Curveball Revealed by 60 Minutes

[illinoisprogressive]

(CBS) 60 Minutes has identified the man whose fabricated story of Iraqi biological weapons drove the U.S. argument for invading Iraq. It has also obtained video of "Curve Ball," as he was known in intelligence circles, and discovered he was not only a liar, but also a thief and a poor student instead of the chemical engineering whiz he claimed to be.

60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon's two-year investigation will be broadcast this Sunday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Curve Ball is an Iraqi defector named Rafid Ahmed Alwan, who arrived at a German refugee center in 1999. To bolster his asylum case and increase his importance, he told officials he was a star chemical engineer who had been in charge of a facility at Djerf al Nadaf that was making mobile biological weapons.

60 Minutes has learned that Alwan’s university records indicate he did study chemical engineering but earned nearly all low marks, mostly 50s. Simon’s investigation also uncovered an arrest warrant for theft from the Babel television production company in Baghdad where he once worked.

more at link:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/01/60minutes/main3440577.shtml

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Nothing like starting a war based on the say-so of a thief & liar.

I'd say cheney, addington & bush take the all time booby prize, along with the american public.

[illinoisprogressive]

2. nah. Those guys are the same as Curveball. theives and liars.

[Nicole0214]

3. This should be interesting

[Faux pas]

4. ..

:dem:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. A few years too late, but... whatever...

I learned about Curveball in April 2005 right here on DU.

[flyarm]

6. well well 60 minutes finally caught up to the blogs??..go to hell 60 minutes!!

too many dead bodies now 60 minutes..you will not be forgiven!

dead people don't forgive!

fly

[pnorman]

7. Here's some backgrond on "Curve Ball":

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/21704/

pnorman