Fascinating interview in the Telegraph with an Iraqi colonel who claims he was the3 source for the intelligence that Saddam’s army had a WMD capacity that could be launched against invading forces within 45 minutes. More interesting: he stands by his story. Money quote:
The only reason that these weapons were not used, said Col al-Dabbagh, was because the bulk of the Iraqi army did not want to fight for Saddam. “The West should thank God that the Iraqi army decided not to fight,” he said.
“If the army had fought for Saddam Hussein and used these weapons there would have been terrible consequences.”
Col al-Dabbagh, who was recalled to Baghdad to work at Iraq’s air defence headquarters during the war itself, believes that the WMD have been hidden at secret locations by the Fedayeen and are still in Iraq. “Only when Saddam is caught will people talk about these weapons,” he said.
I wonder what the next few months will ultimately reveal.
OKRENT’S GREAT START: What a refreshingly candid piece from the NYT’s new ombudsman (no, my first piece of ornery dissent will be refusing to call the guy what the Times wants me to call him). I liked his description of his politics:
I’m an absolutist on free trade and free speech, and a supporter of gay rights and abortion rights who thinks that the late Cardinal John O’Connor was a great man. I believe it’s unbecoming for the well off to whine about high taxes, and inconsistent for those who advocate human rights to oppose all American military action. I’d rather spend my weekends exterminating rats in the tunnels below Penn Station than read a book by either Bill O’Reilly or Michael Moore. I go to a lot of concerts. I hardly ever go to the movies. I’ve hated the Yankees since I was 6.
Sounds like many readers of this site. Let’s see if he is as unsparing in his assessments as you are. (Some are already impressed.)
The Dish 