>Too late - you're in it now <g>

Damn! This isn't billable time.

>Interesting article. Just for the sake of arguement, let's suppose it is true. Why no public announcement?

Wasn't that a public announcment? Some guy from the Pentagon holding an interview? If that wasn't an approved revelation, he should be fired. But I'm sure someone decided it was okay. Why not the White House? Because the intelligence isn't 100% certain. If it turns out to be wrong, not their fault. Why the Washington Times instead of the Post? Because they're more likely to print what appears to be speculation. (Sounds like there's strong evidence there were Russians there and there are photos of lots of trucks moving stuff to Syria. Speculation that it was the Rusians doing the moving of these particular explosives.) The Post would want more confirmation and they don't have the time for that. Now that it's out there, the Post will have to print something by Sunday.


>Because intelligence isn't about letting people know you know. It's about using what you know to your own advantage. And, as difficult as it may be for people to believe after 8 years of Bill Clinton, sometimes there are considerations more important than PR.

While I agree with your assesment of how it normally works, it appears that some people are deciding to release "sensitive" information (see satellite photos of Qaqaa in today's WashTimes.), certainly to coincide with the election. Given the clearly politically calculated "complaint" about missing HMX from the disgruntled head of the IAEA, I can't say I blame them or disagree with the decision to release the information. However, given the source of the current info (Inspecter General -- not intelligence), there is certainly more we don't know.

Another interesting thing to keep in mind about what we do and don't know, as a member of the Foreign Relations Comm., Sen. Kerry is also one of those who knows more than we do. Funny to watch all the politicians make hay about issues which everyone involved KNOWS to be an inaccurate portrayal, if not completely false, but they can't say anything.

I'm far too jaded about politics to take much of this political stuff too seriously. I've seen the hotdogs being made and it ain't pretty. Democracy is the worst, most corrupt political system there is. Except for all of the other ones.

Now, who can I bill for this ...

>
>
>>Charles,
>>
>>I believe this is what you were referring to when you said some in the intelligence community may know things about the disappearance of weapons which they'd rather not talk about:
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>>http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20041028-122637-6257r.htm
>>
>>I guess someone decided it was worth leaking.
>>
>>It's those damn Communists again!! er ... well... I guess they were just being good Capitalists in this instance.
>>
>>BTW, my intention here is not to actually participate in the thread, but just to throw fuel on the fire.