View Full Version : Went to War over unread footnote?


BiggestBoxingFanEver
03-31-2005, 12:40 PM
I know we're all sick of politics but I wanted to share this. The following article points fingers at intelligence committees but since when have anyone ever been able to use one source for anything, let alone war.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7331220/

Yes, Intelligence is flawed but so are Bush's decision making skills. Doesn't it bother you guys that we went to war over one source, one document? Even you Bush supporters? "Thee" document that stated the was an eye witness of WMDs. Doesn't it bother you that "thee" source had a footnote that said the information was suspect and "highly dubious"????? Does it bother you he "didn't read the footnote"? All other sources "suspected" or "Believed" Iraq was persuing WMDs but only This magical document eye witnessed them.



Although, "a" intelligence report was why we went to war. "THEE" document (which stated iraq sought uranium)basically cautioned to take the report with a grain of salt in the footnotes and expressed skepticism. So those that say the report is to blame. "Thee" report cautioned the realiability of the info and bottom line it was never read by the administration or so they say.

The commission's report will single out that document, which said there was “compelling evidence” that Iraq sought uranium for nuclear weapons. The document included dissent in the form of cautionary footnotes from the State Department’s intelligence bureau, the Energy Department and the Air Force. A senior administration official acknowledged in July 2003 that Bush and then-national security adviser Condoleezza Rice did not read footnotes in the 90-page document.
To be exact, the statement in "THEE" report was Finally, the claims of Iraqi pursuit of natural uranium are, in INR’s assessment, highly dubious.

I'd also like to add that the initiative to go to war was started by the administration. My point is we went to war over a single report, One source. We went to war over a report with a footnote that was never read, you gotta be kidding me! This report came out in Oct 02. Long before that Bush was looking for an excuse. Read here http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/08/20020816-3.html
In Aug 02 he had already been pushing for a while to pick on Iraq.

I'm using my own words below but it cuts to the chase.
Reports: "Mr Bush not all republicans are concerned with Iraq like you are what are you doing to convince congress."
Bush: "I'm using the latest intelligence." (meanwhile the report/source that says they've seen WMDs and about about iraq possible seeking uranium from a seedy source is a month away and footnoted that the source is skeptical when released in Oct). Bush was dying to get into iraq and just needed an excuse.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/09/60minutes/main592330.shtml

A side note, in the same news conference as above, just shortly before, O' Neil - the secretary of treasury admitted the economy sucked and didn't support another tax cut for the rich. A few months later Bush demanded his resignation for going against the grain.


Additional reading

http://wid.ap.org/documents/050331wmdreport.pdf
Start with Page 110

Bombardier
03-31-2005, 12:43 PM
Blaming bad intelligence is a convenient excuse for the Bush administration. IMO he knew full well that there was little to nothing in Iraq going into the war. The flaw is in thinking that the war was really fought because of the possible WMDs.

BiggestBoxingFanEver
03-31-2005, 12:49 PM
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004...ain592330.shtml

Down at the bottom.

In an interview, former secretary of Treasury (under bush) said he met with oil contractors way back in eary 2001 about explioting iraq for oil.

Most Everything, that O'Neill said in the interview we know know to be true, makes me think the oil bit isn't far fetched.

neils7147933
03-31-2005, 01:06 PM
If you believe we went to war over alleged WMD's, there's not a whole lot you can contribute to a discussion over the war...

Explosivo
03-31-2005, 01:09 PM
The WMD were just an excuse to scare the American people into supporting the war. The war was to knock off a dictator in the middle east to try and start some democracy, hoping that it will plant a seed that will spread across the region. I wish it was for oil, because if it was we wouldnt be paying 2 ****ing 50 a gallon in San Diego.

neils7147933
03-31-2005, 01:15 PM
The WMD were just an excuse to scare the American people into supporting the war. The war was to knock off a dictator in the middle east to try and start some democracy, hoping that it will plant a seed that will spread across the region. I wish it was for oil, because if it was we wouldnt be paying 2 ****ing 50 a gallon in San Diego.

interesting, but I don't think we want real democracy anywhere, including the USA...

Explosivo
03-31-2005, 01:21 PM
interesting, but I don't think we want real democracy anywhere, including the USA...

I agree in some ways, but you know what I mean. I wouldnt want a real democracy in the USA. If we had a true democracy think of what this place would be like if the country was full of the people who we out in front of Terri Schiavo'a hospice? Or the people who want Howard Stern off the air? I thank god we have a constitution.

Bombardier
03-31-2005, 01:23 PM
The WMD were just an excuse to scare the American people into supporting the war. The war was to knock off a dictator in the middle east to try and start some democracy, hoping that it will plant a seed that will spread across the region. I wish it was for oil, because if it was we wouldnt be paying 2 ****ing 50 a gallon in San Diego.

Why was Iraq specifically targeted though? Seems like there's no simple answer. If I had to guess I'd day that part of it is bceause Rumsfeld and his fellow neo-cons honestly thought that it would be a cakewalk over there. They really thought that everyone there would welcome a Western-imposed gov't, even all the people they dumped out of power.

neils7147933
03-31-2005, 01:24 PM
That constitution has been raped as of late. It's interesting that we shout "The terrorists hate our freedom" as we continue to sacrifice freedoms we are alleged to have. It's just propaganda for people who don't think for themselves.

And the oil prices are a scam. Has nothing legitimately to do with our conflict in Iraq, or to do with the Russians, who the media's trying to blame quite a bit now too.

Explosivo
03-31-2005, 01:33 PM
Why was Iraq specifically targeted though? Seems like there's no simple answer. If I had to guess I'd day that part of it is bceause Rumsfeld and his fellow neo-cons honestly thought that it would be a cakewalk over there. They really thought that everyone there would welcome a Western-imposed gov't, even all the people they dumped out of power.

We went after Iraq because we could. With all the UN sactions againt Iraq we had a somewhat legal (some would dispute) way of invading that country and toppling its leader. The UN sactions against Hussein enabled us to justify going into that country. I think we would have went into Iran if the circumstances would have been different and it was Iran that had all the UN sanctions aginst it. Iraq, with all the stories about WMD's and the 16 of whatever UN sanctions provided the US with the perfect starting point for a planned, long term transformation of the middle east.

BiggestBoxingFanEver
03-31-2005, 04:00 PM
Why was Iraq specifically targeted though? Seems like there's no simple answer. If I had to guess I'd day that part of it is bceause Rumsfeld and his fellow neo-cons honestly thought that it would be a cakewalk over there. They really thought that everyone there would welcome a Western-imposed gov't, even all the people they dumped out of power.
It was ripe for the plucking and ......its got the world's second largest oil reserves.

LuKahnLi
03-31-2005, 07:08 PM
Why do so many people here hate freedom?
Don't you know your voices of dissent are strengthening the resolve of the terrorists?

C'mon, freedom is on the march in Iraq. Soon they will be converted to Christianity as well. These are good things aren't they? Why does it matter HOW it happened? Can't we be satisfied that it did?

neils7147933
03-31-2005, 07:34 PM
Why do so many people here hate freedom?
Don't you know your voices of dissent are strengthening the resolve of the terrorists?

C'mon, freedom is on the march in Iraq. Soon they will be converted to Christianity as well. These are good things aren't they? Why does it matter HOW it happened? Can't we be satisfied that it did?

where is the smiley to let us know that your post is tongue-in-cheek?

or did you go to a revival since your last time posting here?

LuKahnLi
03-31-2005, 07:45 PM
where is the smiley to let us know that your post is tongue-in-cheek?

or did you go to a revival since your last time posting here?

I have been reborn in the grace of the lord. :p

I leave the smiley out because it keeps ya'll guessing.

But Neils, how many political discussions have we been on the same side on? You should know better.

I was actually kind of hoping that someone would say that post was right on.

neils7147933
03-31-2005, 07:53 PM
it might be April Fools Day where you live, LuKahn Li...

Atwa_66
03-31-2005, 07:56 PM
Eat Snacky S'mores

LuKahnLi
03-31-2005, 08:10 PM
it might be April Fools Day where you live, LuKahn Li...

Not until tomorrow. This April Fool's day I pay special attention to because Sin City opens then. My friends are making me wait until Saturday to see it. I am going to have ALOT of trouble waiting that long.