Facts really don't matter:

Josh Marshall (of TPM) directs our attention to a Weekly Standard article, The War Against Bush, that challenges a recent New Republic essay about the Bush administration's dishonesty in the push for war. We took a look at the Standard's article, and were surprised to read the following: (emphasis added)

... Ackerman and Judis focus their analysis of the Saddam-al Qaeda relationship on the alleged meeting between Mohammed Atta and an Iraqi intelligence officer in April 2001. They write: "None of the intelligence agencies could place Atta in Prague on that date. (Indeed, receipts and other travel documents placed him in the United States.) An investigation by Czech officials dismissed the claim, which was based on a single unreliable witness."

But there are times Atta may have been abroad that are not accounted for in these documents and receipts. And assessments of the reliability of the witness vary, with some high-ranking Czech officials insisting to this day that the meeting took place. It's fair to say the alleged Atta meeting was disputed, but it's hardly accurate to imply that officials were unanimous in their belief that it didn't happen.

Got that? The claim that a meeting took place is disproved by records showing Atta was not in Prague, the report that he was there came from an unreliable witness, and Czech officials have dismissed the claim. But that doesn't stop the Weekly Standard writers. No. They doesn't even require evidence for their position. After all, "there are times Atta may have been abroad that are not accounted for in these documents and receipts." Who could disagree? Atta might have been on the moon, for all we know. Or maybe Atta met Bin Laden in Tokyo, after conferring with Marley's Ghost. Anything is possible when you don't have positive information. And simply to cite people, like "some high-ranking Czech officials," who offer an opinion, sans evidence, is not compelling.

posted by Quiddity at 6/23/2003 06:12:00 PM