Scott Ritter, former U.S. Marine and UN weapons inspector and author of Target Iran: The Truth About the White House’s Plans for Regime Change, discusses the new Iran NIE, its confirmation of his long-held contention that Iran does not have a nuclear weapons program, the lack of hard evidence that they ever did, the illogic of the administration’s demands that Iraq and now Iran prove a negative, the mysterious origin of the “smoking laptop,” his patriotism, the state of Iran’s compliance with the IAEA, the possibility that the timing of the NIE’s release was a preemptive action against Mohamed ElBaradei’s upcoming report on the last outstanding questions, the lies claiming Iran is backing enemies of the U.S. in Iraq, the necessity of withdrawal, his case that the total debacle of the Iraqi occupation is the result of abject incompetence, the danger to U.S. troops in Iraq in the event of war with Iran, his admiration for Ron Paul and the need of the American people to destroy the careers of their warmonger representatives.
MP3 here. (43:47)
As a chief weapons inspector for the United Nations Special Commission in Iraq, Scott Ritter was labeled a hero by some, a maverick by others, and a spy by the Iraqi government. In charge of searching out weapons of mass destruction within Iraq, Ritter was on the front lines of the ongoing battle against arms proliferation. His experience in Iraq served as the basis for his book Endgame, which explored the shortcomings of American foreign policy in the Persian Gulf region and alternative approaches to handling the Iraqi crisis, and for Iraq Confidential, which detailed his seven year experience as a weapons inspector.
Scott Ritter has had an extensive and distinguished career in government service. He is an intelligence specialist with a 12-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps including assignments in the former Soviet Union and the Middle East. Rising to the rank of Major, Ritter spent several months of the Gulf War serving under General Norman Schwarzkopf with US Central Command headquarters in Saudi Arabia, where he played an instrumental role in formulating and implementing combat operations targeting Iraqi mobile missile launchers which threatened Israel.
In 1991, Ritter joined the United Nations weapons inspections team, or UNSCOM. He participated in 34 inspection missions, 14 of them as chief inspector. Ritter resigned from UNSCOM in August 1998, citing US interference in the work of the inspections.
He is the author of many books, including “Iraq Confidential: The Untold Story of the Intelligence Conspiracy to Undermine the UN and Overthrow Saddam Hussein†and most recently “Target Iran: The Truth About the White House’s Plans for Regime Change.†He lives in New York State. Ritter was born in Florida, and raised all over the world in a career military family. He is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, with a B.A. in Soviet History.
I have not read any of Ritter’s books, only some of his articles. I have to say that 1) his is a voice of reason 2) his arguments are compelling, credible and fact-based, and 3) his claims are a serious indictment of US foreign policy in general. The case for war against Iraq was so obviously manipulated, it’s old news by now, but as far as I’m concerned should have led to the impeachment of both Bush and Blair. Now Iran’s next, and heaven only knows what kind of lies and damned lies the imperialist propaganda machine of the White House will be churning up this time round. Watch this space though, it would seem it’s already begun. Thank goodness for people like the Scott Ritters and Seymour Hersch’s. Who knows where we may have been without ’em.
God bless this patriot.
Thank you Scott Ritter. SPREAD THIS INTERVIEW FAR AND WIDE
Ritter: “The press bought into it…”
The press is part of it. see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuBo4E77ZXo
Horton & Antiwar are, as usual, a couple of clicks behind the program. They are arguing about the clippings while the grass continuies to be cut.
Dupes, or part of “the plan”?
It’s not too late to Impeach! We must if we are to save any shreds of demcarcy and sanity left in this country!
Impeach Cheney NOW
Defense of the Constitution Knows No Party
The Bush administration has illegally seized and imprisoned Americans without benefit of their trial by jury, has spied on Americans without warrant in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, has lied America into a disastrous war, and has betrayed an American intelligence officer, who was working on weapons of mass destruction networks, to our enemies (Valerie Plame.)
Impeachment hearings against Vice President Dick Cheney are now a distinct possibility, thanks to a recent outpouring of public support for impeachment by Americans across the political spectrum. Your calls and faxes to House Judiciary Committee members are needed to keep up the pressure.
Leave a message for your Congressman, to demand he obey his oath to “defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Act now to restore your rights and the rule of law bequeathed to us by our Founding Fathers, which brave men have died defending throughout our history.
Call the House Judiciary Committee
202-225-3951
and demand that Impeachment hearings begin ASAP!
*What Happened to Make This All Possible?
On November 6, 2007, Rep. Dennis Kucinich brought H.Res.333, for the impeachment of Cheney, to the House Floor for debate. It was broadcast on CSPAN. A sudden outpouring of public support for impeachment forced lawmakers to keep the resolution alive. Democrats, most of whom currently resist demands for impeachment, were unwilling to kill the bill with the public watching. Republicans and some Democrats, mindful of impeachment sentiment, voted to debate the bill, but failed. At the end of the day, Americans of both parties had made it clear whose “table” this is, and that they want to see impeachment on it.
For more information go to
NEImpeach.org
Scott Ritter has been proven right again.
As Eric said: God bless this patriot!
W is t everyone calling them neocons instead of their rigthfull names the neohitlers?
Another great interview with Scott Ritter. He's proven to be right on real issues that matter and true patriot. It's past time to vote or take out funding for corrupt politicans in the congress and stand up for constitution which is the heart of America. If we as people do not stand up for constitution no one will as show with current bunch of clowns in office. The power should be in the hands of people not president!!!