One of the main memes coming from the Left these days is that Bush lied about Iraq having WMD’s. All of the other nations and NGO’s that agreed that Iraq had WMD’s are dismissed as irrelevant. All that matters is that Bush [b]knew[/b] that they did not and went to war, not on bad information but on a lie.
First an example of the irrelevant findings of any non-US nation:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3639977.stm
Denmark has declassified intelligence reports compiled before the Iraq war which show officials thought Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.
In one report, Iraq was thought to have both chemical and biological weapons, as well as an active nuclear programme.
Leftists will tell you this didn’t matter b/c Bush knew that the above information was false and the and his Neocon cabal “cherry picked” intelligence to support the conclusion they wanted. Iraq had WMD’s.
Now, however, Bob Woodward has a new book out. This complicates matters for the intellectually honest.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A22552-2004Apr18?language=printer
When McLaughlin concluded, there was a look on the president's face of, What's this? And then a brief moment of silence.
"Nice try," Bush said. "I don't think this is quite -- it's not something that Joe Public would understand or would gain a lot of confidence from."
Card was also underwhelmed. The presentation was a flop. In terms of marketing, the examples didn't work, the charts didn't work, the photos were not gripping, the intercepts were less than compelling.
[b]Bush turned to Tenet. "I've been told all this intelligence about having WMD and this is the best we've got?"[/b]
From the end of one of the couches in the Oval Office, Tenet rose up, threw him arms in the air. [b]"It's a slam-dunk case!"[/b] the director of central intelligence said.
Bush pressed. [b]"George, how confident are you?" [/b]
Tenet, a basketball fan who attended as many home games of his alma mater Georgetown University as possible, leaned forward and threw his arms up again. [b]"Don't worry, it's a slam dunk!"[/b]
It was unusual for Tenet to be so certain. From McLaughlin's presentation, [b]Card was worried that there might be no "there there," but Tenet's double reassurance on the slam dunk was memorable and comforting. Cheney could think of no reason to question Tenet's assertion. He was, after all, the head of the CIA and would know the most.[/b] The president later recalled that McLaughlin's presentation "wouldn't have stood the test of time." But, said Bush, Tenet's reassurance -- "That was very important."
"Needs a lot more work," Bush told Card and Rice. "Let's get some people who've actually put together a case for a jury." He wanted some lawyers, prosecutors if need be. They were going to have to go public with something.
[b][i]The president told Tenet several times, "Make sure no one stretches to make our case."[/b][/I]
Now, for those of you who are anti-war and intellectually honest (if the two are not mutually exclusive) can you say that Bush lied? If not, Woodward must be lying. If he is, why?
Second question: Can anyone think of a single reason Tenet still has a job?
First an example of the irrelevant findings of any non-US nation:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3639977.stm
Denmark has declassified intelligence reports compiled before the Iraq war which show officials thought Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.
In one report, Iraq was thought to have both chemical and biological weapons, as well as an active nuclear programme.
Leftists will tell you this didn’t matter b/c Bush knew that the above information was false and the and his Neocon cabal “cherry picked” intelligence to support the conclusion they wanted. Iraq had WMD’s.
Now, however, Bob Woodward has a new book out. This complicates matters for the intellectually honest.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A22552-2004Apr18?language=printer
When McLaughlin concluded, there was a look on the president's face of, What's this? And then a brief moment of silence.
"Nice try," Bush said. "I don't think this is quite -- it's not something that Joe Public would understand or would gain a lot of confidence from."
Card was also underwhelmed. The presentation was a flop. In terms of marketing, the examples didn't work, the charts didn't work, the photos were not gripping, the intercepts were less than compelling.
[b]Bush turned to Tenet. "I've been told all this intelligence about having WMD and this is the best we've got?"[/b]
From the end of one of the couches in the Oval Office, Tenet rose up, threw him arms in the air. [b]"It's a slam-dunk case!"[/b] the director of central intelligence said.
Bush pressed. [b]"George, how confident are you?" [/b]
Tenet, a basketball fan who attended as many home games of his alma mater Georgetown University as possible, leaned forward and threw his arms up again. [b]"Don't worry, it's a slam dunk!"[/b]
It was unusual for Tenet to be so certain. From McLaughlin's presentation, [b]Card was worried that there might be no "there there," but Tenet's double reassurance on the slam dunk was memorable and comforting. Cheney could think of no reason to question Tenet's assertion. He was, after all, the head of the CIA and would know the most.[/b] The president later recalled that McLaughlin's presentation "wouldn't have stood the test of time." But, said Bush, Tenet's reassurance -- "That was very important."
"Needs a lot more work," Bush told Card and Rice. "Let's get some people who've actually put together a case for a jury." He wanted some lawyers, prosecutors if need be. They were going to have to go public with something.
[b][i]The president told Tenet several times, "Make sure no one stretches to make our case."[/b][/I]
Now, for those of you who are anti-war and intellectually honest (if the two are not mutually exclusive) can you say that Bush lied? If not, Woodward must be lying. If he is, why?
Second question: Can anyone think of a single reason Tenet still has a job?
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