S.RITTER:CIA KNOWS TRUTH ABOUT IRAQ WMD(AUDIO AVAILABLE)




posted: 30-Dec-2005

A PUBLIC MEETING WITH SCOTT RITTER [ 1st DEC 2005]
(Meeting reportage by uneoo@xxxxxxxxxx)

The Archived audio of the meeting now available at:

http://netipr.org/freeiraq/audio.html


Adelaide, 1 Dec 2005: Scott Ritter, a former UN weapon inspector, has
revealed the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) knows about the
fact that there were no Weapon of Mass Destruction(WMD) in Iraq since
1990s. Mr Ritter worked as an American intelligence officer who, after
1991 Gulf-war, had been assigned to the UN weapon inspection team in
Iraq.

Mr Ritter said both the CIA and US Administrations were largely aware
that there has been no substantive basic to the claim that Saddam
Hussein regime possesses weapons of mass destruction. However, the issue
of WMD in Iraq has been retained by successive US Administration in
order to maintain economic sanctions on Iraq.

The United States has invaded Iraq in March 2003 and overthrown Saddam
Hussein Regime from power. The Bush Administration, lead up to the
invasion of Iraq, repeatedly claimed that Iraq has Weapons of Mass
Destruction. Whether the Bush Administration has lied to the American
public over WMD claims is now becoming the subject of many
investigations.

UNDERLYING AMERICAN AGENDA

Mr Ritter said the underlying agenda for Iraq by the US was the
overthrow of Saddam Hussein Regime. He believes domestic political
pressure was a major factor for the Bush Administration to invade Iraq.

A Republican Party supporter, Mr Ritter has condemned the US invasion of
Iraq as illegal and is against the UN Charters. He is also critical of
the Clinton Administration which maintains the US policy for regime
change in Iraq but failed to act decisively.

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY

Mr Ritter said the role of the citizens of any democratic society is not
just about electing a government to the office. The citizens must ensure
the government elected is accountable. Failing, he said, will harm the
basic principles of democratic polity.

Leads up to the US invasion in 2003, Mr Ritter has opposed and
vigorously spoken against the case for a war in Iraq. He is disappointed
about the Bush Administration's dishonesty over WMD claims and that the
US lack of direction on the situation in Iraq. The Administration's
newly stated purpose for building a democratic Iraq, he said, is a mere
revision of the history.

He is also emotional about the sedition laws in Australia. Every citizen
in a democratic society has the right to scrutinize and spoken out
against the policies and practice of the government. Mr Ritter said he
would have been arrested, if such sedition laws were in place in United
States during 2001-2003. The sedition laws in Australia ultimately
discourage the public from criticizing the government.

NO SOLUTION OVER THE HORIZON

Responding to questions from the audience, Mr Ritter said he personally
likes to see the US troops leave Iraq immediately. He said the issue of
Iraq should be handled by truly multi-lateral approach. Mr Ritter said
the Democrats are not reliable alternative for the prompt troop
withdrawal from Iraq. He is not optimistic about the US troops to be
leaving Iraq soon, and said it may take the next 2-3 election cycles (12
years).

The meeting was organised by NoWar SA in Adelaide in conjunction with
Victorian Peace Network in Melbourne.

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