Scott Ritter on David Albright: The Nuclear Expert Who Never Was (Updated W/ Link)

Excerpt Truth Dig column (title indicated above):

In that he never has designed or worked in a nuclear reactor, never has designed or worked on nuclear weapons, in fact never has done anything of a practical, hands-on nature in the nuclear field, to call Albright an expert is a disservice to the term and, again, misleading in the extreme. It is not a sin to merely be informed, or to possess a specialty. But informed specialists are a dime a dozen. There is a reason mainstream media do not turn to bloggers when seeking out expert opinion. And yet, when they turn to “Dr. Albright, former U.N. weapons inspector,” they are getting little more than a well-funded, well-connected blogger. If one takes a closer look at the ISIS Report published by Albright on June 16 and widely quoted in the press since then, one will realize that there simply isn’t any substance to the allegations. Albright’s sole source seems to be a single, unnamed IAEA official, bringing to mind Bob Kelley and his role in facilitating Albright’s “access” to the IAEA in the 1990s. The remainder of the report comprises information already available to the general public, or sheer speculation.

Had Albright in fact been a true nuclear expert, especially one fortified with firsthand experience as a former U.N. weapons inspector, he would not have had any association with Khidir Hamza, the disgraced Iraqi defector who claimed to have firsthand knowledge of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear program. A true nuclear expert would have recognized the technical impossibilities and inconsistencies in Hamza’s fabrications. And a genuine former U.N. weapons inspector would have known that Hamza had been fingered as a fraud by the IAEA and UNSCOM. David Albright instead employed Hamza as an analyst with ISIS from 1997 until 1999.

David Albright has a history of being used by those who seek to gain media attention for their respective claims. In addition to the Hamza and Obeidi fiascos, Albright and his organization, ISIS, have served as the conduit for other agencies gaining publicity about the alleged Iranian nuclear weapons program, the alleged Syrian nuclear reactor, and most recently the alleged Swiss computer containing sensitive nuclear design information. On each occasion, Albright is fed sensitive information from a third party, and then packages it in a manner that is consumable by the media. The media, engrossed with Albright’s misleading résumé ("former U.N. weapons inspector,” “Doctor,” “physicist” and “nuclear expert"), give Albright a full hearing, during which time the particulars the third-party source wanted made public are broadcast or printed for all the world to see. More often than not, it turns out that the core of the story pushed by Albright is, in fact, wrong.

you can read rest of Ritter's evaluation at Truth Dig (link above) for complete details of what Scott Ritter said.

My thoughts: 

I have to admit I was a bit shaken by Albright's allegations about plans for a smaller nuclear weapon found on a the computer of a Swiss company (see post Computers From Pakistan's A.Q. Khan Team Offered Up Advanced Nuclear Weapon Plans ) even though whatever information given to North Korea by Khan helped them only produce what most of the world (excepting the US government and some news sources) called 'a dud'.

This guy is an 'expert', right? 

Well, obviously not.  But it's interesting that a semi-charlatan like Albright would appeal so much to mainstream news.  After their involvement with the Bush administration's kept former military officers, it makes you wonder if mainstream was ever about informing the public as much as it was about making great wads of money.  (I'm not saying that many news people themselves are not very dedicated to discovering the truth and passing it on.  I'm sure they think that when they see Albright's name on a list of experts to call, or see his come up with a new 'story' they are doing what they can to get at the truth.  I mean the backend business that keeps the publisher/producer in fancy cars and multiple houses as well as a congealed system where lists of acceptable experts and expert types have been codified to make 'news gathering' as efficient as possible.  Apparently the right wing has gotten Scott Ritter's name blacklisted by mainstream news and have their plant, Albright, inserted.

It is quite possible that repercussions from the latest Albright sponsored "booga booga" as presented to the American public a couple weeks ago is what is making mainstream stay away from the latest allegations that had to be funneled through the European press (Syria supposed plan to share plutonium with Iran) or label it a 'rumor'.   See post  The Stories You Might Not Be Hearing: Israeli Intelligence Pushing Report that Syria's al Kibar Was to Produce Plutonium for Iran. Wants an Attack on Iran Soon.

Okay, so there might be some hope for mainstream after all.  Especially if they continue to downplay the drumbeat for war on Iran

tags: david albright  nuclear weapons  nuclear proliferation  iran  north korea  a q khanscott ritter  

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