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Explosives

• November 1 -- The Times Finally Checks Out Its Own Scoop
The Times finally questions ("Why is this coming out in the week before the election?") its suspiciously timed "scoop" on missing Iraq explosives -- on the back pages of the Saturday edition.

• October 29 -- Explosives Scoop Vindicated? The NYT Thinks So
"Ammo-gate" again on the front page, in a story highlighting unearthed footage showing the Army's 101st Airborne opening barrels and boxes of powder at al Qaqaa. The one videotape is apparently all the vindication the Times needs for its anti-Bush bombshell.

• October 29 -- "Louder, Longer" Cheers for Kerry; "Nervousness" from Bush Camp
David Halbfinger and Elisabeth Bumiller show enthusiasm for Kerry's campaign: "With Bruce Springsteen singing Mr. Kerry's praises and his campaign theme song, 'No Surrender,' the Democratic candidate told huge crowds, who may have traveled to see the rocker but cheered longer and louder for the candidate, that he was impatient to relieve Mr. Bush of his 'hard work.'" The article's tone became more negative when turning to Bush: "The assault on Mr. Kerry reflected the nervousness in the Bush campaign five days from what is widely expected to be an exceptionally close election."

• October 28 -- Safire Throws Waters on "Explosives" Story
Times columnists William Safire casts some doubt on the origins of the paper's "explosives" story: "I'm a little suspicious of any last-minute charge. First of all, we have to find out, is this true. Second, why, if we knew about it or if it was known for 18 months since it began, why did it suddenly surface the last week of the election campaign. And third, what was the motive of whoever leaked it."

• October 28 -- How's Our Anti-Bush Scoop Playing Out?
The lead story from Elisabeth Bumiller and Jodi Wilgoren on the Al Qaqaa controversy skips fact-finding in favor of a meta-analysis over how the Times' suspiciously timed story is playing between the two campaigns.

• October 27 -- Sanger Still Pushing Explosives Scoop
David Sanger tails Bush through the Midwest and manages to work in his "explosives" scoop.

• October 27 -- "Explosive" Scoop: Firecracker or Fizzle?
The Times tries to rebut the White House counterattack to its dubious "missing explosives in Iraq" story.

• October 27 -- Blowback from the Times' "Explosives" Scoop
David Halbfinger enlists Tom Brokaw in a defense of the Times' deflating "Ammo-Gate" scoop, and the paper pats itself on the back for roiling the Bush camp.

• October 26 -- Times' "Explosive" Scoop: Bombshell or Politically Motivated Dud?
The Times trumpets two front-page stories blaming the Bush administration for letting almost 400 tons of powerful explosives disappear under its nose in Iraq. Grim news -- but is it true? An NBC News report suggests maybe not.

E-mail TimesWatch Director, Clay Waters, with TimesWatch feedback at cwaters@mediaresearch.org