How corrupt the media?

[OnyxCougar]

close up of the sign...

[OnyxCougar]

Originally posted by tw
Is it corrupt to report that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction that could be launched in 45 minutes even though there was no evidence AND that Saddam acutally had no WMD? No. A reporter must report the news. He must report what, for example, the government official claims even if it is obviously or internal sources say it is not based on known facts.

That rediculous claim is from Tony Blair. The BBC demonstrated in details that this Tony Blair statment could not be supported by other sources. Furthermore, the BBC also noted how other Tony Blair claims were based upon absurd sources such as a graduate thesis. That the British government claims were even plagurized from that graduate paper - word for word complete with typographical mistakes. To provide perspective, the BBC noted how other claims were made without valid basis. As it turns out, the BBC was reporting correctly. Tony Blair was all but completely inventing those Saddam WMD claims.

Text from Mr. Blix's report to the UN. Emphais mine.

There is a significant Iraqi effort under way to clarify a major source of uncertainty as to the quantities of biological and chemical weapons which were unilaterally destroyed in 1991. A part of this effort concerns a disposal site, which was deemed too dangerous for full investigation in the past. It is now being re-excavated.

To date, Iraq has unearthed eight complete bombs, comprising two liquid-filled intact R-400 bombs and six other complete bombs. Bomb fragments are also found. Samples have been taken.

The investigation of the destruction site could, in the best case, allow the determination of the number of bombs destroyed at that site. It should be followed by serious and credible effort to determine the separate issue of how many R-400-type bombs were produced.

In this, as in other matters, the inspection work is moving on and may yield results.

Iraq proposed an investigation using advanced technology to quantify the amount of unilaterally destroyed anthrax dumped at a site. However, even if the use of advanced technology could quantify the amount of anthrax said to be dumped at the site, the results will still be open to interpretation. Defining the quantity of anthrax destroyed must of course be followed by efforts to establish what quantity was actually produced.

With respect to VX, Iraq has recently suggested a similar method to quantify VX precursors stated to have been unilaterally destroyed in the summer of 1991.

This is from the freaking inspectors. Iraq ADMITTED to MAKING THEM. ADMITTED to HAVING them. But for some reason, they can't find evidence to prove Iraq destroyed all of the amounts they SAID they HAD.

Have we found it yet? No. Does that mean it's not buried in the desert somewhere? No. That's a big freaking desert. When they can PROVE they destroyed all they said they had, I might believe they don't have them any more. But then, who says they reported all they had? But to ask me to swallow that Saddam's regime is being the slightest bit truthful when it comes to WMD .... come on. I was born on Wednesday, but not LAST Wednesday.

In addition this comes from this site regarding the report.

The United Nations Chief Weapons Inspector told UN officials, however, that three major issues still remain over Iraq:

1. How much illicit weapons material remains undeclared and in tact from before the Gulf War in 1991?

2. What, if anything, has been procured or produced?

Note it's not IF. It's HOW MUCH. Indeed.

[Elspode]

You know what they say...nothing is really bad until it happens to *you*.

I'll be interested to hear TW's evaluation of a hurricane that takes off his own roof, instead of someone elses.

[Elspode]

Here's a Yahoo slideshow of images of the damage done by this insignificant storm...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=e...mpl=sl&ns=&l=&

I blame the media for oversensationalizing these pictures of destroyed buildings and roadways and the accompanying text about the dead people and such.

[Elspode]

Even the President is getting caught up in the media hysteria!
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...sabel_disaster

[OnyxCougar]

*giggle* I love you, Els.

[Elspode]

*Blush...*

I think TW just picked a poor example, because I, too, believe that there's waaaayyyy too much hype and bullshit in the media.

[OnyxCougar]

Oh, I agree, 100%. But he says in one breath that the media has bias, then uses the BBC exclusively to indicate that Tony Blair was full of shit.

Of course, I suppose that Inspector Blix and his nuclear counterpart could be lying, just so Blair and Bush can be accused of lying....

Naaahhh....possible but unlikely. Gee, guess that means that Iraq had declared they had WMD. Guess that also means they can't prove they destroyed them all. Guess that means there is still a very good chance they still have them, but we can't find them. Hmm.

.... Normally I don't get irked by tw and the like, but for some reason, I'm really cheesed off about this one....

[xoxoxoBruce]

Well yeah some people got killed, and a lot of property was destroyed, but after all it was below the Mason-Dixon line so it's really not important.

[Elspode]

Oh, great, Bruce...start the War Between the States all over again, why doncha?

[xoxoxoBruce]

That's what we need to get the economy pumped.

[OnyxCougar]

I thought the Mason/Dixon line was between Virginia and NC?

[xoxoxoBruce]

No, it's along the southern border of PA.

[OnyxCougar]

Shows how much I know about the eastern US, (or the Civil War) doesn't it?

[Torrere]

Subjugate the District of Columbia!