RIGHT-WING ECHO CHAMBER 101:

[rodeodance]

I get dizzy trying to keep up with all teh spin.

MEDIA – RIGHT-WING ECHO CHAMBER 101:

"http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/pp.asp?c=klLWJcP7H&b=236797"

Even since the story broke three days ago that the administration failed to secure 380 tons of powerful explosives in Iraq, President Bush and his surrogates have been unable to stem the political damage. Enter the right-wing spin machine. This morning, the headline on the Drudge Report blares in 36-point font: Russia tied to Iraq's missing arms; Pentagon: Weaponry relocated before war. Drudge links to a story in the Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Washington Times written by Bill Gertz. In that story, Gertz reports John A. Shaw, the deputy undersecretary of defense for international technology, "believes the Russian troops, working with Iraqi intelligence, 'almost certainly' removed the high-explosive material that went missing." On Fox and Friends this morning Fox News jumped all over the Russian rumors. Drudge, Gertz and Fox wildly distort the story – but unless you read the Financial Times, you might not realize it. Drudge's headline notwithstanding, "the Pentagon distanced itself from remarks." Pentagon spokesman Larry Di Rita – who has enthusiastically embraced any theory that would exculpate the administration – when asked about Shaw's comments said, "I am unaware of any particular information on that point." Drudge and Gertz fail to mention that Shaw "has not provided evidence for his claims." Russia, through its U.S. embassy, "rejected the claims as 'nonsense', saying there were no Russian military in the country at the time."

[blackcat77]

1. Lou Dobbs had the Russian angle for his lead story...

...and he slammed the door on it with extreme prejudice, including a tape of Rummy saying that it was completely baseless and that Shaw had been called in for a "what the f--- are you DOING??" meeting...

BTW, google "john shaw undersecretary" to learn some very interesting things about this gentleman. If you ask me, this guy would have been fired several months ago except that it would have drawn attention to his corruption and abuses...