Washington Post Channels WINEP Again

For the third time in the past few months, R. Jeffrey Smith and Joby Warrick have had an easy time writing their news article. Buried on the second page of the latest installment is

Khan's account and related documents were shared with The Post by former British journalist Simon Henderson, now a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The Post had no direct contact with Khan, but it independently verified that he wrote the documents.

Um, just like the other two, from one of the organizations campaigning for war with Iran. And, as I've said before, even if A. Q. Khan wrote the documents Henderson is pushing, there is no reason to believe him.

The first of these channelings came just before President Obama's trip to China and was about Khan's interactions with China, apparently designed to undercut the trip. I can't find my post on the second one, but I know I did one.

And now, strangely enough, we have a document claiming Khan's collaborations with Iran. Could there be a purpose in Henderson's timing in his releases of these documents? Are reporters supposed to ask questions like that?

I have an idea for the Post: maybe they could have Marc Thiessen, er, interview Khan. Or Henderson, if they can't get Khan. All he would need is a board, some bungee cords, a cloth, and a pitcher of water.

Update: Jeffrey Lewis also doubts Khan's veracity.