Posted on 02/01/2008 9:19:06 AM PST by BradtotheBone
Leading and former U.S. officials have expressed concerns that President Bush has quietly come to an agreement with Iran for the U.S. military to withdraw from Iraq. In a series of meetings between U.S. officials and Iranian and pro-Tehran Iraqi representatives in late 2007, sources close to the administration say that Bush relayed assurances to the Iranian leadership that the United States had no intentions to attack the Islamic regime or stop Tehran's civilian nuclear program.
"It's close to zero percent chance that the Bush administration will authorize military action against Iran before leaving office," said former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, last week.
The sources said the release of the National Intelligence Estimate in December, which they claim was decided by Bush, was deemed as the biggest signal to Iran of U.S. intentions. The NIE said that Tehran has halted its nuclear weapons program--at least for the time being. For his part, sources say that Bush won Iran's commitment to prevent Shiite violence in what would enable the U.S.-led coalition to focus on al Qaeda and the Sunni insurgency and lead to a troop withdrawal by 2009.
Sources close to the administration........
Notice how these “sources” are never identified - if they really exist (or know what they are talking about).
I, for one, find this story suspect....at best....
That George Bush - How dare he engage Iran in diplomacy!!
Leading and former U.S. officials.... read that, democrats
Somebody clearly needs a better quality hallucinogenic.
He would have stole Obama’s thunder.
there was actually some fairly detailed speculation that something had happened a couple of months ago re iran/US. A poster noted a significant drop-off in violence, so fast it had some local commanders puzzled, the alleged movement of carriers out of the gulf (?), and, as the poster described, a notable change in the president’s apparent mood in his public appearances. I will try to find the post but it may be difficult this much time ahead.
This sure would be leaving a bucket of crap for the next POTUS...
Its the Brown Acid again.
Someone in Washington realized that the U.S. had no leverage against Iran because this country has been bankrupted by an Iraq charade that has barely even begun.
So were his border and immigration policies.
How long will it take for Obama to say - “Direct talks with Iran will simply result in more Bush failed policies.”
Reading that crap at World Tribune was like reading something about “GIANT MONKEY’S EATING BABIES BRAINS” while waiting in line at the Supermarket to check out. I feel like I need to scrub my brains now. Just like when getting back home from the store.
So what was that runup on our frigate about then, to test whether the US had really promised peace with Iran?
Whatever. Israel will contain and stop Iran when it’s time.
This is frikking stupid. Look at the source.
Oh yeah. You understand it. Explain it to us some more, especially the “charade” part, Alberta’s Child.
/s
September 6 perhaps?
I wouldn’t be so harsh, rockingsranch. It is where Alberta’s Child gets information to make heads or tails out of US Foreign policy.
You beat me to it. Even The Economist is complaining that the "selective and then mangled message" of the bizarre NIE "emboldens your opponent and sows defeatism among your friends". The Economist!
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