(ABC News - Brian) Ross Responds to "Vital Questions" About Anthrax Report

[sabra]

Source: TV Newser

<snip>

TVNewser spoke with ABC's Brian Ross today, the lead reporter on the anthrax stories in late 2001. He explains in detail, what happened then and what it means now.

"In the end, you're only as good as your sources," he said. "My sources were good, we just got information that became outdated before they could update. My point of view is viewers of World News knew early that week we had been wrong to say bentonite."

...

The three vital questions raised related to: 1. was ABC News lied to, 2. who were the sources and 3. what will ABC News do to correct it?

Taking the second question first, Ross tells us, "Our sources were current and former government scientists who were all involved in analyzing the substance in the letter."

...

Ross described why it was first reported as bentonite, and explains why ABC News was not lied to. "Their initial conclusion, based on microscopic examination was a brown substance that initially was reported as bentonite. We went back immediately after the White House told us it was not the case. We were told after further chemical analysis it was determined it was a silica, but not bentonite — something they had never seen before but had a brownish color."

...

He also described the last-minute scrambling before and after his initial October 26 report. "About a minute before we went on air the White House called and said it was not bentonite. That's all they said," Ross tells TVNewser. "I spent the weekend going back to all the sources saying, 'What's going on here guys?'"

...

The idea the ABC report contributed to the White House's case for war with Iraq was dismissed by Ross. "The people who say the White House lied to us to build a case on Iraq or something doesn't hold," he said, citing it was the White House who denied it was bentonite from day one.

Read more: http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/abc/ross_responds_to_vital_questions_about_anthrax_report_90768.asp

[underpants]

1. BS bentonite was NEVER detected EVER

not in any test.

Who ever told you that was lying. Now, who told you that Brian Ross?

[SpiralHawk]

4. The sources violated the confidentiality agreement by lying to Ross/ABC

Therefore, they can and should be NAMED now.

[babylonsister]

2. All four 'independent' sources' info became outdated?

How likely is that?

[sabra]

3. WH calls 1 minute before report... hmm...

[global1]

6. How Convenient !!!!!!! ......nt

[defendandprotect]

5. Wasn't the White House trying to push FBI Director Mueller to connect

this to Iraq . . . and it looks like he wouldn't do it ---

So, maybe part of their plan fell apart?

[screembloodymurder]

7. If the WH knew, why were they on tv linking Iraq to the anthrax?

They planted the seed then they planted the cover story. But Bush still made the connection in his SOTU speech months later.

[RainDog]

8. So why, as late as 2007, did he refuse to address this issue?

the only reason he's addressing it now is b/c of Ivins' death. Because Ivins' death is so obviously a bullshit job by the FBI to smear the guy and pin the anthrax attacks on someone who cannot defend himself.

god, this whole thing is so sad. Sad for Ivins' family who was badgered by the FBI, sad for the American people as we see a part of the govt. blatantly lie and expect us, yet again, to believe it while the U.S. media simply vomits up whatever crap they are fed.

ABC is worthless. Isn't ABC/Brian Ross' blog one place we get "advance notices" of bin Laden tapes, too? Haven't a few of those tapes been questionable? I wonder where that info comes from, too.

In 2006 a Swiss lab said a message from Osama was not from him while the U.S. intel agencies stated it was. I wonder which one was true? Sadly, our govt. agencies seem to be the least worthy sources to trust... including their msm mouthpieces.

[Jefferson23]

10. I feel the same way, its a disgrace.

[Newsjock]

9. Time for Mr. Conyers to subpoena Mr. Ross

This isn't about any "shield law" malarchy; this is about the government knowingly using ABC News to lead the nation into war.

Brian Ross must testify under oath, and if he refuses, it's off to prison for him.

[LiberalHeart]

11. Silica = silicon ... aren't the feds saying they identified the silicon recently?

I thought the silicon in the anthrax was identified via their fairly recent DNA advances, and finding it is what led to the supposed match.

Edit: I'm wrong. I checked a timeline. They knew about the silicon in 2001.

[Blue State Bandit]

12. In Scott McClellan's book, he says that

Ross broke the story, and then Ari called asking him to kill the story. Not that he called beefore they went on the air. He also said that Ross was told at the time of Ross's "correction, that the "silica" claim was inacurate as well. As it turns out, the substance was actualy "polyglass".

[Doctor_J]

13. All Bushit Channel less credible than Pravda

white House edits their reports