[Wordsmith]

As a refresher, here are the quotes from Condi Rice:

“There clearly are contacts between al-Qaida and Iraq that can be documented; there clearly is testimony that some of the contacts have been important contacts and that there’s a relationship here,” Rice said.

She said much of the information was coming from al-Qaida operatives captured since the Sept. 11 terrorist hijackings. This included several senior leaders whom the U.S. alleges organized terrorist attacks.

“We clearly know that there were in the past and have been contacts between senior Iraqi officials and members of al-Qaida going back for actually quite a long time,” Rice said.

“We know too that several of the (al-Qaida) detainees, in particular some high-ranking detainees, have said that Iraq provided some training to al-Qaida in chemical weapons development.”

I don't have the full transcript, so I'm not sure who the "we" is that she's referring to. I assume she means the Administration security staff.

Do you believe her? Yes, no, or undecided?

I say "yes." I can respect "undecided." But I don't see how anyone not unthinkingly opposed to the Administration can say "no."

[rightwing2]

I believe that the Adminstration has every intention of taking on Iran. Thus their inclusion in the "Axis of Evil." So it doesn't seem to me that you disagree with the Administration regarding the overall goal regarding Iran, only the timing and the structure of the war strategy against them. Do you acknowledge that it is possible that the Administration plan vis-a-vis Iran is to isolate them (in part by removing Saddam from power) and covertly foment the ongoing internal dissent that has manifested in student uprisings?

The President has promised the Ayatollahs of Iran and the Stalinist dictator of North Korea, which he is aiding, that the US will not attack them. I take the President at his word. However, I have read reports that the Administration may have a covert plan to go after Iran next and if true, I for one would welcome that. However, I think if they think their plan to overthrow the ruling regimes in Iran or Iraq by anything other than a large-scale US military invasion then I think they are going to be seriously dissapointed.

Do you believe her? Yes, no, or undecided?

Well, in all honesty I would have to say that I am undecided as to whether I believe her or not. I am not certain if she is or is not telling the truth based on my view that the Administration is hyping up the Iraq threat to the US, which is far less than Iran, North Korea, Communist China and Russia. I find her credibility in doubt. However, I do not believe that there Iraq has been positively linked to any actual or attempted attacks against US territory and nothing Condi is saying here seems to confirm otherwise.