somewhere?
Where did you get this $400,000 story from btw?
-------------------- Don't worry, B. Caapi
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Cornholio
A liberal guy(on hiatus)
Registered: 01/13/03
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Re: Scott Ritter [Re: z@z.com]
#1897751 - 09/09/03 10:37 AM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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You said the same thing before, and I showed Cheney held his options. Any new evidence showing Cheney finally gave away his options??? I couldn't find any.
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Edited by Cornholio (09/09/03 12:39 PM)
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monoamine
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Re: Scott Ritter [Re: Cornholio]
#1897771 - 09/09/03 10:46 AM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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Even if Cheney did indeed give away his options,it doesn't necessarily rule out that he could be profiting under the table.
-------------------- People think that if you just say the word "hallucinations" it explains everything you want it to explain and eventually whatever it is you can't explain will just go away.It's just a word,it doesn't explain anything... Douglas Adams
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Phred
Fred's son
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Re: Scott Ritter *DELETED* [Re: Phred]
#2114192 - 11/17/03 01:24 AM (20 years, 5 months ago) |
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Bump. pinky
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HagbardCeline
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Re: Scott Ritter [Re: Phred]
#2115635 - 11/17/03 09:04 AM (20 years, 5 months ago) |
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Thank you.
-------------------- I keep it real because I think it is important that a highly esteemed individual such as myself keep it real lest they experience the dreaded spontaneous non-existance of no longer keeping it real. - Hagbard Celine
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Phred
Fred's son
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Re: Scott Ritter [Re: Phred]
#2144199 - 11/29/03 11:15 AM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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Since once again Scott Ritter's name is current in this forum, I bumped this thread for the edification of those who may be tempted to take anything he says seriously.
pinky
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!
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Re: Scott Ritter [Re: Phred]
#2144221 - 11/29/03 11:35 AM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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There are plenty of reasons to believe this was a war of conquest without bringing Scott Ritter into the picture.
As a stanch Iraq war protester, i'm embarrassed by him after his child molestation charges.
-------------------- -------------------------------- Mp3 of the month: Sons Of Adam - Feathered Fish
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RandalFlagg
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Re: Scott Ritter [Re: Phred]
#2144767 - 11/29/03 03:44 PM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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Since once again Scott Ritter's name is current in this forum, I bumped this thread for the edification of those who may be tempted to take anything he says seriously.
Hm....interesting.
I said in an earlier message that I was "with Ritter" on "this one". Meaning I was expressing the same skepticism as he had recently about Iraq's WMD potential.
I guess the whole situation is a tangled web that might never be unraveled. For example, it is quite possible that Saddam intentionally made us think he had WMD merely to get us to invade and make us look bad when we didn't find anything.
I just find it strange that we have yet to find conclusive proof of any WMD programs. And, the multitude of political benefits from the Iraq invasion makes me suspicious of the Bush administration's WMD argument and its motivations.
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!
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Quote:
For example, it is quite possible that Saddam intentionally made us think he had WMD merely to get us to invade and make us look bad when we didn't find anything.
Saddam may be a maniac, but he's not stupid. If he pretended to have WMD, it's because he probably knew we had our blue eyes on his little piece of real estate for a while, and wanted to make us fear him.
-------------------- -------------------------------- Mp3 of the month: Sons Of Adam - Feathered Fish
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luvdemshrooms
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Re: Scott Ritter [Re: Learyfan]
#2144894 - 11/29/03 04:41 PM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Saddam may be a maniac, but he's not stupid
I'll disagree. Anyone who thought he'd come out on top IS stupid. Or at least delusional.
-------------------- You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for that my dear friend is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. ~ Adrian Rogers
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