I don't know about you guys, but I'm watching 60 Minutes tonight. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/14/60II/main577975.shtml Ex-Aide: Powell Misled Americans Oct. 15, 2003 The person responsible for analyzing the Iraqi weapons threat for Colin Powell says the Secretary of State misinformed Americans during his speech at the U.N. last winter. Greg Thielmann tells Correspondent Scott Pelley that at the time of Powell’s speech, Iraq didn’t pose an imminent threat to anyone – not even its own neighbors. “…I think my conclusion [about Powell’s speech] now is that it’s probably one of the low points in his long distinguished service to the nation,” says Thielmann. Pelley’s report will be broadcast on 60 Minutes II, Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Thielmann also tells Pelley that he believes the decision to go to war was made first and then the intelligence was interpreted to fit that conclusion. “…The main problem was that the senior administration officials have what I call faith-based intelligence,” says Thielmann. “They knew what they wanted the intelligence to show. They were really blind and deaf to any kind of countervailing information the intelligence community would produce. I would assign some blame to the intelligence community and most of the blame to the senior administration officials.” Steve Allinson and a dozen other U.N. inspectors in Iraq also watched Powell’s speech. “Various people would laugh at various times [during Powell’s speech] because the information he was presenting was just, you know, didn't mean anything -- had no meaning,” says Allinson. Pelley asks, “When the Secretary finished the speech, you and the other inspectors turned to each other and said what?” Allinson responds, “’They have nothing.’” Allinson gives Pelley several examples of why he believes Iraq didn’t have weapons of mass destruction. One time, he was sent to find decontamination vehicles that turned out to be fire trucks. Another time, a satellite spotted what they thought were trucks used for biological weapons. “We were told we were going to the site to look for refrigerated trucks specifically linked to biological agents,” Allinson tells Pelley. “…We found seven or eight [trucks], I think, in total, and they had cobwebs in them. Some samples were taken and nothing was found.”
I wonder how many people directly involved in the intelligence community will have to step forward, like this man, and EXPOSE the fraud that was executed on the American people before Republicans will take their head out of the sand ?
I think this falls under the NO SH*T, SHERLOCK category. This Administration continues to set new lows in lying. Clinton lies, and we are embarassed. Bush lies, and people die.
That is exactly what I have been saying is the logical and basically only realistic interpretation of the events leading up to, during, and following the war. I can't believe that pro-war people keep trying to dismiss the following chain of events; 1) Bush assigns credti to Iraq as being among the " Axis of Evil." 2) Most Americans don't support the war, believe Iraq represents a threat, or that there was any 9-11 connection. 3) Bush begins making the 'case' for war in Iraq. 4) A series of 'intelligence' reports confirming that position begin to be released, all of whci later prove to be false. 5) A series of diplomatic and intelligence officials make statemts, even resign, over what they state is a systematic and ( within the community) open pattern of intelligence only being welcomed by the White House of it confirms their position. 6) Further statements are made about Iraq, implying a connection to 9-11, and that they represent an imminent threat to the US, via their WMDs. We now know that these were not only not true, but contrary to what the intelligence community was telling the White House. 7) Further statemtns, to the UN and Americans, are made citing intelligence about Iraq's efforts to acquire nuclear arms, and several statemtns follow stating that their acquisition is imminent, if not already accomplished. We now know these to be innacurate, and that they were largely known to be innacurate. 8) US support, unique on the planet, swings in favor of the invasion. 9) the US invades Iraq, contrary to global will. 10) Months later, none of the pre-war justifications for the war about WMDs, imminent threats, or 9-11 connections have been established. Most have been disproved, or even disavowed. Much of the intelligence reports have been discredited. 11) Pro-war supporters argue that it's not the administration's fault that they were given bad intelligence, completely ignoring point number 5, which occured pre-war, and before the 'intel' was known to be garbage. Also ignore that, gosh, all of the faulty intel just happened to point one way, asdid all of the administration 'misstatements,mistakes,'etc. All of them...each and every one, supported the argument to go to war. There were no faulty intel reports which negated the argument for war...there were no 'mistakes' in speeches which gave people a false impression that we shouldn't go to war..not one. If these were all honest mistakes, all just bad intel, and this wasn't the result of exactly the process Thielmann stated, what are the odds that all these mistakes, mistatements, and bad intel happened to support the effort to go to war? Seriously, what are the odds against that? Also, remember, not one of the mistakes, misstatements, or bad intel was admitted/recanted until either A) The war was over, or B) It was revealed/pointed out by others. Again, what are the odds of this if, in fact, this was not part of a conscious and deliberate process of manipuation?
More Monday-morning quarterbacking by the liberals. That party is over guys, the time for debate has come and gone. You had your chance to convince the electorate. You failed.
(speaking in a whiny liberal voice) But..but....but...the public doesn't know any better....they just made a mistake.......we know what is best for you....big government.....just trust us to run your lives..... (Back to normal now)... NOT !! DD
You don't know DaDakota at ALL. That's how he always posts in the D&D. And Jorge, we're gonna get a much better chance to convince the electorate. It was a little trickier before we knew your "restore honor and integrity to the White House" guys were lying.
Typical fact avoidance and name calling from the voice of conservative thought on the board. These guys LIED to the American public. Ya, so did Clinton, no sh*t everybody knows that. Clinton lied about a BJ. What married guy wouldn't at first? Bush and crew lied to get us into a war. That is VASTLY different. The American public is seeing through this crap and you guys are worried. You may not admit it, but you are worried that Bush will not get the votes that he needs AGAIN to get elected. I can promise you that the peope who were sleeping during the last election will be WIDE AWAKE for this one. You better pray that the Dems send the biggest loser they can find to go up against the shrub, that the green party decides to run Mother Earth herself, otherwise it's gonna be a serious wake up call when the Democrats can once again call the White House home.
But..but....but...the public doesn't know any better....they just made a mistake.......we know what is best for you....big government.....just trust us to run your lives..... 1) When the public is deliberately lied to by the Pres and his men, it isn't disrespecting the public to say that they didn't understand the issue. How would you expect them to understand? 2) You mention the simplistic conservative cliche about big government. Lying to the public in order to get them to spend hundreds of billions of a dollars tax dollars is an example of big government, so why are you defending it? So sorry, you got your bumper stickers mixed up. Better luck next time.
Are you kidding? Please tell me your kidding. I'm not saying these charges are true, but if they are, that's extremely troubling.
