The Al QaQaa story is officially dead now: HOLD BACK UP ONE!!

[Walt Starr]

Face it, folks. Put no more energy into this story. It is dead as a doornail now. Move along. Look for other things, but this story is now dead.

ON EDIT: Major just explained in clear language he could not confirm exactly what he destroyed. Story is not dead.

WHEW!

Story is still alive. Video from April 18 definitely trumps what he's saying. We've got video with the IAEA seals still. He did not see any IAEA seals.

[Goldmund]

1. Are you serious?

You actually believe this crap -- after a million other excuses they came up with?

[Walt Starr]

4. It doesn't matter any longer

This put the nail into the story. The story has done enough dmage already. Feeding it now is to question the credibility of our troops.

Move along. There is other crap out there. We don't need this any more.

[hexola]

11. What put the nail in the story...?

What is "this" ?

[Walt Starr]

17. Pentagon press conference

Story dead. Move along.

[Goldmund]

16. The thing is --

-- purely politically speaking, it's impossible. If we move on, the Pukes will hammer it and spin it as another CBS/Dan Rather-type fiasco.

But forget about the politics for a second. This guy is OBVIOUSLY a Rovian plant. And they OBVIOUSLY changed their story YET AGAIN.

The story isn't dead, whether we like it or not. It's up to us to own it, or the Pukes will.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

18. nothing to do with the troops- it's all about the commander in chief

who didn't understand the mission, and didn't prepare them them for it, nor give them the right military OBJECTIVES.
Bush is a failure as CiC.
Not enough troops.
No body armor.
No allies.
No goals.

[cheezus]

2. the msm is still taking about it, so how is it dead?

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Huh? When'd it die?

I didn't even know it was sick.

[Walt Starr]

8. Pentagon Press conference right now

Story is now dead. An officer just ecxplained how tehy destroyed the weapons. Story is now over.

[hexola]

14. Oh the Pentagon...do you beleive them Walt...?

unless you are being sarcastic...?

[Walt Starr]

38. Up to the point of the questions, the Busheviks had won

The first answer the major gave to the press turned the tide. This press conference went off script and is now shown as the blatant coverup it was supposed to be.

[Walt Starr]

39. Up to the point of the questions, the Busheviks had won

The first answer the major gave to the press turned the tide. This press conference went off script and is now shown as the blatant coverup it was supposed to be.

[Stuckinthebush]

5. Not yet, Walt

It will bang around until the Sunday talk shows.

It might be dying on Monday, but by then, it has done its job.

[dennis4868]

6. This soldeir says.....

he was there on April 13 BUT THE MINNESOTA VIDEO IS FROM APRIL 18....they are lying to us again!

[JusticeForAll]

15. BINGO!

April 18 is key.

if you think this story is dead, why not go do some phoning and go get the vote out?


This story is hardly dead.

[klook]

24. Between April 13-18

did somebody put all the explosives back?

Or did those librul St. Paul TV people clone images of explosives containers in Photoshop to make it look like there were more than there really were? I mean, that's the kind of thing the librul media does, isn't it? Not the Repukes.

:eyes:

[fertilizeonarbusto]

7. I don't think it is

and it doesn't matter. Weekend's here, news cycle is over and people paid too much attention this week and noticed the myriad of conflicting excuses offered. The press conference was too little, too late.

[RummyTheDummy]

9. Um, yeah

Sure thing.

(sarcasm off)

[Bush was AWOL]

10. I don't care what they trot out there. The video that was

taken AFTER this guy was there trumps his spin. If they're trying to say they destroyed some of it, I'll ask why not destroy all of it?

[Uzybone]

12. No way

The pentagon, Bush and the Republicans are in full back pedal mode. How can this story be dead?

[sonicx]

13. this press conference isn't doing shit.

the story's still very much alive.

[Philostopher]

19. I agree, Walt.

Unless they nail the guy as a liar in the next 24 hours, it's not going to matter. Those who'll believe him already do, and those who don't won't be convinced no matter what they say -- I think you're right that unless somebody has a smoking gun, the issue has served the purpose for everybody involved.

[David__77]

20. No, the proper retort must be made.

... it isn't up to Kerry to "call off" a story. Only the media can do that. These words won't do that.

[Longhorn]

21. I don't agree. To me the story was always about how they could

lose track of those explosives, which they clearly did or it wouldn't have been a story in the first place.

[Rainbowreflect]

35. Exactly, Whatever happened the lost track of the explosives.

That is the issue. The bush admin has no idea what they are doing.

[fob]

43. Exactly, It's the incompetence, Stupid! Even if we accept this latest lie

as 100% truth, the question remains, The bush* admin should have known this as of mid April 2003, and they spent the last few days dicking around with all those other excuses? AND, that still leaves 180 tons unaccounted for, what happened to that?

[DefenseLawyer]

22. No wonder Karl Rove is a "genius"

if he can get you to roll over that easily. Are you nuts? This "answer" simply raises more questions. They still have to answer for the video tape. They still have to explain why, even if the soldier's story is true (yeah, right) that NO ONE KNEW ABOUT IT. This happened a year and a half ago! Who's minding the store? this story is far from dead. Buck up little camper.

[brooklynite]

23. Not clear why you say that...

the big news of evidence showing American troops breaking the bunker seals and then leaving them unguarded (with David Kay's comments) ran only last night, and was in the papers today, along with Giuliani getting into hot water for blaming the troops.

That being said, I think its time to move on from the point of view of the campaign, and to close out with a positive, visionary message.

[KingChicken]

25. the lesiban thing had a week

Hey if the lesiban thing had a week then this thing should too, but we have the proof, let the repubs fight and just knock them down with evidence. Let them look like they are on the defensive.

[klook]

31. Sex beats everything else

Still, this story will not die before election day.

[JusticeForAll]

26. "From my recollection"

Oh awesome!!

The Pentagon trots out someone with "recollection" I understand it is a fricking war zone, but should there not be some ACCOUNTING of this shit?!?!

So glad we have video tape to take us through to Tuesday so that we can replace our Govt management....this is horrendous.


Get him Barabara Starr!!!

[Demit]

27. I think he's being sarcastic. This story has legs up to HERE.

[Blue_Roses]

28. who is the reporter drilling the questions to this

guy--she's pretty good.

[Walt Starr]

29. SORRY FOLKS, I SCREWED THE POOCH!!!

Cannot confirm and we still have video of the IAEA seals from April 18.

This story will NOT die. This is another lame attempt to coverup. The Major obviously will not lie and he said he saw no IAEA seals.

[klook]

Thanks for the edit.

Let's suppose for a minute that from a 380-ton facility 200 tons of explosives were removed by the U.S. military. Well, so why the hell did they leave the other 180 tons unlocked and unguarded!!!!

[exliontamer]

30. What'd they kill it with... spitballs?!?!

I watched the press conference and it was a fucking mess. Damage control, and not very convincing damage control at that.

A republican strategist told Eleanor Clift to watch for the Bush campaign to throw up "monkey dust" like this in hopes of getting over. And that's what I saw today... monkey dust.

This story may not have convinced a single voter to change their mind either way, but the fact that President It's Hard Work is having to waste so much energy this late in the game trying to lie his way out of another debacle is priceless.

[JusticeForAll]

32. Uh the press conference is still going on...

But, yes, it si a f*ing mess.

They are still questioning the Pentagon boob and our military pawn.

[exliontamer]

40. I know, sorry..

... but it's monkey dust, and the reporters there don't really seem to be buying it. One just refered to the video, so that evidence obviously isn't going to just evaporate. I mean, do we trust the Major or our lyin' eyes?

[JusticeForAll]

45. It's not your fault...

It's more a problem of ridiculous post threads that are titled like this one that get other people to post even more ridiculous things. (btw your post is hardly ridiculous...just not timed right)

[David__77]

33. That officer messed up if his job was coverup...

He said he can't be sure?! So he said nothing of substance at all!!!

[Walt Starr]

34. Yep, he probably was tasting silver oak leaves

They're not going on his shoulder any time soon after this screwup, though!

[Beetwasher]

36. I Think He Just BLEW THIS UP EVEN BIGGER!!!! COVERUP COVERUP COVERUP!!!

USING THE TROOPS TO COVER THEIR ASSESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Mountainman]

37. Did you do a flip flop?

[Walt Starr]

42. They had won ti all the way up to the first question

They had this thing owon. If they had walked out without any questions, the story would be dead right now.

My expectation was for the press to still be in fullout whore mode.

I was taken by surprise., They asked real questions and the soldier admitted he saw no IAEA seals.

[Homerr]

41. QUIT WITH THE IDIOT POSTS WALT STARR

[Walt Starr]

44. PFFFTTTHHHH!!!!

I'll post as I please.

[Walt Starr]

46. You can tell the Pentagon official was not prepared for a REAL press today

"There's a lot we don't know"

We know for a fact that IAEA seals remained on bunkers on April 18, 2003. We have video of that.

[shelley806]

47. He also said they did what they had to do in one day....

Clearly impossible; someone posted a link on the statistics, calculations of Looters trying to removve 380 or 350 tons, and it took 12 hout days, and two weeks:

http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/002869.php

f I were a guerilla "looter" and I was planning such an operation from a military standpoint, here's what the task would require:
Assumptions:
-Each "looter" could haul comfortably about 25 pounds per trip to a truck. (of course after 12 hours that would require superhuman endurance)
-I'd allow 5 minutes per round trip to the truck
-Work day 12 hours
-assume security breaks down 1 week after war starts (that allows 2
weeks before the US troops arrive)
-each pickup truck can carry about 1/4 ton of explosives (I did a quick calculation based upon the dimensions and weight of a block of C-4 and the dimensions of an average small pickup) and it takes 15 minutes to either load or unload the truck.
-the secure hiding place for 380 tons of explosives is 30 minutes away.
Calculations:
-380 tons / <((12hrs/dayX60min/hr) / (5 min per load)) X (25 lbs per load) X 14 days> = 15 loaders X 2 = 30 loaders/unloaders
-30 loaders/unloaders times 200% for breaks, rest, inefficiency, etc. = 60 loaders and unloaders.
-380 tons / <(12hrs/day / 1 hr/round trip,load,unload) X (.25 tons per trip) X 14 days> = 10 trucks and drivers X 1.5 (contingency) = 15 trucks and drivers.
-4 trucks + 10-15 men to supply water, food and other logistical
requirements
Total = 19-20 trucks, 90 men working continuously for two weeks to "loot" facility.
Bottom line this operation would take the resources of AN ENTIRE COMPANY (approx. 100 men) OVER TWO WEEKS, good Intel to know exactly where the "right" explosives were hidden and a means of breaching huge steel doors and concrete of an ASP.
And all of this would have to be done in an area with numerous intel overflights that would be looking for exactly this kind of activity in the combat zone, and not get noticed at all. Like so much of what the New York Times, CBS, and the Kerry campaign feeds us ... it just doesn't add up.


So if they are saying it would be impossible for looters, it would be impossible for Major Austin to remove much in one day!!!!

[Walt Starr]

48. They could do that with the stnadrad stuff

and the layout of Al Qaqaa shows that there were a lot of bunkers that were not under IAEA seal.

I screwed the pooch and jumped the gun. I didn';t expect the hard hitting questions that got to the heart of the matter.