FBI had, then destroyed anthrax type in attacks Aug 19, 2008
The FBI destroyed his sample without testing it, said Vahid Majidi, assistant director for the FBI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate. Majidi made his remarks at the most detailed scientific briefing since the Justice Department announced this month that it had solved the nation's worst case of bioterrorism, which killed five people and sickened at least 17 others. (USA Today)
• Scientists elaborate on the case against Bruce Ivins Aug 19, 2008
"I don't think we're ever going to put the suspicions to bed," said Vahid Majidi, a chemist and assistant director of the FBI's weapons of mass destruction unit. "There's always going to be a spore on a grassy knoll.". (Q13.com, WA)
FBI tossed anthrax sample from Ivins Aug 19, 2008
"There were a lot of lessons learned," said Majidi, who heads the FBI office in charge of investigating weapons of mass destruction. "Were we perfect? Absolutely not. We've had missteps, and those are the lessons learned. ... It was over the last few years that we were able to incorporate all of the lessons learned that we have throughout this investigation.". (The Trentonian, NJ)
The Marxist Brother Aug 18, 2008
And as Georges Sada, Husseins air vice-marshal, has stated in his 2006 book, Saddams Secrets, Hussein had all the WMD that Kerry, Kennedy and the Clintons thought he had, but had his chemical arsenal airlifted to Syria after the allied invasion began, in the hope of convincing the world that he was the innocent victim of American aggression. Knowing Obama as we do, we can only assume that if hed been occupying the Oval Office he would have sat down with Hussein, and through the... (Townhall.com)
JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY: A sad week for Georgia, America and the world Aug 18, 2008
They left in the general rush of various republics for the doors as the former Soviet Union fell apart and Soviet communism died of the weight of its own incompetence at everything except brutality, repression, mass murder and building weapons of mass destruction. The newly democratic Georgians seemingly forgot that they still live in a very bad neighborhood with some very bad neighbors, not least of them Vlad the Impaler Putin's Russian Republic. (Fresno Bee -- Opinion)
Incompetence at highest level Aug 18, 2008
The country and our world would have been far safer and better off today if Mr. Bush had indeed ignored all of the intelligence available regarding Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction. There weren t any. (La Crosse Tribune, WI)
Obama, McCain appear before religious voters Aug 18, 2008
He said that while he was "firmly convinced" there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq at the start of the war, it was also clear that Saddam Hussein "was a really bad person" who wanted to do the United States great harm. "You do everything you can to get that decision right," Obama said. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Hindsight isn't 20-20 Aug 17, 2008
"If I had known then what I know now about the weapons of mass destruction," Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Republican, told the Houston Chronicle, "I would not vote to go into Iraq." The conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg pronounced the Iraq war "a mistake by the most obvious criteria: If we had known then what we know now, we would never have gone to war with Iraq." Others singing from the same hymnal have included Jonathan Rauch, National Journal's respected semi-libertarian... (Boston Globe)
Egypt: Iran Should Not Test West Over Nuclear Question Aug 17, 2008
He noted the case of Saddam Hussein, who didn't adequately refute claims over Iraq's supposed weapons of mass destruction before the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 that toppled him. "Iran owes the international community transparency and flexibility," he said. (Fox News)
Is Jon Stewart the most trusted man in America? Aug 17, 2008
Indeed, Stewart's frequent exclamation "Are you insane?!" seems a fitting refrain for a post-M*A*S*H, post-"Catch-22" reality, where the surreal and outrageous have become commonplace an era kicked off by the wacko 2000 election standoff in Florida, rocked by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and haunted by the fallout of a costly war waged on the premise of weapons of mass destruction that did not exist. STEWART describes his job as "throwing spitballs" from the back of the room and points out... (International Herald Tribune -- Health)
Hillary sets a marker Aug 17, 2008
Hillary Clinton accused the Bush administration yesterday of undermining efforts to curb the spread of weapons of mass destruction by supporting the development of a new generation of nuclear warheads. The New York senator's speech on national security seemed to be aimed at reminding the Democrats of her commanding presence in the party. (Yahoo News -- Hillary Rodham Clinton)
Researchers claim to have body of 'Bigfoot' Aug 16, 2008
I knew GW would find that WMD. Don't forget to vote Republican. Posted by Jeff, a resident of the Palo Alto Orchards neighborhood, 6 hours ago. (Palo Alto Online, CA)
Libya: U.S. Secretary Rice to Visit Tripoli Aug 16, 2008
"I am optimistic that this agreement will be implemented quickly. If so, it will mark the completion of a process that began in 2001 that has already seen Libya take steps forward as a model among nations to renounce terror and weapons of mass destruction.". The relationship improved dramatically in 2003 when Libya accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing and announced it would halt its pursuit of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. (allAfrica.com)
US must share power in new world order, says Turkey's ... Aug 16, 2008
"We don't want to see weapons of mass destruction in this region," he said. "If it's in our neighbourhood, we definitely don't want to see it.". (guardian.co.uk)
'Green' costs, gun ruling, watchdogs Aug 16, 2008
While we are bogged down with Iraq weapons of mass destruction. Way to go Bush. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
LETTERS: NCT, August 15, 2008 Aug 16, 2008
HotJobs Local Search. Coverage of extramarital affairs unfair. (North County Times)
U.S. Border Patrol Seeks Recruits Aug 16, 2008
"It's also anti-drug, anti- terrorism and looking for weapons of mass destruction," said recruiter Joe Arata. "As the mission of the border patrol increased and the customs border protection in general increased, obviously the personnel we needed increased as well.". (R News)
Libya, US settle terror lawsuits Aug 15, 2008
The United States had no diplomatic relations with Libya from 1980 until late 2003, when Khadafy pledged to abandon his weapons of mass destruction programs, stop exporting terrorism and compensate the families of victims of the Lockerbie bombing and other attacks. After that, the nation that once was a global pariah was given a reprieve from UN, US, and European sanctions, removed from the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism, and allowed a seat on the UN Security Council. (Boston Globe)
How Tenet 'betrayed' the CIA on Iraq Aug 15, 2008
WASHINGTON - Journalist Ron Suskind's revelation that Saddam Hussein's intelligence chief was a pre-war intelligence source reporting to the British that Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction (WMD) adds yet another dimension to the systematic effort by then Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director George Tenet to quash any evidence - no matter how credible - that conflicted with the George W Bush administration's propaganda line that Saddam was actively pursuing a nuclear weapons program... (Asia Times Online)
* US and Libya settle remaining lawsuits of terrorism victims Aug 15, 2008
The US had no diplomatic relations with Libya from 1980 until late 2003, when leader Qaddafi pledged to abandon his weapons of mass destruction programs, stop exporting terrorism and compensate the families of victims of the Lockerbie bombing and other attacks. After that, the country that was once a global pariah was given a reprieve from UN, US and European sanctions and allowed a seat on the UN Security Council. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Libya, U.S. to restore diplomatic relations Aug 15, 2008
The deal Thursday covers 26 lawsuits filed by American citizens against Libya and three by Libyan citizens against the U.S. The 1980s-era terror cases, in particular, have clouded a deal that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi struck to give up weapons of mass destruction in return for improved relations with the United States. The deal paves the way for a full restoration of relations, the opening of a U.S. embassy and a visit by the U.S. secretary of state before the end of the year. (Globe and Mail -- International)
Plans by U.S. to Dominate Space Raising Concerns Aug 15, 2008
Moscow and Beijing have for years promoted a new treaty to govern arms in space, since the current international agreement prohibits only nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction in space. One of those attending last week's session was Hu Xiaodi, the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations Disarmament Conference. (Yahoo News -- Missile Defense System)
Letters to the Editor (Aug. 13) Aug 15, 2008
jdr wrote on Aug 14, 2008 9:36 AM:" You miss the point, Danny Tanner. Did any of these guys press for war in iraq? Bush and Chaney, especially Chaney it seems, did. They pushed for war in spite of having solid evidence that there were no WMD, no Al-Quida link, no nothing. They pushed for war in spite of knowing full well that simply threatening war was achieving their stated goals in the region. One has to wonder why. Considering that they are still behind the big wheel of the ship of state,... (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)
Strengthening our strategy against WMD Aug 14, 2008
One guide for action is the independent, bipartisan review that we led for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the principal arm of the Defense Department for combating WMD threats ... In 2002, President Bush issued a comprehensive National Strategy to Combat WMD. We found the guidance to be sound, but its implementation to be incomplete ... Those three pillars levy three broad requirements on the Defense Department: It must be able to prevail in all WMD threat environments, from war to... (Boston Globe)
McClellan Saw Storm in White House Katrina Strategy Aug 14, 2008
Even when told there were no WMD s Bush went forward ... The fact that Saddam was not as grave of a threat as we thought, does not change the fact that he was a threat and had proven himself willing to use WMD. Whether or not you agree with the war, to argue that it was undertaken for the profit of defense contractors is IDIOTIC. Yes we need to be involved in the middle east because they have oil and we need oil, but we overthrew an evil tyrant that threatened his neighbors. (Yahoo News -- Tropical Storms and Hurricanes)
Where Obama stands on key issues Aug 14, 2008
Keep in mind, America has not been hit by seeming inevitable WMD terror attacks after 9-11 and the PATRIOT ACT was critical to thwarting these attacks. 5. (Orangeburg Times and Democrat, SC)
Libya, U.S. sign bombing compensation deal-Libya Aug 14, 2008
Relations between the United States and Libya, a major oil producer, have improved dramatically since Tripoli gave up weapons of mass destruction in 2003. (Reporting by Salah Sarrar; Editing by Caroline Drees). (Yahoo News -- Top Stories)
'Only a matter of time before terrorists use weapons of mass destruction' Aug 14, 2008
Only a matter of time before terrorists use weapons of mass destruction' - Telegraph ... Only a matter of time before terrorists use weapons of mass destruction ... And Henry "Hank" Crumpton, the newly-appointed head of counter-terrorism at the US State Department, believes that it is simply a matter of time before international terrorist groups such as al-Qa'eda acquire weapons of mass destruction and use them in attacks. (Yahoo News -- Biological and Chemical Weapons)
US may help destroy Libya weapons Aug 14, 2008
In 2003, Tripoli agreed to destroy all of its weapons of mass destruction. The North African nation has until April 2007 to destroy its banned weapons stockpile in order to comply with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international treaty governing the possession of banned weapons. (Yahoo News -- Biological and Chemical Weapons)
To S.F. leaders: homicides must drop Aug 14, 2008
The study found that eight members of the Bush administration, including the President himself, made 935 false statements regarding Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction, or links to al Qaeda. It is a bit hypocritical now for Bush to mount his moral high horse about Russia's preemptive attack. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Opinion)
Beatty: Will protect families, jobs and the country Aug 14, 2008
Beatty said his CIA experience makes him believe the evidence for weapons of mass destruction was not credible. As a veteran himself and a friend to families of soldiers killed or wounded in Iraq, he thinks the decision to go to war did not consider the impact on families of the men and women who had to implement that decision. (Hamilton Wenham Chronicle, MA)
US losing its moral, diplomatic standing Aug 14, 2008
The Iraq invasion was justified by erroneous intelligence suggesting terrorist links and weapons of mass destruction, both having been proven false. Yet the Georgians have openly sought alliances with NATO and the United States and are now paying a hefty price for threatening a powerful neighbor, not a sovereign nation half a world away. (Boston Globe -- Editorial)
What about Clinton’s issues? Aug 14, 2008
Imagine what the outcome would have been if President Bush had ignored all of the intelligence available, and the beliefs of most Democrats that Sadaam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, and we were attacked again. Then the liberals would have been quick to blame the president. (La Crosse Tribune, WI)
Scour anthrax labs for signs of potential trouble Aug 14, 2008
They re weapons of mass destruction. The nation s leaders have shown a willingness to go to war on even the suspicion that mad dictators control those weapons. (Racine Journal Times, WI)
Fast Facts: Libya Aug 14, 2008
In December 2003, Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction, and Qadhafi has made significant strides in normalizing relations with western nations since then ... This effort picked up steam after UN sanctions were lifted in September 2003 and as Libya announced in December 2003 that it would abandon programs to build weapons of mass destruction. (CBS News -- World)
Five Iranian Companies Under U.S. Economic Sanctions Aug 13, 2008
The actions taken by the administration on Tuesday were under an executive order President George W. Bush signed to target entities accused of aiding in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Share. (Fox News)
Why are conservatives so angry? Aug 13, 2008
timbrackett wrote on Aug 12, 2008 5:20 PM:" the war in Iraq was started under false pretenses--we, and the united nations, were told that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and that Iraq was an imminent danger to the security of the United States!Arguing whether the war is legal or not is understandable because it depends on interpretation--but to argue this war was not started under false pretenses is flat-out wrong and a revision of history. ". mister t wrote on Aug 12, 2008 7:21 PM:"... (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)
Anti-United Nations measure stalls in House vote Aug 13, 2008
For example, if President Bush had actually listened to what the U.N. arms inspectors were saying about WMD then maybe we wouldn't be in the mess we are in at present in Iraq. Big O wrote on February 24, 2007 8:19 AM What is going on with the neo-con representitives of this state. (Yahoo News -- United Nations)
Halt Hutton inquisition, urges former BBC chief Aug 13, 2008
The BBC's 'internal process', which was launched by the acting director-general, Mark Byford, has provoked strong reaction from top names in BBC news, many of whom have privately threatened to walk out if management continues to investigate mistakes made last spring when Radio 4's Andrew Gilli gan, the Today programme's defence correspondent, reported allegations that the Government had prosecuted the war in Iraq without believing in the presence of weapons of mass destruction. There needs to be... (Yahoo News -- Hutton Report)
Ignorance is no excuse Aug 13, 2008
With the help of tapes, aerial photographs and a PowerPoint presentation, Michael Powell's father, Colin, illustrates the US government's case that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction. Jabbing the air and slapping the table, he offers "not assertions, but facts" and "evidence, not conjecture". (Yahoo News -- Hutton Report)
Top BBC resignations astonished Hutton Aug 13, 2008
Law lord believes his report's findings on David Kelly's death were misinterpreted by media and is dismayed at accusations of whitewash. Thursday March 4 2004. (Yahoo News -- Hutton Report)
An Al Qaeda Intel 'Treasure Trove' Aug 13, 2008
Only a "handful" of captured alleged Al Qaeda associates have had the kind of detailed information on weapons of mass destruction that Siddique, who attended MIT as an undergraduate and earned her PhD in neuroscience at Brandeis, had in her handbag, multiple current and former US intelligence and law enforcement officials told ABC News ... US authorities are analyzing Siddique's saliva, hair, and fingernail scrapings to determine, if possible, what evidence they can find of any exposure to... (ABC News)
U.S. Sanctions 5 Iranian Companies for Nuclear Ties Aug 13, 2008
In a statement Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department said the action is aimed at freezing the assets under U.S. jurisdiction of "proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their supporters." The designation also prohibits American individuals and companies from any contact with those companies. A top Treasury official Stuart Levey, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence says Iran has used the newly sanctioned companies to hide what he called "illicit conduct" and to... (Newsmax)
Get Russia out of Georgia Aug 12, 2008
The American invasion of Iraq, initially represented as necessary to protect its citizens from weapons of mass destruction, is a reminder that where the USA is concerned, the world is still a very dangerous place ... Iraq no longer plays deceptive games with weapons of mass destruction or plays host to international terrorist groups ... I ll guarantee they won t demand the Russians get rid of their weapons of mass destruction and they won t talk all that bullsh*t about preemptive strikes. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
United Nations knew about WMD Aug 12, 2008
Since this war on terrorism started, liberal elites have stated that there is no evidence of any weapons of mass destruction. They and all those with them are terribly wrong. (The Augusta Chronicle)
(?) 'Straight Arrow' Governor 'Eliot Ness' Spitzer (?-NY) Aug 12, 2008
Joy Behar screamed Bush's weapons of mass destruction charge in Iraq is "a lie! Accept it. Everyone accepts that it's a lie at this point." Not according to an investigation that found the Iraq WMD case was "a major intelligence failure," not a case of the President's dishonesty ... GOLDBERG: Yeah, I, there were no weapons of mass destruction. (MediaResearch.org)
President Bush is not one to talk Aug 12, 2008
It occurred to me that the moral authority of the United States has all but vanished amid pre-emptive strikes, phantom weapons of mass destruction and the thousands who have died. How can any world leader give weight to a U.S. president's criticisms when that president's actions are of the same (or worse) nature. (NJ.com -- Times)
Courthouse bombing suspect held without bail Aug 12, 2008
Federal prosecutors have charged him and two women, Rachelle Carlock and Ella Sanders, with conspiracy and using weapons of mass destruction in the blast at the courthouse and an April 25 bombing at a FedEx distribution center. They have not indicated a motive. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
ANSWERS TO ANTHRAX Aug 11, 2008
NO WMD BLUEPRINTS, PLEASE ... (Yes, it might reveal a technique that cops would rather keep confidential, for future use - but there's no "WMD blueprints" issue here. (New York Post -- Opinions)
'ETHNIC CLEANSING'... Aug 11, 2008
Britain and U.S.A. will be most reluctant to enter this conflict - unlike Iraq, Russia really DOES have weapons of mass destruction. Philip Skalla on August 10, 2008 at 01:28 PM. (The Drudge Report)
* Al-Qaeda 'mad scientist' confirmed killed Aug 11, 2008
WMD: CIA officials say al-Qaeda will be much less likely to develop weapons of mass destruction after the death of al-Masri, infamous for poison gas experiments with dogs AP, ISLAMABAD Monday, Aug 11, 2008, Page 5. The killing of an al-Qaeda chemical weapons expert in a missile strike two weeks ago on a Pakistani border village has dealt a heavy blow to the group's ambitions to build weapons of mass destruction (WMD), a former CIA case officer said ... He joined al-Zawahris Islamic Jihad... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Hillary sets a marker Aug 11, 2008
Hillary Clinton accused the Bush administration yesterday of undermining efforts to curb the spread of weapons of mass destruction by supporting the development of a new generation of nuclear warheads. The New York senator's speech on national security seemed to be aimed at reminding the Democrats of her commanding presence in the party. (Yahoo News -- Hillary Rodham Clinton)
Andrew Young says Obama would herald an ecomonic upswing Aug 11, 2008
His warlike stance is no different from Mr Bush who invaded Iraq with the big fat lie about Weapons of Mass Destruction that Iraq is said to have possessed. McCain s most famous campaign ad is calling Obama a celebrity. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Business)
David Cook leads 'American Idol' domination of music charts Aug 11, 2008
I can't help equating the manipulation of the AI producers/judges to that of the Bush White House: "There are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq;" "Mission accomplished!;" "We don't torture;" "There is no recession;" to "DA scored a knockout"; "DA is the one to beat;"etc. Americans are sick of being treated like idiots. (Yahoo News -- American Idol)
Iraq's Budget Surplus Scandal Aug 11, 2008
Iraq no longer plays deceptive games with weapons of mass destruction or plays host to international terrorist groups. It is no longer subject to sanctions that punish its people and enrich its rulers. (Slate)
The hero of Ian Rankin's Book Festival mystery ... Gordon Brown Aug 10, 2008
Do you think Aung San Suu Kyi would approve of spending billions on weapons of mass destruction as Brown is doing with Trident ... Do you think Aung San Suu Kyi would approve of spending billions on weapons of mass destruction as Brown is doing with Trident. (Sunday Herald)
The Pentagon's new strategy: Show us the money Aug 10, 2008
It talks about the military not being the primary tool for keeping weapons of mass destruction from terrorists, or for thwarting cyber-attacks. But even here, the Gates document argues for military capabilities if civilian strategies don't pan out. (Boston Globe)
Al-Qaida said to lose key WMD operative Aug 10, 2008
Join the Nike+ Human Race 10K.. $7 online stock trades. (MSNBC -- International)
McClellan Saw Storm in White House Katrina Strategy Aug 10, 2008
Even when told there were no WMD s Bush went forward ... The fact that Saddam was not as grave of a threat as we thought, does not change the fact that he was a threat and had proven himself willing to use WMD. Whether or not you agree with the war, to argue that it was undertaken for the profit of defense contractors is IDIOTIC. Yes we need to be involved in the middle east because they have oil and we need oil, but we overthrew an evil tyrant that threatened his neighbors. (Yahoo News -- Tropical Storms and Hurricanes)
Sen. Barack Obama: 'See you on the beach' Aug 10, 2008
" He said he plans to spend a lot of time watching his daughters play on the beach. Security at the rally was tight, with each member of the audience hand-screened for metal objects. More than 100 law enforcement officers turned out, including the Honolulu Police Department's specialized services division. A Coast Guard boat armed with machine guns patrolled the water next to the lagoon. A couple of armed Secret Service agents situated themselves atop a commercial building a distance away from... (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Russian -made nuke powered submarine Akula set to join Indian Navy ... Aug 10, 2008
"With nuclear proliferation posing a greater threat along with Weapons of Mass Destruction, our unilateral policy of no-first-use necessitates that India possesses a credible and survivable nuclear deterrent including submarine-launched," Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said yesterday while delivering a lecture on Navy's vision for the future. India had in February this year tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile for the first time that would take another three years to be fully... (Press Trust of India)
President deserves more credit Aug 10, 2008
3) The world is now certain there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The worn-out assertion that President Bush lied about WMDs in Iraq is ridiculous. (Albany Times Union)
Diary of a Mad Columnist Aug 10, 2008
I believe there were weapons of mass destruction, because I research the facts. I also believe congress is irresponsible. (Townhall.com)
Al-Qaeda chemical expert 'killed' Aug 10, 2008
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says the militant was considered part of Osama Bin Laden's inner circle and was said to be in charge of efforts to gain access to, or develop, weapons of mass destruction. Local residents said the house targeted belonged to a local tribesman and suspected militants used to stay there. (Yahoo News -- Pakistan)
Delavar is best choice Aug 10, 2008
If Iraq was really about Saddam Hussein and WMD, we d have left Iraq when we caught Saddam and found no weapons. We didn t, and we re a nation of sheep living Bush s immoral Big Lie. (Longview Daily News, WA)
