Posted on 07/03/2003 9:00:32 AM PDT by Pokey78
The Bush administration and the U.S. intelligence community have had some success in finding Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction, Sen. Pat Roberts said Thursday.
Roberts, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told reporters on a telephone conference call that he couldn't go into detail because the news is classified.
``It's classified information now _ I am urging the administration and the intelligence community to make at least portions of that public,'' Roberts said. ``We've had some success; I'm sorry I can't go into detail about that.''
Roberts, R-Kan., traveled this week to Iraq and the Middle East with members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Developing...
THat's right .. Thanks for correcting my mistake
Spot on analysis. What is also significant is that the mainstream liberal media, who were in full hue-and-cry about WMD two weeks ago, have inexplicably quietened down. My guess is the Hildebeast told a few friendly flaks, who each told two friends, and so on, and so on.
Can you imagine fun it would be to hear Senator Byrd Brains speech on the floor of the senate about the Bush Lab coat.
So, you're basically having the same dream I'm having????
Well, I hope so. Its just that I heard this before, and then when the weapons info was supposed to be released-nothing happened.
I think that finding the weapons in itself before they 9 Dwarves open their mouths is the hammer in itself. It closes the book, and completely refutes their efforts to be antiWar. Right now, we can't make all of the points we need about the moveon.org crowd that we need to, because of this. Tactically it would be better to but this to bed a few weeks ago then hope that they call him a liar more. They'll call him a liar when he does prove it.
The day after WMDs show up, no one is going to care anymore who the Left calls what, they will then be wrong all around. They don't need to be any wrong-er. That day should have been yesterday.
An ongoing investigation is taking place. They have no ideas "how many bodies" there are and they have no idea who put the bodies where and we have no idea who wants to kill witness. And the investigation officially started last week when it moved to the new group in charge of it.
If we are getting data from scientists/witness we have to be in a posistion to protect them and thier familes. The minute information is released it will be obvious who disclosed the information to Saddam's insiders and they will become instant targets.
If we are getting date from witnesses we need to be able verify the truth. Its much easier to have information that isn't public to determine if the witnesses are truthfull.
If we release the sites before we have assets in place to protect it or destroy it then we risk the press becoming a problem as well as looters. Also, if we have sites that contain weapons we need time to do forensic studies.
If we desire to hold some people involved responsible as war criminals we would not release the relevant information.
If we want to avoid having our sources be attacked by a press that wants to report the story we keep the information close.
In short, the reasons for keeping all data regarding the investigation classified while the investigation is proceeding is the only logical answer. Releasing anythigng even piecemeal is the illogical answer.
I watched the press conference this morning and even one of the worst naysayers(Carl Levin) could not wait to agree to everything!!(like he never said a thing against not finding WMD's)
I wonder how the press will handle all the dim naysayers now? (sarcasm off)
You heard about the Democrat's internet movie, where Bush is creating a Frankenstein-like creature, Cheney is Igor, and the creature is the perfect conservative Supreme Court justice? The mad scientist at work! The democrats love it... but to me, it looks desperate and juvenile. LOL
Settle down, your emotional name calling is the only thing in our discussion that is childish.
In short, the reasons for keeping all data regarding the investigation classified while the investigation is proceeding is the only logical answer. Releasing anythigng even piecemeal is the illogical answer.
This reads like desperate spinning. I want them found too, but I ain't buyin this rationalizing. Piecemeal is the only thing they need to release to the world press before making everything else secret again to take care of all your many concerns with releasing the info. Releasing the "fact" that they already have a single case of them found would not jeapordize your mission, it would make it easier because the people will not have to fear "Saddam" anymore about coming forward because they can't prove him "more" guilty. It makes it easier, not harder, and if they are following your stratigy they are outthinking themselves.
Your childish because you refuse to accept anything that contradicts your predetermined conclusion.
Piecemeal is the only thing they need to release to the world press before making everything else secret again to take care of all your many concerns with releasing the info.
First off, Tony Blair is probably suffering more than anyone on this issue and he annoucned to his press, although they ingore it, that the information will not be released "piecemeal" (his word). So if you think your political wisdom exceeds that of Tony Blair then by all means keep thinking its rationalization. Then you have this artickle were the chairman of the intelligence committe practically begs in public that Bush at least release something piecemeal to comfort his critics. Its unlikely this is the first time this has come up privately. Again if you think your politcal wisdom is superior to Bush's about the value of releasing information piecemeal then by all means keep thinking Bush is rationalising. (Unless of course you think the chairman of the committee just comittedd political suicide anmd lied for Bush).
Releasing the "fact" that they already have a single case of them found would not jeapordize your mission,
Sure it would. Unless you were also willing to provide every detail along with it it would not be believable. Even is you provided general information, a single incident would be downplayed. Then you have the problem witht the press using it as a lead in order to do its own investigation. Who knows what damage they can do.
, unless the entire it would make it easier because the people will not have to fear "Saddam" anymore about coming forward because they can't prove him "more" guilty. It makes it easier, not harder, and if they are following your stratigy they are outthinking themselves. ,
Your nuts. There are people right now killing our troops. They will think nothing of killing the members of a family that eleased information.
One last thing. FWIW, you don't see the press making much of this issue in their editorials etc. Its highly likely that the embedded reporters are aware of information but have been embargoed.
Have patience. You will find out that indeed the investigation has been successful and that we have been documenting and finding weapons since the end of the war but Bush and Blair decided it was better to keep it confidential.
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