The report by ABC News met the expectations set by its earlier report, which I linked earlier. While what they aired did not mention any transported WMD, the partial transcripts released by ABC certainly suggests that Iraq had intentions of deceiving inspectors and reconstituting its programs at the earliest possible moment:

As for the nuclear, we say we have disclosed everything but no. We have undeclared problems in nuclear as well, and I believe that they know. There are teams working with no one knowing about some of them. ...

I go back to the question of whether we should reveal everything or continue to be silent. Sir, since the meeting has taken this direction, I would say it is in our interest not to reveal. Not just out of fear of disclosing the technology we achieved, or to hide it for future work. No. The game has gone on for too long. And now it has become clear to many officials of countries that are coerced to work with America…

The tapes revealed an odd, banal quality to these debates among Saddam and his advisors. They chat in the dull tones known by many middle managers at business conferences. I've had staff meetings with more energy than the droning voices of these tapes. It's just a reminder that evil doesn't require fire and brimstone to be deadly; it can have the cold, flat monotone of cruel efficiency to be just as effective, if not more.

The most humorous aspect of the tapes will be the Exempt Media reaction. CQ readers have already noted that some media outlets have headlined their reports by noting that Saddam warned the US of impending terrorism -- as if no one here had ever conceived of the prospect. It was the primary reason for stripping Saddam of his WMD programs in the first place. It's just another example of the media's ignorance of historical context, a condition that has progressed to the incurable face.

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» Reaction to the Saddam Tapes from Kim Priestap
I was unable to watch the ABC News Nightline Special about the Saddam tapes, which is really inexcusable since I have TiVo. Unfortunately, I had a sick baby and was distracted. Here is some reaction from around the blogosphere: Lorie Byrd of PoliPundit... [Read More]

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