Things that make you say... HMMMMMM...

[holzman_tweed]

"Based on thorough analysis, the IAEA has concluded, with the concurrence of outside experts, that documents which formed the basis for the reports of recent uranium transactions between Iraq and Niger are in fact not authentic. We have therefore concluded that these specific allegations are unfounded."
-- Mohammed ElBaradei, reporting to the UN Security Council. (Emphasis added)

Now, who do you suppose might want to fabricate evidence that Iraq was trying to get a nuclear program going?

It will not take years, nor weeks, but months [to complete disarmament]
-- Hans Blix, reporting to the UN Security Council

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw of Britain proposed a draft resolution today demanding Iraq to disarm by March 17 or face the possibility of war. France said it would block the measure.
-- New York Times

Juxtaposing these two statements, I am reminded of the famous wager from Guys and Dolls that out of a deck of cards, the seal yet unbroken, the Jack of Spades will jump up and spit cider into your ear.


DO NOT TAKE THIS BET. For as sure as I am standing here now, you will wind up with an ear full of cider.

This is what is knows as a "sucker bet," engineered to produce the desired result while giving the illusion of the desired appearance.

Comments

[rtbyjack.livejournal.com]

I am bit confused. If you read the transcript of the remarks, it is indicated that "a number of states" have supplied documents. The report also mentions Israel denying the activity even though the alleged transactions were between Niger and Iraq. I wonder if we have a translation error?

In any event, here are the relevant remarks as reported by the AP . . .

"With regard to uranium acquisition, the IAEA has made progress in its investigation into reports that Iraq sought to buy uranium from Niger in recent years. The investigation was centered on documents provided by a number of states that pointed to an agreement between Niger and Iraq for the sale of uranium between 1999 and 2001. The IAEA has discussed these reports with the governments of Iraq and Israel, both of which have denied that any such activity took place.

For its part, Iraq has provided the IAEA with a comprehensive explanation of its relations with Niger and has described a visit by an Iraqi official to a number of African countries including Niger in February 1999, which Iraq thought might have given rise to the reports. The IAEA was able to review correspondence coming from various bodies of the government of Niger and to compare the form, format, contents and signature of that correspondence with those of the alleged procurement-related documentation.

Based on thorough analysis, the IAEA has concluded with the concurrence of outside experts that these documents which formed the basis for the report of recent uranium transaction between Iraq and Niger are in fact not authentic. We have therefore concluded that these specific allegations are unfounded. However, we will continue to follow up any additional evidence if it emerges relevant to efforts by Iraq to illicitly import nuclear materials."