# October Surprise Drudge Style: Putin, Iraqi WMDs & The Pentagon - Let the Sparks Fly **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 28, 2004, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612 "2004-10-28T03:13:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/1 "2004-10-28T03:13:52Z")
According to Drudge and a very overtaxed Washington Times Server: [Russia tied to Iraq´s missing arms; Pentagon: Weaponry relocated before war](http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20041027-101153-4822r.htm) Select From The Following A. Drudge is a Crackpot who’ll report any conspiracy - It’s not even a legitimate story B. The Washington Times & Fox News are right wing sources and are ‘Rathering’ Senator Kerry - The only legitimate news is coming out of the NYT C. Putin and other anti-freedom forces in Russia go together with the Bush Administration like peas in a pod D. Kerry’s Fucked E. I Knew This October Surprise was Coming F. None Of The Above G. Most / All Of The Above ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/2 "2004-10-28T03:18:10Z")
I’ll take option D without even reading the article. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/3 "2004-10-28T03:25:22Z")
Let’s see… A) Well, you can’t blame it on Drudge, since he’s simply sourcing the Washington Times. However… B) The Washington Times IS a right-wing source, and one that is much more likely to treat news damaging to Kerry less skeptically than news damaging to Bush. But why tack on the second half? The NY Times has shown itself to be just as biased on the other side. C) If this story is true, Putin’s got some serious 'splaining to do. D) If there’s a God. E) Is this the big OS? Or is something else coming? If this is the best both sides can come up with, I’m disappointed. We need hookers being involved, damnit. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/4 "2004-10-28T03:29:08Z")
In fact, forget the blackjack! ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/5 "2004-10-28T03:29:40Z")
So what Drudge/Times says is that **Russia** , with assistance from **Iraqi intelligence** , moved **Saddam Hussein’s weapons** into **Syria** and we’re just hearing about it now? Dear God, how fucked are we? For what it’s worth the other Times has its own [story](http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/28/international/middleeast/28bomb.html): > [@New York Times](#): > > Looters stormed the weapons site at Al Qaqaa in the days after American troops swept through the area in early April 2003 on their way to Baghdad, gutting office buildings, carrying off munitions and even dismantling heavy machinery, three Iraqi witnesses and a regional security chief said Wednesday. … > > But the accounts make clear that what set off much if not all of the looting was the arrival and swift departure of American troops, who did not secure the site after inducing the Iraqi forces to abandon it. > > “The looting started after the collapse of the regime,” said Wathiq al-Dulaimi, a regional security chief, who was based nearby in Latifiya. But once it had begun, he said, the booty streamed toward Baghdad. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/6 "2004-10-28T04:03:25Z")
If this refers to the high explosives missing from the Al Qaqaa facility, as seems the case (I can’t get to the _WT_ site and AP hasn’t moved anything about it as yet), the OP’s headline is wrong. Destructive as they may be, they are not WMD by any conventional definition. I think so many people here have been making predictions about an ‘October Surprise’ that they’re willing to push just about anything that smells even faintly like a story orchestrated to benefit the White House. Shouldn’t we wait a bit and see whether any outlet other than the _WT_ corroborates this story, whatever it is, before jumping to conclusions? Silly me, of course not. I keep forgetting, the first person to post here on a breaking story wins. Sorry. Here, I’ll play. I submit [this is just as likely a candidate](http://www.drudgereport.com/abct.htm) for an October surprise, also from Drudge’s site. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/7 "2004-10-28T04:21:38Z")
Yes, of course, the only problem with the Washington Times is that they are a tad right wing. Otherwise they have just as much journalistic cred as the NY Times and the WashPost. Sure. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/8 "2004-10-28T04:26:30Z")
I don’t know what this this thread is about exactly, but as a general rule, I pick option C : - Putin and other anti-freedom forces in Russia go together with the Bush Administration like peas in a pod \* ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/9 "2004-10-28T05:46:11Z")
Matt Drudge and the _Washington Times?_ The only thing _less_ credible than that pair is the nocturnal babblings of **Brutus.** Then again, this would explain why Bush was opposed to _mainstream_ news sources in the last debate… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/10 "2004-10-28T08:00:31Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > D) If there’s a God. Does this mean that if Kerry wins, it’s proof that there is no God? All the fundies will be _really_ upset about that! If this story by the Moonie Times is true (_snort, giggle_), does that mean that Russia was actively helping Saddam? Why? Russia didn’t help Saddam in the first Gulf War. If Russia’s helping our enemies, does that mean they’re our enemies again and another Cold War is about to begin? If the weapons are in Syria, Lebanon and Iran (as the article states), will we be declaring war on Syria, Lebanon and Iran next? If they’re not in Syria or Lebanon or Iran anymore, then they’re just as missing, and it seems we’re just as fucked as we were yesterday. If the article isn’t true, is the Washington Times trying to start some bad blood between the US and Russia? I actually went to the Moonie Times site. I feel so dirty. _goes to take shower_ ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/11 "2004-10-28T10:16:32Z")
> [@Rjung](#): > > Matt Drudge and the Washington Times? The only thing less credible than that pair is the nocturnal babblings of Brutus Jayson Blair Katherine Seelye Rick Bragg David Halbfinger Francisco Toro Ron Suskind Judith Miller Do you know these people, what they’ve done, and for whom they were working? ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/12 "2004-10-28T10:23:12Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Matt Drudge and the _Washington Times?_ The only thing _less_ credible… Is someone who links to a _chiropractors_ site as an authoritative source? ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/13 "2004-10-28T11:59:07Z")
While C.) is arguably true, the answer here is most likely A.) M-o-o-n, that spells Moon. The _Times_ is simply not a credible paper in the best of times. Which these are not. We need to see by the end of the day, heck - by lunchtime, much much more on this story as far as Bush calling the Rooskie ambassador on the carpet etc. for this story to have any legs at all. Doubt it. Bush and “Pooty-poot” are ostensibly good buds. (See C.) ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/14 "2004-10-28T12:09:28Z")
Am I the only one who thinks that this story will get lost in all the noise coming from both camps? I’m not being partisan about this. I just think with all the politicing going on right now that this story will get lost amidst the yelling until after the election and the recounts, etc. Why does everyone keep harping about this October Surprise crap? It’s really too late for anything go do much to either candidate. Let’s just be quiet until after the election. Then everyone will have their pick of the October Surprise that buried their candidate. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/15 "2004-10-28T12:43:33Z")
My guess is that they don’t even know that the Cold War is over or they know that the Cold War is over, but they also know that their target audience has no clue about that and will jump onto the “The Communist Russian Enemy Did It Again” wagon like the fools they are. I think the last point is the most likely as it describes the stupid ignorant mind of idiots who are still willing to vote for a criminal like Bush very accurately. Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/16 "2004-10-28T13:03:00Z")
**Aldebaran** , go fuck yourself. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/17 "2004-10-28T13:03:57Z")
> [@cheddarsnax](#): > > So what Drudge/Times says is that **Russia** , with assistance from **Iraqi intelligence** , moved **Saddam Hussein’s weapons** into **Syria** and we’re just hearing about it now? Dear God, how fucked are we? Don’t worry, Sam assured us in the GD thread that there’s no possible way for all that stuff to have been moved at all without US surveillance having caught it. Relax. Couldn’t happen. Or have you changed your mind according to the RW blog / RNC spin du jour, Sammy? ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/18 "2004-10-28T13:08:22Z")
_Even IF_ this story is true, it still reflects poorly on this administration that they allowed the Russians to conduct this operation under their noses and didn’t know about it for nearly two years. Spy satellites? What spy satellites? On the ground spies? We don’t have spies do we? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/19 "2004-10-28T13:23:40Z")
We have intellligence operatives. _They_ have spies. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612/20 "2004-10-28T13:31:49Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > We have intellligence operatives. _They_ have spies. Then maybe we’d better hire some of their spies, since our _cough_ intelligence _cough_ operatives seem to be tripping over their clown shoes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-drudge-style-putin-iraqi-wmds-the-pentagon-let-the-sparks-fly/271612.md?page=2)