The unnamed ghost of Judith Miller

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061130/OPINION/611300665/1029

Remember what happened when The New York Times printed information that unnamed government officials told reporters about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction? Unnamed members of the Bush administration "leaked" propaganda of dubious merit to reporters, notably Judith Miller, and "corroboration" came from unnamed sources often supplied by Ahmed Chalabi.

Where are they trying to march us now?

As Iraqi President Jalal Talabani seeks help from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (page 6A of the Herald-Tribune on Tuesday), the Page 1A story is a New York Times article that regurgitates what "a senior American intelligence official" says about Iran training Iraqi militia fighters, including the Mahdi Army headed by Muqtada al-Sadr. "The intelligence official spoke on conditions of anonymity."

"In a related matter, the Washington Post reported Monday" that an unnamed "senior U.S. intelligence official said the al-Sadr militia has grown eightfold over the past year and now fields between 40,000 and 60,000 men."

Want corroboration? As usual, it comes from an unnamed "mid-level commander of the Mahdi Army."

And unnamed "American officials" say that "Iran shipped machine tools" that can be used to make "a sophisticated explosive device." The same unnamed officials said "at least some Syrian officials were complicit in the arrangement."

Who is going to play the part of Colin Powell in this movie?

Gregory DeClue

Sarasota

[Buzz Clik]

1. You can read the same complaints from all sides on all issues.

It's not that your complaint has no merit, it's just that this phenomenon occurs on every critical issue and it knows no political orientation.

[autorank]

2. Powell's part - Powell will play himself..

Thanks, this is a load they're setting us up for.

Why don't they just stop all the death and destruction. But that's their nature, like the Scorpion said to the Ox.

KR

[Vexatious Ape]

3. It's hard to believe that they might start another

quagmire seeing how well the Iraqi quagmire is running, but you're right--this does sound the same. And we should never under estimate the arrogance and stupidity of our Washington elites.