This was a day of personal vindication for me; I feel like I want to vomit

This was published in September of 2002, six months before the Iraq invasion was undertaken. The book took a simple stand:

"The case for war against Iraq has not been made. This is a fact. It is doubtful in the extreme that Saddam Hussein has retained any aspect of the chemical, nuclear and biological weapons programs so thoroughly dismantled by the United Nations weapons inspectors who worked tirelessly in Iraq for seven years. This is also a fact. The idea that Hussein has connections to fundamentalist Islamic terrorists is laughable—he is a secular leader who has worked for years to crush fundamentalist Islam within Iraq, and if he were to give weapons of any kind to Qaeda, they would use those weapons on him first."

- Page 9 of a laughably short book.

I did dozens, hundreds of radio interview about this book. People thought I was nuts to say Hussein wasn't a threat; it was only a little more than a year since 9/11, and the Bush propaganda machine was ranging unchecked and unchallenged across the entire media spectrum.

Look at a few of these reviews of the book on Amazon:

"In the end, Ritter offer nothing new except political opinions based not on facts, but some other agenda which remains a mystery to Scott Ritter followers today." - October 1, 2002

"If this was a novel, it might be a little more forgiveable.
As it stands, this 'piece of work' (if any real work went into this joke of a book), is nothing but some un-informed leftist spouting-off anti-republican, liberalist nonsense. This author has no investigative ability at all, is somehow ignorant to the facts, or is just a common liar." - October 24, 2002

"It is a sloppily thrown together collage targeted to the 'no war in Iraq' crowd, and does not even feign objectivity." - November 18, 2002

"The book isn't well written, is clearly unfactual in the above and other areas, and, as has been noted by others, lacks a reference or bibliography. It might have been more honest to market it as fiction. There's certainly no answers here." - December 20, 2003

The book wound up as a New York Times and international bestseller, and got translated into twelve languages. Twelve. The world got it. The world got it on the first read-through.

I remember one day that winter, I got a call from an MSNBC producer. Hans Blix and the weapons inspectors had only been in-country a few days, and this producer wanted me on the (I think) Connie Chung show. The catch, however, was that she wanted me to talk about what the inspectors were doing wrong.

"What if I think they aren't doing anything wrong?" I asked. Silence on the line. A short chuckle. A demurral. A click. If I wasn't going to slam the inspectors, I wasn't wanted on MSNBC. This is one of the eight billion reasons I want to break furniture when DUers take that fucking network, or any of its on-air 'talent,' seriously.

I traveled something like 100,000 miles over the next two years, talking to anyone and everyone who would listen. I dove into the heart or Red States like Texas, Colorado, Arizona, North Carolina, Montana, Indiana and New Hampshire to talk about how this whole Iraq invasion was a snowjob that was going to wind up mass-producing new threats to our country.

Gave up my beloved teaching job to do this full-time. Had the greatest relationship I will probably ever know explode out from under me, and I still kept on marching.

And now, today, almost a thousand days later, we hear in the media what I've been talking about since I first met Scott Ritter in July of 2002. The stuff wasn't there, hadn't been there for years, and was in no way about to be created.

Now, today, some more American soldiers were killed while dutifully performing their mission to destroy Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. They join 1,067 other dead American soldiers, and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians.

I was right the whole time. I feel like I want to vomit.

Oh, P.S. The ENTIRE mainstream media establishment owes Scott Ritter a gold-plated, diamond-studded apology. The man was right. If karma had a living stick, the pogues who ran him down and cut him out would be forced to line up and kiss Ritter's ass in the middle of Times Square, simulcast on every network, in Spanish where available.

just ask anyone who warned against Hitler (as Churchill did); they can tell you.

"The Cassandra Rule" is..I've seen this on DU and can get the context but I would like to know the history..thanks.

Cassandra

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Cassandra was a pseudonym of William Connor, long standing British journalist

Painting by Evelyn De MorganIn Greek mythology, Cassandra ("she who entangles men") (also known as Alexandra) was a daughter of King Priam of Troy and his queen Hecuba, who captured the eye of Apollo and so was given the ability to see the future. However, when she did not return his love, he placed a curse on her so that no one would ever believe her predictions. Thus Cassandria foresees the destruction of Troy (she warns the Trojans about the Trojan Horse, the death of Agamemnon, and her own demise), but is unable to do anything about them. Coroebus and Othronus came to the aid of Troy out of love for Cassandra.

After the Trojan War, Cassandra is taken as a concubine and sex slave girl by King Agamemnon of Mycenae after being raped by Ajax. Unbeknownst to Agamemnon, while he was away at war, his wife, Clytemnestra, had begun an affair with Aegisthus. Upon Agamemnon and Cassandra's arrival in Mycenae, Clytemnestra asked her husband to walk across a purple carpet; he initially refused then gave in and entered, not believing Cassandra's warnings. Clytemnestra and Aegisthus then murdered Agamemnon, and then Cassandra. Some information says that Cassandra and Agamemnon have twin boys Teledamus and Pelops, who are killed by Aegisthus.

Homer. Iliad XXIV, 697-706; Homer. Odyssey XI, 405-434; Aeschylus. Agamemnon; Euripides. Trojan Women; Euripides. Electra; Apollodorus. Bibliotheke III, xii, 5; Apollodorus. Epitome V, 17-22; VI, 23; Virgil. Aeneid II, 246-49.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassandra

I'll use ol' wikipedia the next time I want to find out something..I googled it and didn't get anything.:)

Rosy prophesies that never become true.

is nearly always viewed as an enemy of the state. At one time it was considered sporting to hunt them.

In general, people prefer magicians and prestidigitators to actual truth. Hence bush, cheney, and the mainstream press.

Congratulations on the Pyrrhic victory. Damn, it sucks to be right.

or mythology, if you prefer, who was never believed:
http://www.bartleby.com/61/35/C0143500.html
http://www.bartleby.com/65/ca/Cassandra.html
http://www.bartleby.com/59/2/cassandra.html
http://www.bartleby.com/81/3120.html
Bartleby, as ever, is your friend.

as described by Jung:

The great psychoanalyst C.G. Jung coined the Cassandra Complex to describe people who feel they have dire forecasts for the future but are forever ignored. (Think Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2.) Now we have a new Cassandra, and you better listen to our predictions... or else! This Cassandra is fresh out of Slovenia, having only appeared in a handful of European magazines and videos. She's now come to America where she's determined to take the adult world by storm.

ok, that's not Jung. Anyway think Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2.

...it brings me to tears, and I thank you, William Rivers Pitt, for the invaluable truths you tell every day.

don't let up! don't stop! keep on doing exactly what you've been doing because it is working.

you rock!

you deserve everyone's thanks and respect for keeping at this.

of us who are vindicated..and pass the bucket, please!

and there is an ache in my chest and a supressed cry in my throat. Oh the humanity .... D

Trying to get the truth out with the current situation in the media and this fascist administration was/is pretty much impossible.

You and Scott DID try and that's more than most of us can say. Thanks, Will. :hug:

You are not responsible for the pigheadedness of people who are terrified to admit how utterly gullible they were to fall for such a transparent pack of lies from Bushco. You're not responsible for the abysmal stupidity of the average true believer.

They're loud, but there are more of us than there are of them. Your book may well be the one that is consulted in the future on how the country could have been led so seriously astray in such a short time by men who were transparent liars, delusional ideologues and outright fools.

End of rant.

Count yourself one of among many who live in the land of reality. The alternative is living among the fairies.

What has happened cannot be undone.

But we certainly can hope this all makes a strong enough impression on many, many minds.

Anyway, sometimes I feel like a little girl who wants her Daddy to come along and stop the bad men.

i wish we could have made enough people see to have changed the way things happened.

America is a broken place these days.

It is too great a tragedy.

I will only say I thank God there are people like you and Scott Ritter. People willing to stand up and tell the truth, no matter what the cost. Our democracy depends on it.

Thank you.

it seemed hopeless.
Not everyone is cut out for that.

Is this war. You told them. Scott told them. We all told them. There were lot's of us. It didn't have to happen. Some part of history will remember us. I only hope we will get the chance to really hold them responsible and accountable.

Love ya brother. You have a lot to be proud of. You're a Paul Revere of our time.

The ENTIRE mainstream media establishment owes Scott Ritter a gold-plated, diamond-studded apology. The man was right.

My god has it been funny, the few times his name has even come UP since the whole Imperial Enterprise started going decidedly south, to hear pundits disparage the guy yet AGAIN--this time managing to imply that he was somehow deeply and mysteriously wrong precisely BECAUSE he was right.

"Well, yes, but he proved himself a whacko. You know. A nutjob. Fer, like, disagreeing with the (neo)Konventional Wisdom. 'N stuff," is a more or less accurate paraphrase from WBUR's "The Connection" some months ago.

And hey, I've got nothing against self-promotion. Kudos to you, Will Pitt.

the lack of public evidence (the serious kind - not the UN Powellpoint), the lack of logical steps to conclusions, and a lack of a series of rational actions. None of it FELT right. The secrecy, the rush, the illogic.

Even if Saddam had the WMDs - which may be what Kerry and other moderates thought was a possibility - the war was still wrong. Would the US military logistically be in a different situation today if there were WMDs there?

The war was just plain wrong, WMDs or not.

The saving grace is that the Duelfor Report, by exposing the lying liars, may prevent another 4 years of President Cheney.

especially the farce that was Powell's presentation to the U.N. It was a disgrace--one that America should never forget.

(Relatively) new to DU here. Just want to say THANKS and it's an honor to know you.

to me.

I read it and gave a speech in class about how we shouldn't go to war!! At the end of my speech, I predicted that Bush would go to war anyways. I also predicted that Bush would lose the election if he did go to war, because his rosy plans would backfire. I'm sorry that I was right about Bush going to war, but I'm glad I'm right about Bush not winning re-election!

Take whatever comfort that you can in knowing that you told the truth, did the right thing and were on the side of the angels in this. All things considered, a thin gruel to be sure, but thin gruel seems to be The Blue Plate Special these days.

In other news, some that you might remember: Todd Engstrom(UNMIK) is dead. Killed in Iraq, while in the employ of Blackwater. I guess that is another one for the memory hole.

...should go write a "man, these dudes were SO RIGHT" review of the book, being sure to make fun of the idiots who denigrated it in the first place, just for simple vindictive sport. I saw Scott on TV a while ago and he kicked ass. Looked a little tired, needs to watch his diet, but he was quite forceful, direct, and convincing.

Maybe it is time, Mr. Pitt, for you and Scott to get back out there and flog the book yet again. Write a new forward, run it in paperback--what the hell!

I'd rather eat dirt. This isn't a victory lap. I've been sick all day.

...and get busy. YOU WERE RIGHT. They were wrong. Principle means nothing if we are all dead or enslaved. Get out there and use the influence you have to make the point. You may not change every mind, but if you change a few, they can carry your message. Do not give up. It is too important.

BTW, I bought your book, I read it, and I agree with you. But now is not the time to despair.

Just very, very angry. Again.

After all, haven't you heard -- Fighting Evil is HARD WORK! Snicker.

Thanks for all you have done, and all I am sure you will keep doing.

:hug:

That said, I'm sorrier than I can say that it happened this way honey. It's not right and it's not fair that you feel so bad about being so right.

I did read your other book, "The Greatest Sedition is Silence" & it was fantastic! I would say it is the best of the political books I've read this season & I've read several!

and we all learned that there is something worse than being attacked for your rational views, which is having your arguments entirely ignored.

I hold the media as culpable as the administration, if not more so. I'll never forget the first time I saw an embedded journalist. I knew right away what had happened, why ant-war voices had been stifled.

Wouldn't all of us give just about anything to have been wrong? It's a lesson learned for me. Next time, I will have absolutely no faith in the opposition party or in the media to do their jobs.

Thanks for trying, Will.

Some day...some day.

thanks to you.

(or is it 'here here'?, I never can remember which)

In any event:

:toast:


:toast:


:toast:


Nostradamus Scott did not need to be. Only informed, straightforward, hardworking and unwilling to be bribed/cajoled/snookered into drinking the war KoolAid.

Great job Will. This book should be required reading for high school students in a mandatory class on the dangers of Propaganda. (that is, once you get your publisher/copyright/royalty thing straight)

"Here come the wars."

It hurts to be ahead of the knowledge curve. And it especially hurts when those who should be aware, and who have the most to lose are so dumbed down, they can't hear. Or won't hear.

My friend, there are things that are even bigger than this administration and the war combined. And the time has still not come when the discussion of those things can even begin. I've spent many years cringing over some of those things. People need to know that the life they live today will create the world that the next generation inherits tomorrow. It's responsible and considerate thinking that will enable us to all be a part of the discussion.

Wanting to break furniture is a good sign. I know I'm in good company.

in all this. Many of us saw through it, protested, protested, yelled and screamed. But it seems the Media had already put many to sleep. The truth was known well before today. And the liars have the microphone, the bully pulpit.

How can Americans be so uninformed? Is our culture worth fighting for? Consumption, competition, disregard for our planet,

It's people like you that keep us going!

I, too, want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your book and your enormous effort - I don't believe you failed. We probably wouldn't be getting the truth now if people like you hadn't laid the groundwork first. Just think if this report didn't come out until after the elections.

Also 6 months before the war, albeit a minor effort, I stand by it:

Blowback In The Wind

We know that many people in the media are as responsible for this war as Bushco. They are in collusion.

What are we gonna do about that?

Whether it is open for public discussion or not, there must be a plan. The majority of those bastards need to lose their jobs. What to do, what to do?

the same "Media Bastards" who did "Hunting of the President" during Clinton times will be back with "rings on fingers and bells on toes" for another "go at" the new DEMOCRATIC PRES!

It won't go away...they need us to turn like "Freeps of the Left." Yet, they've never acknowledged their "Left" ..we Dems...we want them to just "go away." :-(

So, they do as they please.

This is the main problem, and the main question.

If the same asswipes are in the same jobs a year from now, we as a country will go nowhere. Imagine the presidency of K/E. Imagine what sort of investigations and prosecutions that COULD occur. Now imagine this hostile-to-truth press working harder than ever to thwart all efforts to bring to justice those criminals currently in office (and those currently serving them).

Something must be done, and it better be focused and effective.

I suspect we Dems exist in much larger numbers than even we would guess. I suspect that there are a great many moderates waking up to the fact that they are a bit more left than they thought. I reckon that a concerted economic statement could end up being devistating in a way that the religious right could only dream of at the height of their effectiveness. I believe that when added to other tactics, we could make the media bastards feel fear, and redirect their attention to the forgotten search for truth.

If anyone is actually involved in such endeavors, please drop me a private message, if you want.

I know that there have been thousands of innocent lives lost because of the maniac in the White House but I think that without that little book, we'd be looking at alot more. You and Ritter were the first (or among the first) to expose the lie and it took enormous courage and you did it at a time when Bush was riding high and most people were afraid to question him.

I remember when I first sat down with that manuscript...I thought my God, what is he doing!! But I know you, I know your intelligence and your respect for the truth...I knew you were right and that it was only a matter of time. The time has come but even now Bush evades the truth and his responsibility for what has happened.

I read your post tonight having just come back from a meeting with folks from SwingtheVote and ACT and MoveOn. Let me tell you that the energy and intensity of these people gave me chills. I haven't seen this since the 60's when a motley band managed to remove a President from office because of his part in an immoral war...it is happening again, believe me.

So don't be sick...be renewed. :-)

:hi:

when I saw that on the CNN news yesterday.

I appreciate all of the effort that you and everybody has put into educating others.

And now they are off to spin it another way.....

I had it today too; but obviously you were one of the very few who spoke out when many of us were afraid to. And you have my sincere gratitude for your diligence and tenacity in uncovering the truth.

And yes, the media needs to kiss Ritter's ass but it won't happen. The web of historical revisionism is already started. We can all hang on another month, I hope, when we WILL get a better sense of victory and vindication; and a small, much needed break from saving our country.

but we were not all authors. We were marginalized, ignored, demeaned, disparaged, scorned, scoffed at, laughed at, and hated. We were not PATRIOTS. And those of us still speaking the truth about this misadministration are still thought of as nut-cases. The stupid people of this nation cannot possibly fathom the fact that the government of the United States of America could be anything less than honorable. The people of Germany thought so too.

It was the Dixie Chicks, Will Pitt, Senator Byrd, Scott Ritter, Tim Robbins, Dennis Kucinich, Howard Dean, and others who put their careers on the line for the truth. Most well known figures kept their mouths shut, for fear of the administration's vengeance.

No, we aren't authors or singers or politicians, and we were laughed at. But we ARE patriots! Fortunately, collectively we comprise the majority, and we WILL win. I simply refuse to accept any other outcome!

Signed, because my Phins beat your Pats. We did have a bet and I do think it was the last time my guys beat yours.

because I always pay my bets. :)

I think we made that bet in 1957?

Too be honest with you I'd be privledged to have your signed book on my bookshelf.

Check your truthout email.....

for any info on WMD. When I heard this latest report, Scott Ritter and Will Pitt were the first 2 people to pop in my head. "THEY WERE RIGHT!"

You guys were right, I KNEW you were right and now, so does the world. GREAT book, Will. You SHOULD feel vindicated and I was thrilled to see Scott Ritter on TV yesterday. He must feel pretty damn good right about now. The bastards tried to ruin him. Now, he's shown them all to be LIARS. Sweet.

the pope told them so, the entire free world told them so...

Their hubris blinded them to the truth.

I want to watch the ass kissing on Times Square. Could we make Aaron Brown go first?

It's almost 7am and I haven't been to bed yet as I've been sick to my stomach all night about all the news of the past two days. You've got a lot more reason than I do for feeling that way. But please know that if it weren't for people like you and Scott, people like me wouldn't be here getting an education on what is really going on in our country. Thank you William and Scott, for fighting to get the truth out. And hang in there. You are way overdue for a lot of good karma. May it quickly come your way and stay there for a long time to come. :)

I picked up the New York Times and saw the front page headline "U.S. Report Finds Iraqis Eliminated Illicit Arms in 90's." Subhead: "Weapons Capability Had Eroded Before War, Inspector Says."

I felt sick, like you. The destruction, loss of life, profiteering, and constant lying are revolting. The whole world, including strong voices like yours, was helpless to stop this unbelievable blunder.

Be proud that you were on the side of righteousness. Some who are never live to see vindication. You have a role to play, and you are doing a fine job. Feeling sick about a FUBAR that is costly in every way is a completely appropriate response. If you didn't feel that way, you'd be George Bush (and friends).

:(

Christ said "Blessed are the peacemakers", so you have always been on the right side of this issue. Be happy, not sad.

..This just doesn't seem to be hitting home. It seems like the general public neither gives a shit or they just want to hide their heads in the sand.
This should be in the air at least as much as the splooged stained blue dress.
I haven't had the chance to read your book Will, but I know how you must feel. I made a few enemies in those days because I was being an anti-American, tree loving liberal who just "hated Bush" and would say anything to try to make him look bad. That motherfucker took this Country in to a "war" and lied to the world at the expense of tens of thousands of human lives, but it just doesn't seem to really matter. I am saddened by what happened to my Country.

in being right, but keep at it, Will. Your writing is wonderful, insightful, and, most importantly, truthful. What goes around, comes around, man. Good things will come to you; keep the faith.

Some of us believed you and yet the notion continues that, before the war, "Everyone thought Saddam had WMD."

What galls me to the depth of my cranky soul is that the administration shills from Thomas Freidman to Arron Brown, Bill O'Reilly to Tom Brokaw, all those stupid fucks still have their prominent positions on the op-ed pages and in front of the cameras. There have been no consequences for their gross deriliction of duty.

Meanwhile, the guys who had it right, are still on the margins (no offense). Why the hell aren't some of those pansy-ass icompetents being canned and replaced with the likes of a Will Pitt?

I read the information from you and Scott on www.commondreams.org, which is why I "knew" we were being lied to. I investigated further. I already "knew" we were going to war with Iraq in Nov 2000, but you told the truth, and I heard you.

Because of you, I participated in an anti-war march last year -- my first. I have never given time or financial help to a political campaign in my life. Until now. I'm phone banking, precinct captaining, and knocking on doors. I have bumper stickers on my car, wear a button everywhere I go, and am throwing a dinner party for F9/11. I'm INVOLVED. My story is not unique, and much of that is thanks to you. You and Scott stood up, and the two of you inspired the world.

You did the right thing, you made a difference, and you helped. Its going to get better, but it never would have if those with the data HADN'T told the truth. We needed you, and you were there. I'm sorry the burden of "might have beens" is so great, but you can handle it. Some men bear scars on their bodies and souls from the bullets that fly when they are defending those they love, while others are torn by the painful necessity of telling the truth. Bear your wounds with pride; you are as much a soldier for the world as those in uniform.

I repeat: you made a difference. Take comfort in it, and let the "if onlys" pass quietly away. We would not be here had you not gone there, and a grateful nation may never know the price you paid, but those who do say with one voice: THANK YOU.

Don't ever forget that. You were brave enough to speak the truth in a time when the truth was something to be frowned upon. It depresses me to and yes, it makes me want to vomit too that the media in this country turned their back on every fact and were afraid to cross BushCo. Hell, they are still afraid to cross BushCo and they know that they were lied to. The problem is that they're afraid to eat humble pie and admit they were complicit in this administration's war crimes. They're also afraid to give up their great big fat paychecks. I say that there's a special place in hell reserved for the whole lot of 'em. I know that doesn't make you feel any better but it's the truth, and the truth, as we all know far too well is a rare commodity these days.

I thought your book made a great case and I passed it on to another. Now I wish I still had it as proof of what we knew to be true all along -- but it was more important to pass it on, I think.

We knew, we predicted, we protested, we did our part as citizens, and you and Ritter did more than most and went through more **** than most. Especially with the scumbags coming back and trying to paint Ritter as a pedophile, which is beyond low, and which I'm waiting for them to try the same with our candidates. Because there is no dirty trick beneath them.

But you did your part. The trouble is, this administration is without honor or truth. They never intended to listen. I don't believe in karma, I guess it's up to us to keep on working.

go after Scott when he trying to tell the truth to the American people thru news sources that there were NO WMD's in Iraq? Didn't they treat him like they do anyone who is not in step with their sick agenda?? I remember when all that was going on and read your articles and wondered why more of the public wasn't paying closer attention.

...I really wish you didn't have to suffer so much for it. You were, of course right. I knew that. A lot of us did. I wish the vindication could be more uplifting for you. I'm sorry it isn't. You deserve better.

All I can say - and it isn't nearly enough, is Thank you, Will.

T

nt

and I'm not kidding. My "gut", which never lies, was SCREAMING.

My biggest argument for this was simple: Saddam Hussein was not suicidal. He was not "crazy". He was all about survival. He'd had his ass kicked by the US and had to hang on to power any way he could. He wasn't about to attack anybody, his neighbors, the US, NOBODY. He knew it would have been suicidal.

Then there was the little fact that the UN inspectors were there, couldn't find anything, and the Bush administration would not tell them ONE PLACE to go find weapons. They just kept saying "well we know where they are, but we're not gonna tell the inspectors". Yeah, right.

Thanks, Will. Great work, and I can only imagine what it must feel like to have done all that work and have it ignored. Sucks. Just godawful.

Bittersweet, I suppose, the vindication.

for fighting so long and so hard for the truth.

I didn't know of the existence of DU, or even yourself in 2002. I 'received' my news from CNN HN. I was against the war, I knew in my gut that Al Qaeda and Saddam had no connections.

I have woken fully up since then due to the hard work of DU, yourself and others.

Thank you.