Looking for links on Al Qaa Qaa

[dkamin]

Just had lunch with a conservative colleague, who of course brought up politics, claiming that a) NBC had reported that Al Qaa Qaa's munitions were all gone when the US arrived; b) that there were "credible" reports that the Russians had shipped them to Syria before the invasion; and c) that the American in the terrorist tape held by ABC News was considered one of the highest threats by the US intelligence.

I told him I was positive that a) and b) were Drudge nonsense that had already been debunked, and that I was skeptical about c). Looking for links.

Thanks in advance.

[Renew Deal]

1. Here is the only link you will need

http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S3723.html?cat=1

[juliagoolia]

2. Check home first

look on home page... of DU

[Tim_in_HK]

3. For a) and b)

either do a search on LynnTheDem at DU. She's got all the articles linked up, or go to josh marshall (www.talkingpointsmemo.com). He's got the skinny on that as well, with links.

Note on (b), if your colleaguge thinks reporting in the Washington Times is 'credible,' then good luck convincing him of anything!

For c), actually, US intelligence is still looking at the tape, and no decision on its (1) credibility or (2) threat assessment has been reached.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1029/p06s01-wosc.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3742-2004Oct27.html

"The problem, say ABC News executives, is that they can't determine whether the tape, obtained by a producer, involves a real threat -- or even the identity of the figure on it, a man wearing an ammunition belt and a headdress that obscures his face. The network enlisted the aid of the FBI and CIA but still can't authenticate the 75-minute videotape."