WMD’s Turn up. And the Russians Object!

For those who may have missed it, there was an interesting mistake at the recent US – Russian meeting. Notably the microphone was left on by accident while our Condi was chatting with her Rusian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. The Washington Post reports the incident here: A Spat Over Iraq Revealed On Tape

I think this exchange was the highlight: at one point Lavrov talks about those missing WMD that some Republicans [Santorum et al] say have now turned up. He argues, rightly that if the Republicans are correct, then the international community, in the interests of non-proliferation, need some assurances from the Iraqi and American governments that the WMD’s have been disposed of. He brazenly sticks the WMD argument back on the US. He says the absence of proof of disposal would become a major source of concern. It’s a luscious moment: Lavrov says he’s taking the Republican’s pre-election discovery of WMD’s more seriously than the US, and therefore George Bush, is. Surely this cannot be the case? Surely the mystery discovery of WMD is not just an election gambit? Did Lavrov say any of this with a straight face? Imagine it: “Condi, I insist that the international community be briefed, urgently, by the Iraqi’s and your good selves on the status of these WMD’s. This is a matter of grave international concern. How will you prove the elimination of this threat? etc etc”

No. Surely the Russians wouldn’t stoop to calling the Republicans liars would they? Surely not.