Posted on 11/17/2004 10:59:58 AM PST by Howlin
Looks like someone is finally cleaning house over there!
Actually, it sounds like this guy doesn't know much of anything.
I don't know if this article constitutes the entire interview, but I don't see much to complain about. Yes, he's way off course on the matter of our deep and abiding relationship with Israel, but other than that, look at the time line he talks about.
All the problems, at least the genisis of the problems - all of them - ocurred on the Clinton watch! Richard Clarke and George Tenent are singled out by name as being responsible for screw-ups.
I know this guy actively worked against the President during the election and that is completely unacceptable and he has now deservedly been fired, but I think there may be some things that he is saying that we should listen to.
I've got the book, and have been reading it. Skipping ahead to the conclusion, he doesn't call for throwing Israel to the wolves.
He points out the painful truth, supporting Israel makes enemies all over the world, especially among Muslims, especially in the Middle East. Like it or not, that's the truth.
There's no way to sugarcoat it.
It's also true that Scheuer doesn't like some of Israel's policies, but that's his right. At any rate, the vast majority of the book has nothing to do with Israel.
His main conclusion is that we must accept that we are at war with many Islamics, and that Al Qaeda isn't an aberration. The war isn't going to go away.
We're supposed to believe this man? He was in charge of finding Bin Laden since 1996 and yet 9-11 happened under his watch. Why on earth would CBS even give this guy air time?
First, the end of all U.S. aid to Israel, the elimination of the Jewish state, and in its stead the creation of an Islamic Palestinian state. Second, the withdrawal of all U.S. and Western military forces from the Arabian peninsula — a shift of most units from Saudi Arabia to Qatar fools no Muslims and will not cut the mustard — and all Muslim territory. Third, the end of all U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq. Fourth, the end of U.S. support for, and acquiescence in, the oppression of Muslims by the Chinese, Russian, Indian, and other governments. Fifth, restoration of full Muslim control over the Islamic world's energy resources and a return to market prices [sic], ending the impoverishment of Muslims caused by oil prices set by Arab regimes to placate the West. Sixth, the replacement of U.S.-protected Muslim regimes that do not govern according to Islam by regimes that do. For bin Laden, only Mullah Omar's Afghanistan met these criteria; other Muslim regimes are candidates for annihilation.
And MSNBC and CNN and Fox and NBC.
And nobody asked him ONE WORD about that. Or Clinton.
He was not fired; he quit because the CIA wouldn't let him go on talk shows.
What does that tell you?
Scheuer's list of policy changes is headed by a change in policy toward Israel, a country he condemns as a "theocracy in all but name," characterized by "arrogant racism." He also makes it clear that he sees no reason for the U.S. to continue supporting any of its non-European allies against takeover by bin Ladenism: "For our own welfare and survival, we must 'watch others die with equanimity' and help after 'the flames burn themselves out' by focusing our overseas intercourse on trade, sharing knowledge, and donating food and medicine."
Of course, this might be a quote taken out of context, but it seems clear to me that he's putting it delicately that yes, we should end aid to Israel and not interfere if (when) the Arab world takes that opportunity to obliterate it.
"SCHEUER: I wasn‘t—sir, I wasn‘t in the room with the president and Mr. Tenet. But I can tell that you that the people who were working against Osama bin Laden were assured from the first day that much of the work we had done in the last decade would be undone by that war.
MATTHEWS: I can‘t wait to read all the books of all the guys who secretly opposed the war with Iraq, but didn‘t tell anybody during the war buildup."
What besides "studying Bin Ladin" had they done?..
Matthews wants to be vindicated ..no matter what.
Whatever - Scheuer shall be portrayed as having attacked the Bush administration, so he's dead meat around here, regardless of the merit of his actual case.
Thanks for this ping. I'm just glad that President Bush has evidently given Porter Goss the go-ahead to rid the CIA of this so-called "expert" who now wants to make money trashing the administration that is doing something about the negligence of the clinton administration. Not a moment too soon either.
It tells me he's a narcissist with a pre 9/11 appeasement mentality lacking moral clarity.
"This Kroft guy looks and sounds like a product of the Clinton's fair and balanced CIA."
Kroft works for CBS.
Scheuer did not advise any of that. Go back and reread Frum's article. Those are bin Laden's goals.
SCHEUER: It has to be a changes in policies and a more assertive use of military force.
MATTHEWS: No. What I‘m saying, there‘s no way not to be at war with this guy, from our perspective, is what I‘m asking you.
SCHEUER: Yes. Right now, the choice isn‘t between war and peace. It is between war and endless war.
MATTHEWS: Was there any time that we could have avoided war against him?
SCHEUER: No.
MATTHEWS: So, basically, he started a war against us. We just got to beat him.
SCHEUER: Yes. That‘s exactly right.
Thanks for posting this; you're right, this man is frightening, and it's a good thing he's out at the CIA.
This is the clue to let me know I don't have to read any further to know this guy is a big fat rat!
He'd probably be safer jumping rocks. If he's got a permanent base we will find him even if it's in China or N. Korea.
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