[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

It would be foolhardy to release the tons of documents and tapes without knowing what's in them. Negroponte's hesitation is warranted. And it says something very good about Bush that he is respectful of the potential national security issues involved. A lesser president (such as his predecessor) would not have such qualms.

It is not "madness", unless you value politics over national security.

[Enchante]

I'm not suggesting such an "uncontrolled" release of documents that have not even been reviewed. I AM suggesting that it is "madness" that 3 years after we went into Iraq so little has been done by our government to counter the critics, both domestic and foreign, who have savaged our standing and credibility in the world. As I said in my 2nd post above, I am not denying there are very serious dilemmas between preserving intel in secret vs. public justifications, BUT I am concerned that keeping everything secret has allowed our credibiity to be SAVAGED and that in fact has grave effects upon our ability to deal with Iran and North Korea, our ability to act forcefully on intel in the future, etc. I'm not denying the dilemma, I'm saying that all weight seems to have been placed only on one side of the scales.

[jess35]

Hussein is no longer a problem. His administration is history. Having the documents released and all the players identified has far more value than hiding it all and trying to play kiss up to people/governments who should be excoriated in the world press.

[Enchante]

"It is not "madness", unless you value politics over national security"

It is not about "mere politics" in the Clintonian sense - it is about whether we can deal effectively with Iran and North Korea when almost all of the world (and now a majority of the US public) believes that Bush/Cheney blundered badly on Iraq. I can't weigh all the secrets in these docs that we might really have reason to keep, but I do know that US credibility has been eviscerated with a large majority of leaders in the world and THAT is a very serious national security problem, not simply a question of domestic politics. Also, if (heaven forbid) the 'Rats re-take Congress or even the presidency in the next couple of election cycles it will be because this administration (which I generally support very strongly) has been so inept at defending itself against the lying MSM and 'Rat onslaught.

[cbkaty]

It would take 1,000 agents 3 hours to listen to the tapes....

Seems this is important enough to call em in for weekend duty.