'Hubris: The Selling of the Iraq War' — news media must share blame

'Hubris: The Selling of the Iraq War' — a documentary special hosted by Rachel Maddow, airs tonight, 9 p.m. ET on MSNBC.

The news media are as much to blame as the Bush administration — read the article published by The Wisdom Fund on November 19, 2001 in which Enver Masud wrote:

In an October 1999 interview, former United Nations Special Commission chief inspector Scott Ritter said, "Iraq has been disarmed. Iraq today possesses no meaningful weapons of mass destruction." Ritter also said that Iraq does not currently possess the capability to produce or deploy chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. Iraq's neighbor, Israel, is known to possess such weapons.

Why wasn't U.S. news media following up on Ritter's reports? MSNBC's Chris Matthews is reported to have had a hand in the firing of Phil Donahue for providing "a home for the liberal anti-war agenda".

Sen. Robert C. Byrd's speech, on the eve of the Iraq war, is worth reading. Here's an excerpt:

Instead of reasoning with those with whom we disagree, we demand obedience or threaten recrimination. Instead of isolating Saddam Hussein, we seem to have isolated ourselves. We proclaim a new doctrine of preemption which is understood by few and feared by many. We say that the United States has the right to turn its firepower on any corner of the globe which might be suspect in the war on terrorism. We assert that right without the sanction of any international body. As a result, the world has become a much more dangerous place.

We flaunt our superpower status with arrogance. We treat UN Security Council members like ingrates who offend our princely dignity by lifting their heads from the carpet. Valuable alliances are split. After war has ended, the United States will have to rebuild much more than the country of Iraq. We will have to rebuild America's image around the globe.

U.S. news media largely ignored Sen. Byrd.

The Iraq war was the "Supreme International Crime" as defined by former Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, chief U.S. prosecutor at the first Nuremberg trial.

Trial of alleged 9/11 mastermind: letter to defense attorney David Nevin containing evidence sufficient to acquit his client

OPEN LETTER

Mr David Nevin

Nevin, Benjamin, McKay & Bartlett LLP

P.O. Box 2772 

Boise, Idaho 83701

Mr. Nevin

On August 23, 2013, I sent you an email with incontrovertible evidence that the September 11, 2001 attacks couldn't possibly have been masterminded by Muslims.

2000+ military, intelligence, industry professionals do not believe the official account of 9/11 -- http://www.twf.org/News/Y2011/0911-Muslims.html and many are willing to testify to that.

I have summarized enough facts to acquit your client in my brief book "9/11 Unveiled" and other exhibits on the Internet. I have presented this evidence to thousands in talks here and abroad. The audiences have found the evidence convincing.

This evidence has been mailed to President Obama -- http://www.twf.org/News/Y2012/0815-Obama.pdf and the Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court -- http://www.twf.org/News/Y2012/1001-OTPICC.pdf . I received confirmation that this evidence now resides in the archives of the ICC, and is available at the links embedded in the preceding.

I understand that you "joined with legendary trial lawyer Gerry Spence in the successful defense of Geoffrey Fieger". I admire Gerry Spence's defense of the underdog, and corresponded with him -- perhaps around 10 years ago. 

How can you, in good conscience, ignore the facts, presented by so many highly-qualified individuals, who contradict the official account?

I am prepared to assist you without fee. I can be reached at 202-xxx-xxxx.

Enver Masud

Founder & CEO

The Wisdom Fund

www.twf.org

Is attorney David Nevin serious about defending his client, the alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed?

Ref. Alleged 9/11 plotter disrupts testimony of Pentagon official at Guantánamo by Carol Rosenberg, Miami Herald

If David Nevin were serious about defending his client, he would have followed up on my email of August 23, 2012 (inserted below).

Mr David Nevin
Nevin, Benjamin, McKay & Bartlett LLP
P.O. Box 2772
Boise, Idaho 83701

KSM couldn't possibly have masterminded 9/11. 2000+ military, intelligence, industry professionals do not believe the official account of 9/11 -- read what some of them say at http://www.twf.org/News/Y2011/0911-Muslims.html

I have assembled the evidence against the official account at our website, and mailed it to President Obama and others. You may view the evidence by following the links in this letter to the president http://www.twf.org/News/Y2012/0815-Obama.pdf

I have presented earlier versions of this evidence in a 3-week lecture tour of South Africa where I gave talks daily to audiences as large as 1000, appeared on satellite TV, and national radio SAfm.

Enver Masud

Founder & CEO
The Wisdom Fund