# And the October surprise goes to... **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 26, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234 "2004-10-26T14:41:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![emarkp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@emarkp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emarkp)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/1 "2004-10-26T14:41:30Z")
the IAEA. That’s right, we have a UN agency trying to affect the US election. As reported [here](http://www.drudgereport.com/nbcw.htm), the story we’ve all heard about missing explosives in Iraq is over 18 months old. NBC is reporting that when US troops first arrived in Baghdad, the explosives were already gone. So the front page news on every newspaper is actually just a hit piece from the UN. After the UN has made itself obsolete by its inaction in Iraq and the Sudan, has proven scandal-ridden with the food-for-oil debacle, and is now trying to influence US elections, I hope we’ll have the will to finally disband the corrupt institution. And I hope the media outlets who jumped on this story will correct it before the election, but I’m not holding my breath. ---
**Author:** ![SpartanDC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@SpartanDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpartanDC)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/2 "2004-10-26T14:48:29Z")
I agree that it could be the October Surprise, but I find the spin you’re putting on it to be excessively partisan. This from the New York Times, which along with CBS, originally reported the story: > [@](#): > > United Nations weapons inspectors had monitored the explosives for many years, but **White House and Pentagon officials acknowledge that the explosives vanished sometime after the American-led invasion last year.** Are you sure you didn’t just hear NBC wrong? Was NBC quoting their own reporting, or a source trying to argue the White House bore no responsibility? Also, I think William Rhenquist’s thyroid cancer might be a bit of an October Surprise, too. But both Rhenquist’s cancer and Al Qaqaa can only help Kerry. (Not to mention a small deluge of crappy economic news over the past month… watch that stock market keep on tumblin’ folks.) ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/3 "2004-10-26T14:51:39Z")
**emarkp:** \*As reported here, the story we’ve all heard about missing explosives in Iraq is over 18 months old. \* See the current “al-Qaqqa” thread for a lengthy discussion of this. However, I have to say that even if it were true, if the Administration really was aware of these missing armaments a year and a half ago, they have only themselves to thank that the information is coming out now. If they’ve been trying to hide the facts to avoid bad PR, I can’t really feel sorry for them if somebody else drags the facts into the light of day at an awkward moment. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/4 "2004-10-26T14:52:41Z")
> [@SNenc](#): > > I agree that it could be the October Surprise, but I find the spin you’re putting on it to be excessively partisan. There’s also no debate. In any case, what Drudge was breathlessly reporting was also on the CNN web site earlier this morning. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/5 "2004-10-26T14:58:13Z")
I think it’s the Iraqi interm gov’ts Oct. suprise. The [original NYT story](http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/25/international/middleeast/25bomb.html?oref=login&hp&ex=1098763200&en=fd35fdf4b6d46d61&ei=50) was released because the interm gov’t annonced that the weapons were missing. The IAEA had discussed the matter with the White House, but they didn’t break the story to the press. It was the interm gov’ts announcement that led to the press coverage. Also note from the story that the site with the explosives was only a medium priority site. Some other, higher priority sites were also not secured. The mind boggles at else might have been looted. Perhaps before we disband the UN, we should have allowed its weapon inspectors to help us secure these sites after the invasion. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/6 "2004-10-26T16:17:01Z")
Actually, the true October Surprise is [right here](http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41106). It should hit the national news tomorrow. The Swift Boat Vets are behind it, of course. ---
**Author:** ![SpartanDC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@SpartanDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpartanDC)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/7 "2004-10-26T16:36:42Z")
> [@Fiver](#): > > Actually, the true October Surprise is [right here](http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41106). > > It should hit the national news tomorrow. > > The Swift Boat Vets are behind it, of course. SBVFT? Dude, that’s _so_ August 2004, and it’s already, like, late October. 😉 No one’s listening to what they have to say anymore. Notice that their last ad was up and running with nary a peep from the press, since it was all old news that no one cared about, and the group has been widely discredited. As for a pro-Bush October Surprise, there’s still time for a terror alert. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/8 "2004-10-26T16:59:11Z")
I hope you’re right, **SNenc**. I really do. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/9 "2004-10-26T17:15:10Z")
> [@emarkp](#): > > I hope we’ll have the will to finally disband the corrupt institution. Please. The righties like to beat up on the UN but Bush goes running to it for help whenever his nation-building plans go south. They go on and on about how irrelevant and obsolete the UN is but everytime someone questions the reasons Bush went to war in Iraq they start quoting UN resolutions chapter and verse. They go on and on about how corrupt the UN is and there’s Colin Powell trying to spin some yarn about anthrax and drones that he and everyone else knows is utter bullshit. Some example we’re setting. The UN is no more or less corrupt than we are. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/10 "2004-10-26T17:22:31Z")
> [@Fiver](#): > > Actually, the true October Surprise is [right here](http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41106). > > It should hit the national news tomorrow. > > The Swift Boat Vets are behind it, of course. I’m not sure if National news will pick that one up without thouroghly checking it out first. The SBVs have lost a bit of their credibility. I could see FOX reporting it as an unsubstantiated claim though, just to get it some air time. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Niceguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mr.Niceguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Niceguy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/11 "2004-10-26T17:30:52Z")
> [@SNenc](#): > > SBVFT? Dude, that’s _so_ August 2004, and it’s already, like, late October. 😉 No one’s listening to what they have to say anymore. Notice that their last ad was up and running with nary a peep from the press, since it was all old news that no one cared about, and the group has been widely discredited. > > As for a pro-Bush October Surprise, there’s still time for a terror alert. I find it very odd that the fact of Kerry working for _Peace_ is somehow construed as a bad thing. What a load of crap. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/12 "2004-10-26T17:57:37Z")
> [@](#): > > But why were they unearthed now, just one week before the Nov. 2 election? > > Corsi insisted the timing was unintentional. :rolleyes: Jerry Corsi was on the radio last week trying to get a ‘bombshell’ story out about a conspiracy between Kerry, his Iranian fundraiser, the Iranian “mad Mullahs” as Corsi continuously referred to them, and Kerry’s nuclear fuel proposal. thud. I expect this will get the same traction. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/13 "2004-10-26T21:55:12Z")
Isn’t Cosi the Nazi Freeper who posted a bunch of racist, white supremacist ravings on the Fee Republic message boards? There’s a credible source. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![AZCowboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/97f17d/32.png) [@AZCowboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AZCowboy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/14 "2004-10-26T23:22:53Z")
> [@](#): > > _From the OP:_ > NBC is reporting that when US troops first arrived in Baghdad, the explosives were already gone. Cite? I mean, from NBC, not from Drudge or some other third party. ---
**Author:** ![Airblairxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Airblairxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airblairxxx)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/15 "2004-10-26T23:28:23Z")
Everything you need to know about Al Qa Qaa is right [here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=282764) ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/16 "2004-10-26T23:34:32Z")
> [@AZCowboy](#): > > Cite? I mean, from NBC, not from Drudge or some other third party. Both NBC and Drudge have taken down the story, as it became apparent that the army unit in question, with NBC embedded reporters, was merely in the area where the explosives were stored for a “pit stop” of a few hours. They didn’t see any explosives, but they weren’t looking for any explosives. Apparently CNN is still running with the story and quoting NBC as their source. Josh Marshall of[Talking Points Memo](http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com) is doing a decent job of documenting the ebb and flow of this story. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/17 "2004-10-26T23:36:02Z")
NBC is now saying they didn’t inspect squat, so the idea that drudge is pushing: that the explosives were definately gone when they got there is bull. US Troops were there before that anyway, though they were apparently too shorthanded to secure the site and check it… which itself partly the whole point. Still not clear exactly when the explosives vanished, but it’s quite certain that a) this was some pretty important stuff that should have been destroyed or protected b) the invasion and making the IAEA leave opened it up to fall into the wrong hands. ---
**Author:** ![AZCowboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/97f17d/32.png) [@AZCowboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AZCowboy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/18 "2004-10-27T03:58:42Z")
**Airblairxxx** and **Atticus Finch** , yes, of course, thank you. It just seemed a bit strange for the OP to cite Drudge regarding what another media organization is reporting. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/19 "2004-10-27T04:31:38Z")
> [@emarkp](#): > > And the October surprise goes to… > > the IAEA. Why blame the IAEA, when the ultimate source of the information is the sovereign government of Iraq, and Ayad Allawi? First we had the missing explosives, and now Allawi is saying that coalition troops exhibited [great negligence](http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/middleeastreports/s_266269.html) in the death of 50 Iraqi soldiers. It’s beginning to sound like our puppet in Iraq has his knives out for the president. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234/20 "2004-10-27T04:48:34Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Why blame the IAEA, when the ultimate source of the information is the sovereign government of Iraq, and Ayad Allawi? > First we had the missing explosives, and now Allawi is saying that coalition troops exhibited [great negligence](http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/middleeastreports/s_266269.html) in the death of 50 Iraqi soldiers. It’s beginning to sound like our puppet in Iraq has his knives out for the president. Maybe the October surprise will be Allawi endorsing Kerry.🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-october-surprise-goes-to/271234.md?page=2)