Dear friends:

Just before the Presidential election in November, astute reporter Bill Gertz of The Washington Times broke the news that evidence had been found that Russian special forces had helped remove Saddam's WMDs just before the war.

This was truly a bombshell revelation, especially in view of the attacks against President Bush because no weapons in Iraq had been found.  Oddly, the mainstream media virtually ignored the story.  If they were really interested in news, it should have sent them feverishly digging.  It didn't happen, probably because they didn't want to give credence to any story that might help Bush's reelection.  They probably also hate The Washington Times because of the Times conservative bent and would not want to credit them.

I have been very puzzled and concerned at the silence concerning this blockbuster story, even from the Bush administration.  With the administration, my only guess is that there is a desire not to upset the diplomatic apple cart with Russia's Putin at this time.

UPDATE: There is a follow-up story today by Bill Gertz at http://www.washtimes.com/national/20041229-113041-1647r.htm .

Unfortunately, the man inside the Pentagon who gave Gertz the story, Undersecretary John A. Shaw, got fired "for exceeding his authority" in disclosing the information!

Also unfortunately, the substance of this revelatory story is still being ignored, by both the media and the administration.  It should be front page!

If the story is true, it should be shouted from the housetops with media attention at least as intense as attention given to the Scott Peterson trial and other daily historical trivia with which we are bombarded.

Jim