They are saying they "destroyed" the explosives for one reason only:

[Brotherjohn]

So that when proof comes out that American troops have been killed with just such explosives (or worse, American citizens on American soil), they can say "No no. We destroyed those weapons! Didn't you see the press conference?"

"It's not our fault!"

Never mind that there is no evidence. Never mind that they are trotting out a low level soldier as a "witness" (scapegoat?). In the military chain of command, why is this necessary? Don't they have records, higher ups who ordered the destruction?

Of course, if this were true, they would not be presenting it in such a way.

[David__77]

1. This is a lie, obviously.

They would have KNOWN days ago if this were true. The dates and numbers don't add up anyway. Too bad for clumsy cover-up work.

[grytpype]

9. "They would have KNOWN days ago if this were true."

Exactly. There wouldn't have been days and days of fumbling for an answer if this is what happened.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

2. obvious lie

and I think THIS one will be one lie too many.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

3. obvious lie

and I think THIS one will be one lie too many.

[aden_nak]

4. Apparently, our military no longer relies on DOCUMENTS.

No orders to destroy the weapons. No photos of the soldiers doing so. No records of who else was involved (or did this one guy move all 200 tons himself; he must REALLY work out). Military documents are also not really useful when determining the President's National Guard Service or evaluating his rival's military service. And they are only SELECTIVELY useful when deciding to go to war, pre-emptively, against another nation.

[tridim]

5. They want Kerry to respond that the press conference is BS

and then they'll say he's trashing the military.

[louis-t]

7. Oh, but it's OK for Giuliani to say

it's the troops fault. Free pass.

[Roland99]

12. No kidding...Will Giuliani issue an apology after this dog-and-pony show?

[maxsolomon]

6. prove it.

typical bush spin pattern

1. muddy the waters
2. direct blame away from executives
3. lie
4. make others lie

[samtob]

8. A Major is a low level soldier?

I agree this stinks to high heaven on many different levels...

WHo are we to believe?

The New York Times and the UN, or the US military?

I hate that this became an issue right now, and I hate even more that it is the MAIN issue right now.

At least, there is still questions as to what REALLY happened, no conclusive answers one way or the other.

[Brotherjohn]

10. They were saying here earlier that it was a "low level soldier". But...

... the point remains, this is not how you'd promote some story like this (one guy's testimony).

There is a chain of command, there should be records.

Not to mention, the same Pentagon Spokesman at the press conf. (Larry DeRita?) was yesterday releasing a photo alleging that Iraq may have moved the weapons before we got there. They can't keep their story straight!

I LOVE that this has become an issue right now. It calls to the fore the Bush administration's complete incompetence in the handling of this war, and their complete disregard for actually securing the safety of our troops or citizens.

[venus]

14. Kerry made this an issue.

Speaks to his strength and conviction as far as the troops are concerned. The media is only harping on it because of Kerry. At first I was nervous about his boldness, but now it seems it has made the Repukes swallow hard.

On another note, I think it's a shame how Bushco exploits the honor of our service men and women. This appearance by a uniformed soldier in a press conference to cover Bush's a**s is a real blow to Army IMO. They are supposed to at least appear non-partisan. Hope America sees what we (they) have sunk to.

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. We went to war when Saddam couldn't or wouldn't provide

documentary evidence to having destroyed his weapons.

We are now to believe them, without documentary evidence.

That's all right. I've been at war with the repugs for years now.

[July]

13. Good point, didn't think of that.

How craven and pathetic is that?

[Ducks In A Row]

15. Any bets they meant to say they destroyed the stuff on the 23rd

but fucked up the story by saying 13th?