NBC News reports tonight that one of their embedded crews was with the 101st when it entered the Al Qaqqaa facility reported to contain the 380 tons of weapons -- the weapons whose presence within Iraq would seem to confirm the nature of Saddam's threat, but whose disappearance was blamed solely by Kerry on the man in the Oval. Turns out, our troops (and NBC) took the facility the day after the liberation of Iraq on 4/9/03, and voila! The weapons weren't there when the military arrived.
Our troops were on top of the site from the start and the material in question wasn't there.
So, lesson seems to be, if you throw out your campaign playbook for the day because of one headline, better make sure it's gonna hold up.
Nice to see the news cycle contain some self-correction within the Big Media, making John Kerry’s latest ripped from the headlines attack exceptionally wrong, typically opportunistic, and unusually revealing. His apparent joy (masked as false sorrow and blame-laying) at the bad news will fade. His hopes for another change-of-subject news cycle will not.
If you want to get really scared, think about the fact that the stolen explosives can trigger a nuclear bomb, and then google the words "Tuwaitha looting."
I have supported the President 100% up till the last month or so, and the thought of voting for Kerry doesn't make me happy, but it's becoming quite obvious that this President's Iraq policy has not made us safer.
As a vet, I also don't appreciate the way he's putting the troops at risk for his own political reasons. It's time for a massive offensive over there, but he obviously just wants to play a waiting game until after the election. That's the thing that pisses me off the most. The CiC should put the success of the mission, and the troops' safety, above his own political ambitions.
Posted by: gto | October 25, 2004 at 07:45 PM
"Bush was here 2 weeks ago and drew 60,000 people."
Where was that? Did all of them have to sign an oath of allegiance and write an essay?
Posted by: wtfwjd? | October 25, 2004 at 07:47 PM
SO I'VE NOW HAD JUST ABOUT ENOUGH OF KERRY RUNNING DOWN OUR TROOPS AND COMMANDERS IN THE FIELD. THESE GUYS ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY, AND THAT SCUM IS MAKING THEM A PROP IN HIS CAMPAIGN RHETORIC. SOUND FAMILIAR??????
THIS GUY HAS ABSOLUTELY NO HONOR. HE WILL SMEAR ANYONE ANYTIME FOR EVEN THE SLIGHTEST POLITICAL ADVANTAGE.
AND HE IS A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR -- NOT IN CAMBODIA, HUH? NOT AT THE SECURITY COUNCIL HUH? NOT PRESENT FOR BUCKNER'S ERROR, HUH?
NO MAN WITH HONOR IN AMERICAN WOULD VOTE FOR THIS TWIT. AND IF HE EVER WERE PRESIDENT, THE MILITARY WOULD HAVE ZERO ZERO ZERO RESPECT FOR THE LITTLE XOXOXOXOXO
Posted by: dod | October 25, 2004 at 07:47 PM
Ryan: must have shipped them in from Texas, right? Michigan's a lock for Kerry, so is PA, OH, WI, and MN. Florida is rigged and will go Republican amid widespread vote suppression, but Kerry will win without Florida.
Funny isn't it how Republicans are more worried about denying citizens the right to vote than actually having the widest turnout possible.
Ironically, these are the clowns who are going to provide democracy in Iraq. But that's right, that was only their fourth rationale, after three others had proved utterly implausible. Clowns.
Posted by: Ronald Reagan | October 25, 2004 at 07:48 PM
dod: "THESE GUYS ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY, AND THAT SCUM IS MAKING THEM A PROP IN HIS CAMPAIGN RHETORIC. SOUND FAMILIAR??????"
Yes, it really does. The worst stunt he pilled was "flying" that trainer plane onto the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, with the banner reading, "Mission Accomplished." Or that time when he used the troops as a prop, posing with them in Baghdad with a plastic turkey.
.
Posted by: Jeffraham Prestonian | October 25, 2004 at 07:51 PM
Strange.
Kerry supporters say: "Bush f@*#ed-up the invasion of Iraq."
Bush supporters reply: "How dare you heap disgrace on our troops like that?! You must hate America and love the enemy!"
What a weird way to argue.
Are you sure English is your first language?
Posted by: Michigan | October 25, 2004 at 07:53 PM
There is no way Horse face can win without winning both Flordia and Ohio. And i hope this new story develops and Kerry drops like a rock in the polls because it will happen. Man everyone in the world must be a liar except Kerry. The UN security councel, Swift Vets,Viet cong. Wow It is pretty scary to vote for Kerry
Posted by: Ryan | October 25, 2004 at 07:53 PM
OK. Well you Dems are giving me second thoughts.
I agree, that as an ex-serviceman, Kerry is doing his best to stand up for the troops. But there can be genuine policy disagreements about how this can be achieved. Kerry is a good smart man, to be sure, but Iraq is just such a mess I worry that there are few real options.
Posted by: Ryan | October 25, 2004 at 07:54 PM
hate to tell you.
But Kerry will win 300+ Ev's.
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind.
What I'm more interested in...is how this war within to GOP will play out.
Being a Moderate Republican, I'm curious as to who will win...,
The Rockefeller Republicans, the fundamentalist republicans
or if a new party will be created.
Bring back the Bull Moose
Posted by: john | October 25, 2004 at 07:55 PM
the security council comment is out of context by the way. Kerry actually met with the security council...but only the permanent members.
Posted by: john | October 25, 2004 at 07:56 PM
Here is something good. I worked with our states attorney general, Local FBI and we busted 22 people that tried to commit voter fraud today. Tomorrow will be even better because we have people going undercover to bust them. All you filthy liberals explain this. Why is your party giving crack for new voters. Why have they found over 20,000 people in flordia registered in more than one state. Guess what 93% of them were for Kerry. Oh what a suprise.
Posted by: Ryan | October 25, 2004 at 07:58 PM
yes we took Alaqaa...
three weeks after the invasion!
three weeks.
The problem was pointed out by Clark on CNN.
Alqaqaa wasn't placed as high as a priority as it should have been. That's why it took them 3 weeks to get there.
The blame actually doesn't rest on Bush...
IT's all on Rumsfeld.
Posted by: ed | October 25, 2004 at 07:59 PM
You know what? I'm just getting tired of all this arguing. I do really understand the right's hatred of Kerry. Kerry is actually quite a twit -- and truly has a horrendous record on defense -- and has been caught lying on several recent occasions.
But I so enjoy yanking people's chains. I know the President will probably win, and I'm almost resigned to it, but I do like the fight with R's.
Posted by: Jeffraham Prestonian | October 25, 2004 at 07:59 PM
Thanks, Ryan.
I swear, you get the "Bush is a Fascist" over on the lefty blogs a lot, but the whole "Kerry hates the troops and loves the enemy" is getting thick in here.
Can we agree that both Bush and Kerry want what's best for the USA?
I will say that I think Bush is incompetent, but I don't think he's trying to destroy America.
Posted by: Michigan | October 25, 2004 at 08:00 PM
It will end with Bush 295 Kerry 243
Posted by: Ryan | October 25, 2004 at 08:00 PM
Ah, a name-stealer. Glad to make you nervous, name-stealer.
.
Posted by: Jeffraham Prestonian | October 25, 2004 at 08:01 PM
Wait, Ryan, I take that back.
"Crack for new voters" is so 2000, bitch.
Posted by: Michigan | October 25, 2004 at 08:02 PM
Geez Ryan -- I'm relieved that an objective observer like yourself is working on voter fraud in Florida. Could you get yourself over to Ohio and check out Larry Russell, on the lam from South Dakota. Or do you only look at fraud claims against Democrats? Shame the FBI is being used as a political tool when it could be say, looking for terrorists. But then again you Republicans never cared homeland security. My Pet Goat, anyone?
BTW -- is "filthy liberals" a technical term in the Florida secretary of state's office.
Posted by: Ronald Reagan | October 25, 2004 at 08:04 PM
Of what I tire, name-stealer, is people typing stuff in here, expecting anyone to believe that by virtue of their typing it, it is true.
Anyone that knows Jeff knows that Jeff doesn't tire of the argument -- only of the emptiness of assertion and accusation.
.
Posted by: Jeffraham Prestonian | October 25, 2004 at 08:04 PM
Can someone help me find the office where you sign up to try to disqualify overseas military ballots????
It almost worked in Fla last time, until Sen. Lieberman got wise to it.
Posted by: Jeffraham Prestonian | October 25, 2004 at 08:06 PM
I can help you, Jeffraham.
.
Posted by: Jeffraham Prestonian | October 25, 2004 at 08:07 PM
Jeff you are a weak piece of shit. You can't even stand up for yourself let alone all of the low life filthy liberals from the Kerry Blog. I have gotten so much negative things people have said on the Kerry blog printed in the Orlando Times. People get on there and Slam bush and not even talk about Kerry. Because all of his plans are secret.
Posted by: Ryan | October 25, 2004 at 08:08 PM
Ryan: "You can't even stand up for yourself let alone all of the low life filthy liberals from the Kerry Blog."
Again, for the second time this evening, I question why you think I need to defend anyone besides myself (which, I daresay, my words are here for all to read)?
.
Posted by: Jeffraham Prestonian | October 25, 2004 at 08:10 PM
If Kerry cares so much about our military why has he not been in Iraq to support our troops. I guess that if our men and women in uniform vote goes to Bush that will shut Kerry right the hell up. Kerry is so wrong saying that soliders don't want to be over there. The Military is supporting bush by over 90%.
Posted by: Ryan | October 25, 2004 at 08:11 PM
Look this really is Ryan. Stop name stealing. The second thoughts comment was sincere.
Of course, I have real concerns about Bush, this war, the deficit. I didn't sign up for this.
Neither did a lot of other conservatives -- George Will, Bill Kristol, Bill Buckley, Pat Buchanan. McCain, Lugar, Lindsay Graham and lots of other congressional Republicans are also eager for change. Sometimes you have to put what's right for the country ahead of partisanship. There's no point in standing for the GOP, if the party has temporarily lost its way. And I'm afraid it has.
Posted by: Ryan | October 25, 2004 at 08:11 PM