September 2002. In an extraordinary outburst on CNN watched by millions across the world, United Nations weapons inspector, Scott Ritter, called his old boss, Richard Butler a 'liar.'
The incident happened during a CNN Newsnight programme. Both Ritter and Butler where participating in the debate on Iraq's WMD.
Following Ritter's visit to Iraq, he has toured the United States explaining that Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction. Mr Butler said he was surprised as his comments and told CNN: 'I distinctly remember Scott sitting across from me and some of my senior colleagues one day, and literally thumping his fists on the conference table and saying, 'these people have these weapons, they are liars. We must go and get those weapons,' and so on. I remember that distinctly.' To which Ritter said Butler is a liar.
The UN weapons inspectors chief thought Ritter was referring to Iraq's continuing denials about chemical and biological weapons. It was only later when the show had ended did it become apparent to him that Ritter was claiming that he was a liar and not Saddam!
Butler said that the attack was 'silly and sad.' And continued: 'I don't know why on earth Scott is doing what he is doing. He knew very well Iraq had weapons unaccounted for.'
Many analysts are wondering why Ritter has taken up such a strong position against Washington. Indeed, many of his closest friends are now deserting him.
Tim McCarthy, a former deputy chief inspector said: 'It's very safe to assume that Iraq is coming along with its nuclear weapons programme after the barring of weapons inspectors in 1998.'
Ritter is being called a traitor and 'an apologist for and defender of Saddam Hussein.' But he is unrepentant and said: 'I've got nobody. But guess what? When you stand alone with the truth, you are not alone.'