Different standards based on bias

Many blogs including MichelleMalkin.com are posting about MSM's dual standards. If it bashes Bush, the MSM will take the word of any Joe off the street or notes on found on a napin found on the ground. When it comes to the huge cache of documents taken from the Saddam Hussein and Taliban regimes by our military, suddenly we can't be too careful.

As these documents are being translated and made available, a picture is coming to light that completely contradicts what the liberals and their MSM water carriers have been feverishly working to establish as truth. Some key points they have been trying to establish as gospel that are undermined by these documents are:

- No WMD / weapons program in Iraq (aka Bush lied people died)
- No link between Iraq and Al Qaeda

In fact the MSM has been painting those who link Iraq and Al Qaeda as either misled or liars. Also, in spite of growing evidence that the WMD went to Syria the MSM will have none of it. The documents in question here were finally released after a long uphill battle by Stephen Hayes from the Weekly Standard, Senator Rick Santorum and Rep. Peter Heokstra. There was no way government translators could ever translate all of them, so they were released to the public where an "army of translators" could work on them. The documents can be found here.

According to the ABS News story on these documents the following was claimed:

• That OBL and the Taliban are in contact with Iraq and that a group of Taliban and bin Laden group members visited Iraq.

• That the U.S. has proof the Iraqi government and "bin Laden's group" agreed to cooperate to attack targets inside America.

• That in case the Taliban and bin Laden's group turn out to be involved in "these destructive operations," the U.S. may strike Iraq and Afghanistan.

• That the Afghani consul heard about the issue of Iraq's relationship with "bin Laden's group" while he was in Iran.

Also, there is correspondance giving instructions to avoid, trick and fool the UN weapon's inspectors by:

• Removing correspondence with the atomic energy and military industry departments concerning the prohibited weapons (proposals, research, studies, catalogs, etc.).

• Removing prohibited materials and equipment, including documents and catalogs and making sure to clear labs and storages of any traces of chemical or biological materials that were previously used or stored.

• Doing so through a committee which will decide whether to destroy the documents.

• Removing files from computers.

There are documents discussing Al Qaeda presence in Iraq before the US invaded including statements and pictures of Abu Musaab al Zarqawi.

What is amazing about the ABC story is the need by ABC to add a disclaiming "Editor's Note" warning people that this is not proof of anything. The editor's note under the Al Qaeda states:

(Editor's Note: The controversial claim that Osama bin Laden was cooperating with Saddam Hussein is an ongoing matter of intense debate. While the assertions contained in this document clearly support the claim, the sourcing is questionable -- i.e. an unnamed Afghan "informant" reporting on a conversation with another Afghan "consul." The date of the document -- four days after 9/11 -- is worth noting but without further corroboration, this document is of limited evidentiary value.)

Limited evidentiary value. When does this ever stop the MSM when the "evidence" will harm Bush or conservatives? It didn't stop CBS with their forged documents. Regarding Bush's decision to go into Iraq, we have pre-war evidence existing and now post-war evidence building:

• The intelligence of multiple countries coming to the same conclusion that Iraq had WMD.
  
• Proof that Iraq had WMD without evidence of their destruction
• Iraq kicking out UN inspectors during Clinton's presidency with very little response until he needed a distraction from the Lewinsky affair
  
• Hans Blix exuding frustration at Iraq's "Cat and Mouse" games avoiding UN inspectors
• Heavy pre-war activity between the Iraq and Syrian border
• Recent claims by Iraqi generals and high officials that WMD did indeed get moved to Syria
• Recent claims by an Iraqi general seeing Osama Bin Ladin in Iraq before 9/11
• The mountain of documents being translated and released bolstering claims of Al Qaeda, Iraq, WMD
  

While it is too early to get dogmatic about these recent developments, it appears to have massive significance that the MSM seems very eager to undermine and minimize. After all the effort to paint Bush as a liar and deceiver, they know that proof to the contrary will be a massive blow to both them and the Dems. In that light continue to observe the double standard they apply to this against anything that would harm Bush and other conservatives. It is on the same level and nature of schizophrenia. I am sure there is great fear that their carefully built empire is actually a house of cards.