The Invisible Hand

Does Scott Ritter Have Something to Hide?

I think one of the most intriguing questions regarding Iraq is why has Scott Ritter changed his views on Saddam Hussein so suddenly and completely.

You may recall that Ritter resigned from the UN weapons inspection team in 1998 saying that the Iraqis were thwarting inspections, that they were months away from developing nuclear weapons and that the Clinton Administration must confront the regime with force in order to gain compliance. (See my earlier, highly perceptive post.)


Today, of course, he denies this. He says he was totally wrong and that the Bush Administration’s confrontation with Iraq is unjustified because the regime has no weapons.

What’s changed between then and now? Could it possibly be that the Iraqi regime has some clandestine influence over Ritter?

Today the New York Daily News reports that Ritter was secretly arrested and prosecuted in 2001 as part of an Internet sex sting operation.

Ritter’s case was been sealed . . . so sealed in fact that Albany District Attorney Paul Clyne fired the Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Preiser last week for failing to inform him of the case against Ritter.

What if the Iraqis knew of Ritter’s unusual sexual predisposition? Would they have maintained his confidence?

Perhaps . . . for a price.

More: Here is additional coverage and video from an NBC affiliate station in Albany, NY.

More, More: The Albany Times Union says this wasn't the first time Ritter was caught. Let's see how long it takes for this story to go national.