Posted on 07/16/2003 5:37:12 AM PDT by tornado100
The Democrats, working in tandem with their liberal media cohorts, are in a full-fledged feeding frenzy in efforts to demonize President Bush as a twister of truth. They are disseminating the "Big Lie" that Bush knowingly incorporated faulty intelligence into his 2003 State of the Union message in order to justify the Iraq War. What unadulterated hogwash!
When Bush referenced Iraqi attempts to procure uranium from Niger that originated with British intelligence, he was under the belief that the information had been properly vetted by the CIA. There was no subterfuge on President Bush's part, despite the subsequent yipping and yapping that we now hear from his political opponents.
As reported in the Associated Press, CIA Director George Tenet accepts full responsibility for the faux pas under discussion, stating, "Let me be clear about several things right up front...First, the CIA approved the President's State of the Union address before it was delivered. Second, I am responsible for the approval process in my agency. And third, the President had every reason to believe that the text presented to him was sound". President Bush has voiced confidence in Tenet, and apparently has no plans to replace him as head-honcho of the CIA. But where is the notion of accountability, especially now that Tenet has admitted problems with a particular piece of British intel once deemed authentic by the CIA?
But it gets even more complicated. True, a forged instrument raises some doubts about Iraq's Niger connection. But British Prime Minister Tony Blair continues to vouch for the accuracy of the intel in question, claiming that multiple sources and electronic intercepts were utilized independent of the forged documents. The BBC recently quoted Blair in his testimony to the House of Commons Liaison Committee as follows: "The evidence that we had that the Iraqi Government had gone back to try to purchase further amounts of uranium from Niger did not come from these so-called 'forged' documents; they came from separate intelligence." It's salient to note that generating accurate analysis from raw intelligence is both art and science, especially when operating within the scope of human intelligence. The apparent difference of opinion between the British and American intelligence communities represents an intriguing situation, for which there is no easy answer.
Well what are we to make of all this? Moreover, does anyone really think that Blair would have risked his political career on intelligence that he knew to be faulty? No, clearly Blair believed it to be correct at the time - and, seemingly, he still accepts this bit of controversial intel to be reliable. As for Bush, that's another story -- He relies upon a CIA that is now dodgy about an Iraq/Niger uranium link that may, or may not, have existed. Wouldn't it be wise to avoid conclusions until the entire matter is thoroughly examined and sorted out?
Well, that's not the way it works among the political enemies of George W. Bush. The Democrats will smear Bush to the hilt, no matter how tenuous the charge. You see, the spinmeisters never let the facts get in the way of their agenda. And the Democrats are determined to damage George Bush's presidency in any manner they can muster. The smear du jour is that Bush "lied" about intel to bolster his case for war. This is just the opening salvo of the 2004 presidential campaign. Therefore, expect all of the Democratic presidential wannabees to join in the fray, especially if they smell blood in the water. Make no mistake; there are many Democratic politicos and activists who harbor fantasies of a Bush impeachment, a sort of payback for the GOP-driven efforts to bring down the Clinton presidency only five short years ago.
The hoopla surrounding the intelligence community, both here and in Britain, is occurring for one primary reason - the WMDs have yet to surface in post-war Iraq.
(Excerpt) Read more at gopusa.com ...
I guess that GOPUSA has bought the "Big Lie" also, since Bush never mentioned the country of Niger.
Everyone that listens to mainstream network news and the Washington Post and NY Times.
OBTW: Since you buy this part of the BIG LIE do you think that the reference to Africa ment Niger only? Did Bush's pledge of $15 Billion for Aids relief in Africa mean Niger only?
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