WMD Discovered In Southern Iraq

'The Tooth Puller' by Caravaggio ca.1609

 

UPDATE: I just had an e-mail from Dave Gaubatz, and he is meeting with Congressman Michael Burgess on 15 Aug. Will keep us updated.

As you all know I have written recently about David Gaubatz, an ex-intelligence officer, and former special investigator for The Pentagon, who has been trying for three years to get the American weapons inspectors and the media to listen to his claims that no less than four sealed underground bunkers in southern Iraq are believed to contain stocks of chemical and biological weapons.

Finally now, and after three long years of fighting to get the truth out, my friend Antimedia, informs me that the U.S. have positively identified WMD at the sites, and have

...begun excavating the four sites in southern Iraq which Gaubatz identified while in Iraq. Gaubatz told me this evening that he received a phone call from Congressman Burgess today informing him that WMD had been positively identified at the sites. Congressman Burgess just returned from Iraq, along with Congressman Hoekstra, after inspecting the work being done on the sites.

Apparently Hannity interviewed Senator Santorum today and Santorum revealed the discovery. Gaubatz told me

I am sure you have heard what Sen. Santorum told Sean Hannity today. There are WMD sites never inspected in Iraq and it has been confirmed WMD is there. Hannity asked him several times why the U.S. waited so long and if they are there why hasn't the U.S. retrieved them. Santorum stumbled and could not answer.

I'm not surprised Santorum would stumble. How can anyone explain ignoring the solid reporting of a top-notch intelligence agent for three years! before someone finally listened?

This breakthrough is the result of Dave's efforts, especially a meeting he had with DIA and the FBI in June. Apparently someone finally followed up! I will continue with my series on Gaubatz and the efforts he went through trying to get these sites exploited, but his persistence has finally paid off.

My friend Antimedia, has been interviewing Gaubatz, with extensive articles published here, here, and here. In this series of must read articles he has been revealing exclusive information about what Gaubatz, found in Iraq, including post-1991 chemical weapons and banned missiles, Iraqis who have been threatened with expulsion from the US and forced return to Iraq (which is almost certain death for them) if they reveal what they know about the WMD sites and two Congressmen who are actively attempting to obstruct any investigation into the WMD sites. Although some of the information is public knowledge, he has been putting it together with information gleaned from his ongoing interviews with Gaubatz as well as confirmation of details from multiple sources.

It is a disgrace that a decorated ex-intelligence officer has to resort to acrobatics for three years to get the Pentagon and the media to listen. I guess it is a good thing that Karl Rove reads the Blogosphere, he may have discovered some intelligence he never knew he had.

UPDATE: Correction from Antimedia, as per his e-mail and correction on his post: "Congressman Burgess did not tell Dave Gaubatz that the WMD at the sites had been confirmed, when he called him on the phone.  Senator Santorum did that on the Hannity show yesterday.  Burgess only told Gaubatz that he had been to Iraq and asked for a meeting with him on August 15th."

He elaborates: "I then asked [Gaubatz] what form the confirmation [of the existence of WMD on site] took, since no one has actually opened the bunkers, and he told me "satellite" data. He explained that, by studying satellite data from the period of time when the sites were built and the weapons were stored, it was possible to positively confirm that WMD were stored there."

Today Antimedia publishes part four of the fascinating David Gaubatz story, "show[ing] the incredible lengths that Dave went to in an effort to get the sites in southern Iraq investigated. Despite overwhelming odds and an extremely skeptical attitude by many, Dave plowed on, agreeing to interviews, making presentations and calling Congressional offices, trying to find someone who would listen to him."

Comments

[Kevin Jones]

Have these WMD stocks have been left unsecured, free for any ex-Iraqi soldier to pick up and sell off? If WMD were indeed shipped to Syria under our watch, doesn't that make Bush's attempt to prevent proliferation an incompetent effort?

If Bush is in a lose-lose situation, perhaps it's his own fault.

[Mark]

Great blog and discussion here.
I follow the ongoing exposure of Saddam Hussein's links to terrorists at www.regimeofterror.com for those who are interested.

[Kenny Pierce]

LOL, no comment about the Kos Kontext, other than that when I am in the mood for amusing insanity it's actually not Kos I go to -- it's the Democratic Underground. Talk about an asylum where all the inmates voluntarily commit themselves. Wow.

There are several of us, actually, with that Guestblogger-as-Commenter status -- pretty much anybody can claim it, as long as they don't get abusive enough to get Alexandra mad at 'em and get banned. I seem unusually prominent at the moment just because I happen to have been posting a lot recently. At various times and on various subjects you'll see other names show up posting repeatedly, at length, and most impressively; also periodically we'll disappear and you won't see a comments from me (for example) for a couple of weeks.

In a lot of ways ATB is like a group blog (I refer to ATB as Alexandra's "salon" as often as I call it her "blog"), except that (a) unlike the rest of us Alexandra never wanders off for a few days and never takes a vacation, and of course (b) none of us in the comments section can do what the woman does with the images. But then nobody else on the web can do what the woman does with the images, either.

[72nd TCS]

Kenny:

I thought you were kidding when you wrote that your site is for goofing, and this one is for the serious stuff. Now that I've been through Alexandra's Comments section I see that you seem to have the status of Guest-Blogger-as-Commenter. Enviable. About this RL guy, all he did was rehash the ancient Blood Libel from the Protocols. How bad is that in the Kos Kontext?

[Kenny Pierce]

Honest to God, I said that thing about keeping the lunatics in Alexandra's comment section rather than my own (which I mean in all seriousness, by the way) before moving on to the thread in which RL showed up.

You guys see what I mean now? Holy cow.

[Kenny Pierce]

John,

I'm glad you liked the blog. That one's mostly where I goof off. I put most of the politics here so that the lunatics will respond in Alexandra's comment section rather than mine. ;-)

[John Van Laer]

jess1dering, 08:30

Sorry to be so dilatory, jess. Brilliant screen-name, by the way.

"...GW has been acting almost valiantly..."

You're right, of course. I'm jess1dering why you put in the qualifier "almost." If that was a bit of a face-saver for this curmudgeon, thanks.

At dinnertime, already dyspeptic, the day after pulling an all-nighter, blah,blah. Please don't hold it against me if I ran off the rails a bit.

[John Van Laer]

Kenny Pierce:

I just read your response to somebody else in the ATB post above this one, at 09:45, where you taught the guy how to code a long, messy link. You're a good man, KP, and deserve a pat on the back for that. As a side-effect you led me to your website, which was another good deed for the day. Thank you.

Please don't disabuse me. I want to go on imagining that you could be the grandson of Fred Pierce from MacAllen, a hot pilot back in the day and a great guy. You don't want to puncture an old man's fantasy bubble, do you?

[Kenny Pierce]

John,

I echo Jess's thanks, which thanks are the most important thing anybody's likely to say in this thread.

[jess1dering]

I don't know, John. Sometimes I think our MSM has thrown so much misinformation and accusation and plain old MUD at this administration that it would be a full time job for each and every member just to try to insure an accurate representation of the truth. Perception , as Radical Islam knows very well, is powerful.I have my own beliefs about WHY the MSM does this and IMO it has precious little to do with the situation in Iraq.
I believe we HAD to take on this problem now and that GWB has been acting almost valiantly in the face of terrible, dishonest opposition.
By the way, your writing tells me your 82 years YOUNG :)
Most importantly, THANK YOU SO MUCH for serving this wonderful country. I am endebted to you..

[72nd TCS]

I'm 82, an old crock from WW2. I have never been so consumed with impotent rage since the day in Holland, September '44, when I watched five tugships from my squadron flame up and go "poof" like roman candles, hit by low-calibre fire from one lone German machine-gunner in the churchyard of a village called Boxtel.

The administration has strong motives to sweep this sad tale under the rug. On one side: Floose[there is a void there]Man and Ken [04:49 PM] Hoop, who trumpet the overwhelming media reaction. On the other: Bush supporters--disheartened, dismayed and disgusted by this administration's pitiful inability to make its case. Rumsfeld et al: "Jeez, concrete bunkers under water? In the Brit area no less? It would take a sustained effort. Waddaya want from us? Can't you see we're busy?"

Well, Rummy: as an ex-supporter, all I want to do is scrape you and your boss off of my beat-up old GI brogans.

[HDScreagle]

They weren't WMD's, but my daughter sent me pictures from Iraq when her unit was there on the move in the attack during March/April, 2003. These pictures are of French Mirage jets that were buried in the desert, Iraqi Air Force jets that had been hidden and supposedly preserved in the desert sands. The photos show progressive stages of discovery and revealing from the sand dunes. Is it too much to imagine that if they buried their jets, they would have done the same with other weapons? WMD's are there... somewhere, in Iraq or Syria!

[sigmund, carl and alfred]

This story is huge- and potentially, the end of the anti war efforts.

That might explain why so much anti Israel venom is being expended- to keep the base attached and faithful. Lack of WMD's were a the tipping point. Take that away, and first wind blows the house of cards down.

If true, there is no way to for the left to spin this.

[Ghost Dansing]

I don't know, Ken Hoop, Dave Gaubatz has some sterling credentials:

Paul “Dave” Gaubatz, former Federal Agent with the equivalent rank of major, is a U.S. State Department-trained Arabic linguist and counterterrorism specialist. He has acquired over two decades of experience while working on assignments in Middle-Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, and Iraq. Currently Chief Field Investigator with the Dallas County Medical Examiner, Dallas, Texas, Mr. Gaubatz created Gaubatz Arabic & Counterterrorism Lecture Services in December, 2004.

"There are four sites I identified in southern Iraq. Two are within the city limits, one about 20 miles south of Nasiriyah (in the vicinity of Suk Ash Shuyakh), and another near the port of Umm Qasr (near Basrah). Three agents and I identified these sites. We had multiple sources, from various backgrounds, and who had access to the information."

"I have provided detailed information to Congressman Pete Hoekstra and Congressman Curt Weldon. The 15 plus pages of detailed information I provided to them leaves no doubt accurate and verifiable intelligence was obtained about WMD in southern Iraq. I not only provided them names, addresses, and phone numbers of Iraqis who can confirm the WMDs, but also the Russian and Iranian involvement. The latest information was provided to Congressman Weldon during the period 16 Mar 2006, through 4 Apr 2006. I spent several days assisting them in converting military grid coordinates into longitude and latitude, which would put them within one meter of the sites."

"The most accurate intelligence is what is initially obtained by ground intelligence officers. The intelligence myself and other Agents obtained on the ground never reached our President or Congress. The intelligence they eventually received was so diluted and politically scrubbed, that it was often far from the original intelligence we received."

"There was no intelligence failure; there was a serious dissemination failure. The intelligence ground agents obtained what they had to obtain, but they must in the future get it into the appropriate hands immediately without it being filtered. I have no doubt that no member of Congress or President Bush ever got the intelligence myself and other Agents assigned to Nasiriyah, Iraq obtained. I know Congressman Hoekstra nor Congressman Weldon had ever seen this. After the war, President Bush was briefed that WMDs were not in Iraq and all suspected WMDs sites were searched. All sites have not been searched."

And there's more...this is all very convincing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/23/us/23believers.html?ex=1308715200&en=94e2aa34f9ef4caf&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

He (Dave) has revised his Web site to put the nation on notice. "My Web site will remain open," he wrote, "until the sites are searched."

And there were a few late additions to antimedia on the 27th:

"CORRECTION: Late last night Dave told me that Congressman Burgess "did not mention what was found" in Iraq during their phone conversation. The Congressman called to tell Dave that he had just returned from Iraq and to set up a meeting with Gaubatz for August 15th. In reviewing my notes, I misinterpreted what Gaubatz told me about Burgess.

Gaubatz reconfirmed that "Santorum did tell Hannity that WMD has been confirmed at the sites". I'm still trying to obtain a transcript of yesterday's radio show.

CORRECTION 2: I've been trying to get confirmation from Santorum's office with regard to yesterday's radio show as well as details of what he knows. I've also contacted Congressmen Burgess and Weldon's offices for comment. (No responses yet.)

Meanwhile, I pressed Gaubatz for details, and he told me that the sites are not being excavated at this time.

I have no confirmation it has begun..That was the question Sean Hannity had for Santorum..Hannity asked him if it has been confirmed then why haven't you retrieved it..Santorum did not answer..

I then asked what form the confirmation took, since no one has actually opened the bunkers, and he told me "satellite" data. He explained that, by studying satellite data from the period of time when the sites were built and the weapons were stored, it was possible to positively confirm that WMD were stored there.

I should point out that this area of Iraq is under British control, so there may well have to be some negotiating done before any work could start, although I would think that Tony Blair would be anxious to uncover these WMD and vindicate this part of his decision to join the US in the coalition.
Posted by antimedia on Thursday July 27, 2006 at 9:51pm "

I'm sure Tony Blair is VERY interested in this...Dubya too.

[Ken Hoop]

don't the neocons ever give up? Bush & Co. won't go near this because they realize it is more smoke and mirrors,that the WMDs were neither WHERE Rummy and Cheney said they were and WHAT they said they were . Bush & Co are laughing-stocks with a 30% war approval rating and a Democratic landslide in the offing (said as an independent.) Any further "degraded" claims only degrade the Republican Congress' chances further.

[antimedia]

Saul - the MSM has reported on Gaubatz story but not this latest revelation.

[Saul Davis]

PS: Has the MSM reported this at all?

[Saul Davis]

But I thought Bush lied and people died! [SARCASM]; what will the moonbats say now? Obviously, that this was a Rove conspiracy, and that the WMD was planted there by the US. Mark my words -- DU or Kossacks will be on this in this fashion, if they discuss it all.

[antimedia]

I'm getting ready to publish the next article, which covers Dave's three years! of efforts to get anyone's attention regarding the sites. Later tonight I will publish the information regarding two Republican Congressmen who sought to make the discovery a personal bonanza as well as efforts to silence people who didn't want to follow their lead.

[FlooseMan Dave]

This is incredibly disturbing. Not that Papa Sadaam had WMD -- we already knew that because he used them against his own people and against Iran. What bothers the hell out of me is that this has been covered up by Congress. A supposedly Republican Congress. The obvious question that begs for an answer, hopefully the next major project of the blogosphere:

Why?

Lady Alexandra -- is this something worthy of your contacts to pursue? The Big Picture needs to be filled in and all of a sudden, there is a void there.

[liquid]

WOW!