Lying or Incompetent? Take Your Pick.
News today that the government possessed an intelligence estimate stating Iran suspended nuclear weapon research back in 2003. Despite this, for the past several months the Bush administration has been drum beating about the dangers of Iran and tossing around terms like “World War III”. Today, President Bush had to face the music regarding the NIE and told reporters he “wasn’t briefed” about the information. For all intents and purposes, the leader of the free world said “My dog ate my homework.”
I don’t particularly like Joe Biden. He’s too much of an attention hound for my taste, but his perspective on this matter is none-the-less dead on:
“Are you telling me a president that’s briefed every single morning, who’s fixated on Iran, is not told back in August that the tentative conclusion of 16 intelligence agencies in the U.S. government said they had abandoned their effort for a nuclear weapon in ’03?” Biden asked in a conference call with reporters.”
If George W. Bush “wasn’t briefed” about the current state of Iran’s efforts or lack thereof to obtain nuclear weapons, who was? Isn’t it the President’s job to know which countries are really a threat and which are just paying lip service? Isn’t he the Decider in Chief?
Bush is lying. Again. Anyone who says differently is selling something.
UPDATE: Joe Scarborough agrees with me. The conclusion is really inescapable.
UPDATE II: Well what do you know? CNN now reports that Bush was informed in August that Iran had indeed suspended their nuclear program. So according to the White House’s own press release, Bush was lying. At the very least, he wasn’t being truthful when he said he “wasn’t briefed”. I am speechless.
Yes, but it doesn’t mean he isn’t incompetent, too. 🙂
Have people lost the ability to think? Do you not realize that Bush is being villianized because he acted on what was given to him by these very same intelligence agencies. Those who oppose Bush, now say that he deceived us and used information from intelligence agencies to justify the invasion of Iraq. Now that this most recent report is available, Bush’s opposers accept it as fact. Why are these same agencies more trustworthy now than when Bush relied on them before the Iraq invasion? Bush’s enemies find them more reliable only because they align with their current agendas. A little consitsency would be nice.
Now don’t hurt yourselves trying to think about this next point…
This report says that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003. Can you people think of anything that happened in 2003? It’s ok, take it slow… we don’t want anyone to strain themselves.
That’s right! The U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003. Interesting that Iran halted the development of nuclear weapons just as the U.S. was invadeing it’s neighbor over the threat of WMDs.
Maybe invading Iraq wasn’t such a bad idea… when you look at it from more than one viewpoint.
“Maybe invading Iraq wasn’t such a bad idea… when you look at it from more than one viewpoint.”
I totally agree. If the invasion of Iraq was the driving force behind why Iran stopped developing weapons, then it will be the single best thing to come out of the entire affair. We’ll have to wait and see if the facts in this area point to this conclusion.
As far as Bush’s “enemies” go, do you honestly think that the entire intelligence community is now involved in a vast “left wing” conspiracy to discredit him? That thousands of agents, managers and intelligence gatherers have it in their power to manipulate facts, figures and history all to the detriment of Bush? That’s a pretty tall order no matter what side of the issue you’re on.
I am in no way suggesting that the intelligence community issued this report with intent to discdredit Bush. What I was poinitng out, was the inconsistency of politicians. The democratic response was a little too enthusiastic considering how untrusting they were of the previous intelligence reports that said Iran AND Iraq were potential nuclear threats.
By the way I’m impressed with your calm, thoughtful response to all of my sarcasm.
Has it occured to anyone that the reason that Iran has gotten so strong is because Bush removed Saddam, who’s government was a counterforce to that country? This Administration has not once ever thought about the consequences of it’s actions. Is it any surprise that Bush has ignored the facts about Iran’s nuclear program because they weren’t what he wants them to be? After all, he lied through his teeth to get us into this war with Iraq.
Bush’s response to this was that he wouldn’t take off the table a preemptive military action against Iran. When did it get onto the table in the first place?!
This guy’s first reaction to everything is to go to war. He does what he wants and could care less about facts or consequences. He acts in direct opposition to the will of the American People. He really must think it doesn’t matter what the People think.
Only those who are not intelligent would disregard intelligence reports. If you point to the intelligence reports on Iraq, check your facts first before you base your argument on that.
If you still support Bush now, you’re in a minority analogous to those who supported Nixon when he resigned from office in disgrace.
Having nothing left but a legacy of shame, he must think he has nothing to lose by acting like a crazy dictator.
WE THE PEOPLE deserve better than this!
May God save the United States of America.
I agree with Patriot’s comments. When Biden was pressed today to back up his statements, his spokesperson Elizabeth Alexander, said National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley told them President Bush was briefed earlier. When Hadley was told of this, he said he never talked to Biden, and also reconfirmed what the President said. So who is lying now!!!
Patriot may prefer to focus on his perceived inconsitencies among politicians because it avoids the thrust of Ged’s post: why does George Bush lie to us?
This is just more of the lying and “bull” we have come to expect from George Bush. However I haven’t heard anything yet about “impeachment” of “W”. If he doesn’t deserve that, maybe we should reexamine the criteria for the impeachment of the President of the United States.
There is no telling how much more damage he can cause in the final year of his term.
(editor note: edited for all caps)
I started to make a comment and then realized whose blog I was reading and deleted what I had written. A wall is a wall is a wall. BB
Brenda,
I guess you didn’t hear a thing I said to you over at Sam’s blog on the subject. That’s too bad. I thought you might actually try to see the other side of the argument for once. To put yourself in the other person’s shoes. I see I was wrong.