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U.S. Report: Iran Halted Nuclear Weapons Program in ’03Posted on Dec 3, 2007
A new report released by American intelligence officials profoundly contradicts President Bush’s claims on the Iran nuclear threat and casts his “World War III” fear-mongering in a dubious light. The National Intelligence Estimate’s declassified assessment, compiled from 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, says Iran actually halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 “in response to international pressure,” and that, although the country still hopes to have the capacity to produce a nuclear weapon, that potential development remains a long way off. Read the National Intelligence Estimate’s “Key Points” summary here.
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By Kevin James, December 5, 2007 at 11:24 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Was Bush Behind the Iran Report?
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1690696, 00.html
This article adds yet another possibility!
Bombing Iran, it seems, is now off the table. There’s no other reasonable take on the latest National Intelligence Estimate that concludes Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003.
But there is also no doubt that the Bush White House was behind this NIE. While the 16 intelligence agencies that make up the “intelligence community” contribute to each National Intelligence Estimate, you can bet that an explosive, 180-degree turn on Iran like this one was greenlighted by the President.
And explode is what the hawks in and outside the Administration are about to do. They were counting on Bush being the one President prepared to take on Iran. As recently as last month, Bush warned of World War III if Iran so much as thought about building a bomb. Bush’s betrayal is not going to go down well. The neocons, clinging to a sliver of hope, will accuse the intelligence community of incompetence, pointing out that as late as 2005 it estimated “with high confidence” that Iran was building a bomb.
Bush’s National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley, put the best face on the new report, claiming that it was our diplomacy and saber rattling that forced the Iranians to back down. As for the intelligence community, it explained its reversal by hinting that new intelligence had surfaced.
Neither explanation is entirely accurate. The real story behind this NIE is that the Bush Administration has finally concluded Iran is a bridge too far. With Iranian-backed Shi’a groups behaving themselves, things are looking up in Iraq. In Lebanon, the anti-Syrian coalition and pro-Syrian coalition, which includes Iran’s surrogate Hizballah, reportedly have settled on a compromise candidate, the army commander General Michel Suleiman. Bombing Iran now would upset the fragile balance in these two countries. Not to mention that Hizballah has threatened to shell Israel if we as much as touch a hair on Iran’s head.
Then there are the Gulf Arabs. For the last year and a half, ever since the Bush Administration started to hint that it might hit Iran, they have been sending emissaries to Tehran to assure the Iranians they’re not going to help the United States. But in private, the Gulf Arabs have been reminding Washington that Iran is a rabid dog: Don’t even think about kicking it, the Arabs tell us. If you have to do something, shoot it dead. Which is something the United States can’t do.
So how far is Iran from a nuke? The new NIE says 10 to 15 years, maybe. But that’s a wild guess. The truth is that Iran is a black hole, and it’s entirely conceivable Iran could build a bomb and we wouldn’t know until they tested it.
Yet for now we should at least be happy with the good news: Armageddon is postponed.
Report thisBy A Khokar, December 4, 2007 at 4:55 pm #
Part 2 : N I E Report have taken us by Surprise!
But there is a clear cut achievement also. After the declaration of state of Hunky-dory; there may be a little respite in the petrified lives of Iraqis; but on the southern banks of Euphrates in the Green Zone enclave; a fully self contained, self propelled; with huge big airfields; a safe haven which was in making, is now fully complete. It is a base; bigger than a Vatican state; which is now fully secure and operative. A well sought foot hold in Iraq; Mission in Iraq; in real sense is accomplished now. It has taken a toll of some 4ooo American lives to successfully build and secure this anchorage. A real success story for Neocons to rejoice; (very rightly sprung up at the verge of their leaving offices.) A well sought legacy of victory in Iraq is at hand. (Will Democrats be willing to abandon this base and leave Iraq? No; it is an American Imperialistic achievement. A dream has come true. They may not be doing so. )
But policy of ‘Fallacy and Deception’ initiated by Neocons to conduct the ‘Global war on terror’ will certainly remain in place. The artificial respite created in the prevalent mayhem in Iraq can be used as a convenient cover and a leeway to start trickling out and redeploy in next haven…Afghanistan. Keeping a good griping force behind in Iraq to guard the American newly secured enclave in Iraq!
Iran has proven to be a hard nut; (to be tried later.) At the moment it is wise to by pass Iran. Iran seems like sour Grapes!
Retreat to Afghanistan may be a better option( in the face of victory legacy). Afghanistan is a war torn, mountainous, rugged and barren land. It is safe haven for all the fugitives. US will certainly avail this. US are already having a presence of sufficient harbouring forces there. It can also serve as best training ground; out side USA; for US armed forces; offering them the real conditions, for a realistic, on ground training; for their future battles. New American Imperialistic horizons have started opening up.
While the pressure and sanctions are still on; above moves may keep Iran on its toes and also keep upset lot many other countries in the area; like Pakistan and other neighbouring states. We may expect many more storms in the making in the near future; where waters are already in turbulence.
Report this-----------------------------------------
Leave you with a couplet: (translation):
My savage and remorseless killers; they don’t change. Only they turn around with their changed faces and flags.
What a strenuous journey of mine; even the traversed span and mile stones are also travelling with me! (Habib Jalib)
-----------------------------
Love for all, Hatred for none
By A Khokar, December 4, 2007 at 4:54 pm #
N I E Report have taken us by Surprise!
All of a sudden the new intelligence report issued by the National Intelligence Estimate departments has taken us all by a surprise. It has left all of us with a mental exercise of guessing and speculation. Suddenly; it is a rosy picture all over on the Middle Eastern Horizons. There is all a Hunky-dory in Iraq and Iranian theatres. Up till yesterday; Iran was a declared axis of evil; but now, it is being certificated; as totally untainted with any evil; a pure hearted and docile Iran. What is the catch?
We may be well aware of it that the plan of ‘Global war on terror’ was very tactfully induced in the Global war theatres to achieve American hegemony through a well measured scheme of ‘Nihilism’ by the think tanks of the campaign. It is very complex and need to be under stood in its true contexts.
There have been two sides of a coin of this scheme…. One side of coin is for the consumption of public at home (in the west); where the magic tool of media; the general public is kept in the dark, fearful and terrified all the times, It is common practice to report; a particular news on the media with the well-chosen interpretation, tactfully spiced up in a stench of terrorism; and with the little means left for public to confirm the authenticity, (a yellow journalism).
Public is lead to believe the fallacy in the name of their freedom and endeared western life style. Killing and committal of atrocities by western forces in troubled theatres; coming to surface are also justified on a divisive concocted, moral ground of, ‘Security and safe guard of western interests and way of life.’
Where as the other side of story is very horrific and disturbing. Extent of actions taken on this side can be best described in words of a renowned Neocons author, Ralph Peters; He reiterates; “The defector role of the US armed forces will be to keep the world safe for our economy and open to our cultural assault. To those end, we will do a fair amount of killing”.
The execution of this scheme has since created a well spread chaos, mayhem and nihilism, every where in Middle Eastern theatre. Anarchy, killing, deprivation and subjugation of destitute people out there are the salient of horrific exercises being carried out; Life of common folks is but a misery.
Under the old proven British policy of divide and rule, local decedents and insurgent groups are unduly given leverage. A Spree of sectarian revenge killings and insurgent bombings is widely sponsored and promoted. After creation of anarchy, the oppressing foreign forces, fully armed, can move around freely carrying out raids and killing at mass scale; destroying indiscriminately, every thing in sight and in range in the name of restoring peace and order.
The added pretext of ‘global war on terror’ is giving them a free hand to commit all sorts of atrocities in the lands…declared hostile. Any local group emerging to resent or undo the oppressor’s shackles is branded as terrorist and is eliminated. This is a never ending game. The aim of all this exercise is to wade through and prolong the stay and push forward the master agenda.
A superficial effort to blemish Islam is also exercised; to spread hatred and widen the gulf of anarchism. We in the bliss and comforts of our safe western environments remain apt to this given delusion but out their; even the common ‘donkey cart driver’ under stands this scheme of subjugation and ‘Nihilism’…very well.
(To be continued in part 2)
Report thisBy cyrena, December 4, 2007 at 4:36 pm #
• #117959 by David on 12/04 at 1:46 pm
I was comfortable with the “nuclear weapon” lie. At least with this lie, we didn’t have to worry about “a-second-9/11-just-occured-so-we-must-bomb-Iran” lie.
David,
I never thought about it this way, but that’s certainly one way to look at it. At least that lie meant that we didn’t ALL have to be wiped out, (another 9/11 here, and the attack on Iran as well – at least for the moment).
But, this is better, eh? That this lie was finally exposed BEFORE they could hit us or Iran? I would agree that this has been the way (from within) to finally, maybe, hopefully, neutralize Cheney. Bravo for whomever finally got it out.
Report thisBy Louise, December 4, 2007 at 4:33 pm #
It Begins ... dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum
“Bush aides plan 2008 makeover “
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7168.html
“President Bush plans to use the next two weeks to defuse fights with Congress over the economy, laying the groundwork for a 2008 strategy aimed at assisting GOP candidates early on and improving his image at home and overseas, according to two senior White House officials.”
“The emerging Bush blueprint begins this week with a preemptive strike on the mortgage crisis.”
“The two White House officials intimately involved in crafting next year’s strategy asked for anonymity to discuss internal planning.”
“Bush appeared in the Rose Garden on Monday and called on Congress “to support our troops and to protect our citizens, prevent harmful tax increases and responsibly fund our government.”
***
And folks, he did this with a straight face.
Like his runaway war budget, runaway Pentagon budget, out of control national debt and all the hell created by his seven years of lies, lies and more lies are just going to evaporate.
He even explained the intelligence revelation about Iran as a good thing, bad thing, which he completely grasps the threat, non-threat of. And while what he said made absolutely no sense, it doesn’t really matter. Because the faithful will devote the next week or two to defining it for him, and explaining it to the rest of us. Sorta. But for repubs, sorta is good enough. And Bush is going to go along with all of this because they have him convinced if he does they’ll let him campaign again. Oh joy, oh happy day.
And by and by the repubs will be gone, but please do not make the mistake of letting them be forgotten.
Here’s how it works:
The greedy bastards will strip everything down to every last penny, while sending the evil twins out to ‘splain to the citizens what’s “really” going on. Then right after they pack up whatever’s left and vacate the premises, the depression will set in with a vengeance. Then the repubs will pull up their jockey shorts and exclaim indignantly, the dems have created a depression and now they will raise taxes, just like the repubs all said they would. And the dim-bulbs will suck it up. We will all struggle to hang on to whatever we have left. And some of us will loose everything. But, just like the last time and time and time and time before, somehow we will recover and things will start to look pretty good with the dems running things. Just in time for the lying GOP creeps to step in, take credit and begin the whole nightmare all over again.
But the biggest reason Bushes “new” demeanor scares the crap out of me is the congress will see his performance as proof their pressure has worked, so nothing really will change. Deep down inside, nothing really will change. You watch. The congress will even be persuaded to forget about that accountability thing! I mean everybody lies a little, right?
Hope I’m wrong.
[How do you disappear a million dead Iraqis? The decider knows]
You are right purplewolf (#117976 )
Report thisThe question is, can the voters remember last year [forget about the year before] and this year by the time we get to the end of next year? Never mind the congress. The only thing most of them can remember are the lines they use every couple of years on the campaign trail.
By purplewolf, December 4, 2007 at 4:02 pm #
#117922 Louise:
The only real bad guys who live to destroy US that I have seen are the same ones who have been running this country into it’s grave for the last seven years.
They have no credibility. They lost it when the first lie rolled off of their tongues and out of their lips before Bush was officially in office. It is well past time for the truth to catch up to them. As part of my corrections officer training, it was instilled into us that “your credibility” was the most important thing you have, more important than your own life and once you loose your credibility you are done with. Once lost, it can never be regained. I live by that standard and I expect no less from the “elected officials” who hold office. The people of America and the world deserve no less that the whole truth from their leaders, elected or otherwise.
And for all those “faith based” people who blindly follow and believe Bush because he says he is a man of God, or because they think he is more religious or that God tells him to do whatever, that it has to be true and therefore he could not lie. Wake up, the most evil people out there today say anything to achieve their goals and not give any thought to how they do it and the outcome of their lies on the rest of the world. This has already been proven.
Now that the truth is starting to come home how much longer and how many more lies will George keep telling.
I have decided George must be tri-polar: one third, deliusional, one third insane and one third a liar.
Report thisBy PatrickHenry, December 4, 2007 at 3:33 pm #
Bush and Cheney have been recieving daily briefings indicating this information for the past 4 years.
Bring the troops and battle groups home and watch the price of oil fall.
Report thisBy Martin, December 4, 2007 at 2:38 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I remembered that this Iran NIE has been delayed for a year. I googled and found several articles saying that this NIE is one year overdue and that Cheney wanted it changed.
Report thishttp://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39978
So it seems to me that there is internal conflict in the White House and that Bush and Cheney are being cut at their knees. The 16 intelligence agencies are now all part of the military or controlled by generals. There must be some people in the chain of command who don’t want war with Iran and can’t be fired by Bush.
I am cautiously hopeful that Bush/Cheney are being made irrelevant. I heard his news conference today. It seemed desperate. Bush and Condi dialing the leaders in world to press for more action against Iran while this news is out. At the same time, the Europeans are not sure that more action is required and they want to export their wares to Iran, a country that has real money, not some bogus SIF or CBOs to pay.
Also the fact that Israel and the Neo-cons are upset means to me that some faction in the US dares to go against the jewish lobby. Is there Hope?
By David, December 4, 2007 at 1:46 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I was comfortable with the “nuclear weapon” lie. At least with this lie, we didn’t have to worry about “a-second-9/11-just-occured-so-we-must-bomb-Iran” lie.
I think this is a sign of a revolt from the intelligence community who were smeared as incompetent fools by the Administration when they heaped all the blame on them for the Iraq invasion.
You have to wonder in that now-infamous gaffe of Bush’s, when he said, “You can fool me once...Shame on...won’t get fooled again”, if he really just knew in the back of his mind that he ought not remind us that he has already fooled us (some folks, far more than once), he should be ashamed of himself (but he’s not), and has every intention of trying to fool us again.
Report thisBy Anthony, December 4, 2007 at 1:04 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
CIA, that’s short for “Keystone Cops” right?
Report thisBy americatheblind, December 4, 2007 at 12:07 pm #
So from reading the below posts, it is obvious to me that we all agree that the Bush administration is one of, if not the most corrupt, egotistical,money hungry, bent on destroying America and all that it stood for administrations ever “elected” into office. The question is how do we take back the America that we all once knew and loved.
Information is the key, and the corrupt powerful elite know this. This is why most of the mainstream media is owned and opperated by big business subsidiaries hell bent on keeping real news from reaching the public. This is why the majority of mainstream news is just a regurgitation and verbatim rehash of the “news” given to them by the Bush white house; without even for a second thinking they might actually want to do some investigative journalism. These spineless so called “journalists” like Bill O, Hannity/Combs, Katie Couric etc. are nothing more than show pieces that could give a damn about true journalism. They are more interested in keeping their high paying jobs than of doing their job and their duty to the American public. They have failed in becoming what I’m sure they at one time aspired to be; which is a true patriot, a true independent journalist.
“We have to boycott them” as Bill O. always says. We have to hit these spineless traitors and their corporate owners in the wallets. We have to show them our outrage for what has become of our established media. We as patriots must also continue to educate others of what is happening behind our backs, and in the continually misleading corporate owned mainstream media that spouts it as truth.
Report thisBy Frank, December 4, 2007 at 11:46 am #
Non Credo, my money is on #2
Report thisBy Scott, December 4, 2007 at 11:44 am #
Non Credo writes Possibility (2) - The Bush administration is now undergoing a full-scale internal rebellion, led by Gates’s Pentagon, Admiral Fallon, and the people at the CIA and DIA who know that a war against Iran is totally unnecessary and would be a horrifying catastrophe for the United States and for humanity.
If that’s the case we may soon see if there’s any truth to fears that American fundamentalists loyal to Bush and the neo-con vision have taken over the armed forces.
I wonder how catastrophic another US civil war will be? I’m betting most American’s probably won’t even notice.
Report thisBy RdV, December 4, 2007 at 10:44 am #
Anybody is surprised by this?
Report thisBy Louise, December 4, 2007 at 10:17 am #
P.S. to previous post!
911truthdotorg (#117816) enjoy:
[The article, not the Turd! ... love that headline. My grandkids call them “floaters"]
The Turd That Won’t Flush!
“Arch Zionist neocon Paul Wofowitz has slithered back into the Bush regime.”
[Or, it isn’t who you know that counts. It’s WHAT you know!]
Report thishttp://www.wakeupfromyourslumber.com/node/4859
By Louise, December 4, 2007 at 10:07 am #
911truthdotorg (#117816) enjoy:
The Turd That Won’t Flush!
“Arch Zionist neocon Paul Wofowitz has slithered back into the Bush regime.”
[Or, it isn’t who you know that counts. It’s WHAT you know!]
http://www.wakeupfromyourslumber.com/node/4859
cyrena (#117861)
Osama, Osama! Wherefore art thou Osama?
I get a news headline feed on my portal every morning, from a variety of sources, UPI, USA TODAY, YAHOO, etc. This particular one came via Yahoo Canada, and introduces us to [drum role please] Qaeda media!
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/qaeda_binladen
Since Al Qaeda means the toilet, I guess “Qaeda media” means the toilet doth overflow.
I figured “Qaeda’s” story would be all over the place by the end of the day. It only dawned on me yesterday that it wasn’t!
Since the majority of “Osama finds” come first from al jazeera news. If this one didn’t make headlines, it may be because it didn’t source there.
Or maybe it was seen as more of the same-ol-same-ol and ignored. Does that mean it was the real thing? No. If Osama actually released a new tape and it was ignored, all those bad guys who live to destroy us would be busy making sure the story was in our face! Which brings to mind the possibility that there aren’t near as many bad guys “living to destroy us” as current leadership wants us to believe!
Reminds me of Kruschev banging his shoe on the table at the UN and screaming, “We will bury you!” There was a lot of chatter about what he really meant. One point being, a corrupt government eventually collapses under the weight of it’s own corruption.
When that happened to Kruschev’s Russia, I’m sure that wasn’t his intention. But the broader point is, someone who lives their life based on a web of lies surrounding an ocean of corruption recognizes corruption when he sees it.
And what’s that got to do with Osama? Well just this. If Osama wants to see the United States collapse, all he has to do is sit and wait. Since that seems to be the only thing this administration is good at. “Collapsing” things, I mean. Which is why I personally believe ALL the Osama tapes are bogus!
Right now, the administration is scrambling to find credibility! They dont need another obviously fake Osama tape! Which brings me back to the point I was shooting for in my original post.
This administration has lost all credibility! So they daily scrounge for anything that seems/sounds somewhat believable. Even if it contradicts something they said/did before.
But then, everything they say and do contradicts something they said and did before.
Ergo: Absolutely NO credibility!
Ergo: Run with the Intelligence Report about no nukes in Iran!
It’s a win-win for them. For the faithful, it repeats the notion that Bush is the victim of dysfunctional Intelligence groups. Remember how well that played for him following 9/11? And for the folks who think Bush is the devil, it lays the problem on the intelligence groups and indirectly Cheney. “Poor Bush, maybe he’s not as evil as he is dumb!”
Or maybe this is just a sample from the new and improved “Confuse the Electorate” manual.
Just ran across this:
Jewish Media Group, S.I.T.E. to release another “aL-Qaeda” tape (Same one?)
http://www.wakeupfromyourslumber.com/node/4793
Osama bin Laden - A Weapon of Mass Convenience
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/osamabinladen_wmc.html
Blackspeare (#117771 )
Regarding those Israeli Nukes:
Nixon papers suggest Israel stole nuclear material from US in 1965
http://www.wakeupfromyourslumber.com/node/4817
“… what struck me most from the memo was that even back then the biggest dilemma Nixon faced concerning whether or not to pressure israel to abandon its nuclear ambitions was governed by his FEAR of what the Israel Lobby could do to him ...”
And from ABC News:
Report thisFresh Nixon Papers
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2007/11/fresh- nixon-tap.html
By americatheblind, December 4, 2007 at 8:30 am #
Wake up people! This is just one more example of how this administration continues to deceive the American public to pad it’s corporate campaign contributors wallets, which in turn pads their own. You will hear dictator Bush spin it today in his press conference that IRAN still remains a threat regardless of what the intelligence said/says, and that we will need to deal with them as a potential nuclear threat before we are threatened in our “homeland” (hitler). I read a online poll a couple of weeks ago asking the American people if they thought we should have a preemptive military strike on IRAN to prevent them from acquiring a nuclear bomb. I was shocked to see that like 50+ percent thought we should strike them first. It
Report thisblows my mind that the American people in general are so stupid and naive to think that this administration really is telling the public the truth; especailly taking into account the numerous lies told to the American people to drum up enough support to invade IRAQ. Everyone has seen what the invasion of IRAQ has done to Americas position in the eyes of the rest of the world, and you honestly can’t say that it has made us safer. Hell, even general Betraus couldn’t even say if the war in IRAQ was making the American public safer. But you have the sheep following the heard here in America, and people not realizing their mistakes, and are willing to do it again. People wake the f_ck up!
By Karen, December 4, 2007 at 8:16 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Does anyone know if Dubai is for or against the US bombing Iran? I ask because I was surprised that Dubai all of a sudden bailed out Citigroup to the tune of $7 billion.
Having just read John Kenneth Galbraith’s book, The Great Crash, I can’t help but see quite a few similarities to the 1920’s. If we are headed for a depression, could it be that the Bush family, seeing the enormous debacle unfolding on their “watch,” asked their rich Arab friends for help? This would not be the first time they did so.
Could the quid pro quo have been, “We’ll bail out Citigroup, but you have to back off from attacking Iran”?
Report thisBy 1drees, December 4, 2007 at 7:36 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
With reference to several converstions here nd references to “the gret AntiChrists” in power, i thinki should inform youll tht IRAQ was nowhere near being a DANGER TO ANYONE, after having gone through several years of sanctions. so Actually IRAQ was build up as a threat by the MSM and after a BIG LARGE GRUESOME IMAGE had been built it was attacked.
Plese note that the same modus operendi of Building up “bad guys” ( out of mole hills) will also be found if you search through the History of the last 70 years. MANY a MOLEHILL was painted into an EVEREST and then topped.
YOU CALL IT ANTICHRIST, I CALL IT VULTURES, those who feed on the already almost dead.
Report thisBy ocjim, December 4, 2007 at 7:20 am #
The Bush WWIII statement reveals the ruthless pursuit of Cheney objectives of subduing the whole Middle East in spite of the intelligence agency knowledge that Iran quit its nuclear weapon program three years ago.
Even the constant war-mongering of the Bush administration apparently hasn’t brought Iran to a rapid deployment stage for nuclear weapons.
Considering a total Machiavellian disregard for world safety in order to pursue a bankrupt agenda, the Bush administration reveals its vile nature.
If we were to exploit religion to the same measure as the Bush administration, we would chant “AntiChrist.”
Report thisBy bachubhai, December 4, 2007 at 5:38 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
what’s going on with Israel’s nukes? have they let Vanunu out the can yet? And yes, have they found Steve Fossette?
Report thisBy Verne Arnold, December 4, 2007 at 5:28 am #
#117793 by Paolo on 12/03 at 4:56 pm
(168 comments total)
Thank you, thank you; a voice of reason in this vast wilderness of logic (lack of) and reality (lack of).
Report thisAs we hurtle towards the abyss, we must at least question the stilted judgment of (not our) the “leaders” (LOL) of (our?) country.
As a non-Christian; I never the less utter the words…god help us, because there is nobody else who can………………………or as Riley would say, “What a revoltin development this is!” (You have to be old like me to know this saying)
By Verne Arnold, December 4, 2007 at 5:15 am #
#117771 by Blackspeare on 12/03 at 3:05 pm
(6 comments total)
Wow! You need to wake up and get current. Britain supplied heavy water (10 tons) and know how. Israel had copious help from our “allies”.
Report thisWake up and pay attention! It’s far too late to exhibit your naïveté.
By Frank, December 4, 2007 at 5:03 am #
Thank you, CIA. Thank you, NSA. You are on the road to redemption.
Report thisBy RIRedinPA, December 4, 2007 at 4:47 am #
Considering how spot on the US Intelligence community was on Iraq’s nuclear ambitions one has to wonder how much credence to give this report. Granted those national intelligence assessments were “cheneyed” to a degree but they were not just wrong because they were embellished, they were completely wrong.
Just because those same agencies are now saying what most people want to hear this time around I would be hesitant to award Iran with any noble peace prize nominations. It should also be noted the report says that Iran has not been pursuing nuclear weapons technology since 2003, nor have they continued on through the middle of 2007, though they continue to develop dual use technology that, if the decision to continue the nuclear weapon technology was made could be used. It doesn’t exonerate Iran completely.
On the upside for the Bushies, they can use this report to make some connection between the Iraqi invasion and the deterrence of the Iranian program. Something along the lines of we demonstrated America’s resolve not to let the Middle East become a nuclear arms race, etc. etc. ad naseum. It’ll give the National Review readers and Rush listeners something to froth at the mouth over and point at how the big stick policy is all we need.
The interesting note to me in the assessment was this line - “Tehran’s decision to halt its nuclear weapons program suggests it is less determined to develop nuclear weapons than we have been judging since 2005. Our assessment that the program probably was halted primarily in response to international pressure
suggests Iran may be more vulnerable to influence on the issue than we judged previously.”
That takes a lot of steam out of the WH’s saber rattling and probably has Cheney looking for someone’s head at one of those 16 intelligence agencies.It gives the Dem’s a foil to the Bushies’ spin on the deterrence point and paints them (the Bushies) into a corner to explain why they have been ratcheting things up trying to get the country on the Iran invasion train for the last two years. Also, the assessment that Iran could only have enough fissile material by 2015 to make a weapon counters a lot of what has been coming from the WH.
This allows the Dems to stand in a circle, hold hands, sing Kumbaya and point to the rednecks and show that just a little peace, love and understanding is all we need.
Report thisBy 1drees, December 4, 2007 at 4:27 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
CYRENA :
I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU KNOW, but on the youtube.com I did see a certain video by a certain AIPAC representative and then another video either of Sharon or Shamir (i fail to remember exactly) and THE MAIN SENSE to be derived from the VIDEOs is that: “we own America & the Americans know it” and then to continue one went : “any representative that dares to oppose Israel or Israeli agendas will be gone fast, never to be relected again”
So i guess these people called Democrats are just trying to secure their “jobs” by toeing the line.
BTW i hope you are old enough to KNOW that during the VIETNAM war there were similar protests and also people with similar pacifist or likewise convictions but did that ever end or shorten that war? I dont think so. the war took its time ending despite all the noise that all the people could make.
And so atleast I was not expecting much from either the Donkeys or Elephants coz actually they are two sides of the same coin once in the office.
BTW the only way BUSH could be impeached or convicted of any crime would be if he ever dares to oppose any of the Israeli agenda, I hear now what i Once thought as a possiblility as it was happening and that is that Bill Clinton was delibrately entangled into the Monica Lewinsky Affair as his stance at that time was quiet contrary to the benefit of Israelis and even hear the Monica’s handler was Linda Trip.
You might suggest that i am off my rocker but there is substantial reason to believe all these dark things concerning the USA govt that one keeps uncovering now and then.
Report thisBy cyrena, December 4, 2007 at 3:50 am #
#117822 by Louise
• Or maybe since nobody even noticed Osama’s latest tape [last week I think] let alone commented on it…
Louise…why didn’t you tell us?! I never saw/heard the tape from OBL. Was it another video? Was it the same dude as the last time, or a different one? Or, if it was only an audio, what did it say? How did we miss this? If nobody even knew about it, it might have been the real deal!!
• …..given we and Israel are the chief rule breakers when it comes to building bombs called nuclear. [I read somewhere, Israel has 400]…
I think it’s WAY more than 400 now Louise. Sort of like enough to put one on every patio.
• I remember hearing someone say, that someone said [a congressaur?] that if Bush attacked Iran without congressional authorization that would be an impeachable offense. And then someone else said, that someone said [a senator?] that waiting for the crime to happen when you know the crime is about to be committed is indefensible, or something like that. Can anyone flesh out this story, or did I just pick up some gossip?
Well, I hate to sound like a spoil sport on this. BUT, from what I’m hearing, Congress isn’t doing diddly squat to impeach. I mean, they tabled the Kucinich resolution just a few weeks ago, and if the thing from David Swanson is correct, the Dems didn’t even TRY to get it through. Seems like Nancy Pelosi is wielding some really big stick, and has everybody cowed. Now, that’s just the take from this thing with David Swanson, so I don’t really know what to make of it, but you can have a look…
http://tinyurl.com/3xw9pk
OK, you’re not gonna believe this, but JUST THAT FAST, (I’m talking less than 15 minutes since I watched this)…it’s GONE!!!
But, here’s the rest of the same email.
Impeachment: Congressional Silence = Constitutional Death
Bush signed an agreement with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki for permanent bases in Iraq, in defiance of the explicit opposition of both the U.S. Congress and the Iraqi Parliament. Yet Congress is utterly silent.
Bush issued his first signing statement since Democrats won Congress, and gave himself the right to steal all the money he needs to invade Iran. Yet Congress is utterly silent.
Bush knew a year ago that Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program in 2003, but threatened World War III with Iran just weeks ago. Yet Congress is utterly silent
Bush formally advised a British Court last week that he is fully entitled to kidnap foreigners (i.e., Britons) off the street around the world for any reason at all and carry them off to secret prisons. Yet Congress is utterly silent.
Bush’s former press secretary Scott McClellan admitted he lied about the role of Scooter Libby and Karl Rove in destroying the career and urgent work of Valerie Plame. Libby was sentenced to 30 months in prison but Bush commuted his sentence under orders from Cheney to shut Libby up. Yet Congress is utterly silent.
Bush rehired Iraq War Criminal Paul Wolfowitz as chairman of the International Security Advisory Board. The Board includes Robert Joseph, who put the Niger Uranium Big Lie in Bush’s 2003 State of the Union, and ex-CIA director James Woolsey, who helped mega-liar Ahmed Chalabi defraud the U.S. into a $1+ trillion disaster. Yet Congress is utterly silent.
Bush is still contemptuously defying dozens of subpoenas. Yet Congress is utterly silent.
The people are not silent. Impeachment activists continue to organize from coast to coast. In the northeast, 60-year-old John Nirenberg is marching along Route 1 from Boston to DC to see Nancy Pelosi, and needs your support along the way. In the West, Los Angeles activists will protest at the Rose Bowl parade on January 1.
And Rep. Dennis Kucinich is not silent. He continues to advocate impeachment everywhere he goes.
Tell Congress to Impeach Cheney and Bush:
http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/88
So Louise, you might just be right about that smell after all.
Report thisBy cyrena, December 4, 2007 at 3:30 am #
#117836 by Marshall
• The IAEA said they could not rule out the presence of an Iranian nuclear weapons program. This means that in their eyes, Iran may or may not have had one.
Actually Marshall, that isn’t what this meant at all, and ElBaradei, being the consummate professional that he is, ONLY said that he had found NO evidence of a nuclear program, but that he had NOT had access to certain documents/sites at some point in time. And, he said it a few dozens times. He did NOT find ANY evidence that Iran was developing Nuclear weapons, but that he also had not searched each and every square inch at the time.
Meantime, the rest of us, who actually READ the non-US controlled media, have known all along that they didn’t have a weapons program, or could even be close to one, if They DID want one, which they didn’t because of them being all Islamic. (nuclear weapons are very UN-Islamic)
They DID want a nuclear energy program however, because they’ve known for decades that their oil wasn’t gonna last forever, especially as a main export for their economy. And, they weren’t wrong. With a population of 69 million now, and 70% of that population under the age of 30, they are definitely more far sighted than any of our own leadership.
That’s why Ron Paul is so anxious to start raping the Alaska supply. (of course it’s not just him, the repugs have been after it forever) Never mind what happens to the rest of us after they’ve escaped.
Curious that this finally came out. I’m wondering now, if this in fact came about as the only way to stop Dickie from the attack. I mean, it was seeming like nothing else was gonna stop him, including the military hopefully refusing to obey his orders.
Now, crazy as they both are, even THIS may not matter.
Report thisBy 1drees, December 4, 2007 at 12:27 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
LOUISE:
“By the way, what on earth do we need SIXTEEN intelligence agencies for? Seems to me one or two could screw up more efficiently! And save a lot of money.”
TRUE, LOUISE, but in this age often money is spent for the accuracy and if 16 mess up then that’s a very confirmed mess up and maybe worth the expense.
LOL
BTW hold your breath and wait to see if the people in power even regard this report as relevent, Imean could be that in thenext speech GWB might totally ignore thisoneand quote another one that works for him.
Also some Hardware is out of order eg F-15s but the newer additions to the arsenal eg F-111 etc are completely functional and in stock, and Katrina never cost much coz it was partially ignored. AND NOTE price of oil to higher in the near future.
Report thisBy Marshall, December 3, 2007 at 10:49 pm #
#117746 by hass on 12/03 at 2:00 pm
“If Iran really had a nuclear weapons program until 2003, then why has the IAEA found no evidence of it?”
The IAEA said they could not rule out the presence of an Iranian nuclear weapons program. This means that in their eyes, Iran may or may not have had one.
Report thisBy Mudwollow, December 3, 2007 at 8:56 pm #
Screw that wimp report. We need to go kick some Iranian butts anyway. Go get em Dick, you too George. Bring it on.
Report thisBy Louise, December 3, 2007 at 7:53 pm #
Interesting article. Interesting report. Interesting comments.
My take on this is the administration “spin” team was part of it. Notice Rove is not in the White House. [reality comes home to roost] The repub candidates cant even say “Bush” and those folks trying to find the corner in the Oval Office have got to know, in spite of Nancy and Harry [God love ‘em] at least half the folks in this country are really pissed! That strange smell in the air is called Impeachment, and don’t think the children playing house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue don’t know it!
Since the kids in the playpen have a well established habit of NOT relying on intelligence, preferring to make up their own as they go along, [ala, kicked in the head by a bull, at two, Dick] I could be wrong.
What great utterances, or mutterences have come from the Bush on this, or the Bushes gardeners, does anyone know? Well actually an utter has come from Stephen J. Hadley, but he’s hardly one of Bush’s gardeners. More like one of Dick’s cape carriers.
Meanwhile, we have ample statements articles, proofs, whatever, going back years insisting Iran was seeking to develop nuclear power. [with appropriate permission from signatories to the non-proliferation treaty the IAEA and under the supervision of Russia, I think] Something our government guys choose to overlook, or maybe they really don’t know, given we and Israel are the chief rule breakers when it comes to building bombs called nuclear. [I read somewhere, Israel has 400]
Which leaves a few other possibilities.
Maybe the New York Times is having a fit of conscience, and decided to report the obvious, knowing Dick will quote them on the Sunday talk shows. Naw, I suspect the Times reported as received, with instructions.
Or maybe since nobody even noticed Osama’s latest tape [last week I think] let alone commented on it, and since nobody’s holding their breath waiting for a miracle to come out of Annapolis [including the players in that little drama] and worst of all since NOBODY wants Bush to campaign for them ... maybe they decided once again, to change the subject.
Actually yeh, I think that’s it! Nobody wants Bush to campaign for them ... and that’s the only thing the guy knows how to do! That has got to hurt.
By the way, what on earth do we need SIXTEEN intelligence agencies for? Seems to me one or two could screw up more efficiently! And save a lot of money!
I remember hearing someone say, that someone said [a congressaur?] that if Bush attacked Iran without congressional authorization that would be an impeachable offense. And then someone else said, that someone said [a senator?] that waiting for the crime to happen when you know the crime is about to be committed is indefensible, or something like that. Can anyone flesh out this story, or did I just pick up some gossip?
Maybe the chatter to impeach is gaining momentum on Capital Hill and we just don’t know it yet, but the kids in the playpen do!
Keep sending those letters and making those phone calls! It aint over ‘till it’s over!
Report thisBy 911truthdotorg, December 3, 2007 at 6:46 pm #
The criminal-in-chief snuck Wolfowitz back into the Pentagon. He’ll be bombing Iran soon.
Iraq 2: The Horror Continues
Report thisBy Scott, December 3, 2007 at 6:35 pm #
Paolo wrote, But of course, the fear of Iran is just the mechanism. The end is US domination and hegemony. Fortunately, that’s not going to happen, because our economic account has been long since overdrawn. In the course of the next twenty years, you will likely see Russia, China, Japan, and Europe emerge as the major economic players. The USA have screwed themselves.
I think the age of big super-powers may be drawing to a close myself (and good riddance I say). They just can’t sustain themselves in the long run. China and Russia will screw themselves for the same reason the US did. The unregulated un-mitigated co-migling of power and wealth - corruption in a word. In Russia’s case it will be it’s 2nd time around this particular block.
I think when China’s grid goes poof the world will probably feel its effect much harder than the USA’s meltdown. I don’t think I’d want to be near Japan when that happens.
I’m fairly sure some places in the world will continue to become better as time goes by. Iceland will probably be a really good case in point. Self-contained, islolated...they should have it made in the shade.
Report thisBy Douglas Chalmers, December 3, 2007 at 6:26 pm #
#117805 by PatrickHenry on 12/03: “...seems to be at odds with what we have been hearing on the radio, heard from the talking heads on TV and read about in the newspapers....”
Looking at the politics:-
Internationally, this is an opportune time to divert attention away from the fact that Australia has just ratified Kyoto this week and their new PM is being well-received at the climate-change conference in Bali whilst the USA is left out in the cold.... and maximizes the perceived benefit from the Annapolis summit and a potential “peace legacy” for Bush’s presidency.
Domestically, now that the Democrats have all more or less come on board with Bush in wanting to blow up Iran, he can now say that it was never so and justifying his position by critisizing them for their support when the country needs “peace” and cant “afford” an unnecessary war, ha ha. Watch it all happen......
Report thisBy PatrickHenry, December 3, 2007 at 5:51 pm #
The CIA’s report seems to be at odds with what we have been hearing on the radio, heard from the talking heads on TV and read about in the newspapers.
Think theres anything wrong with corporate ownership of the media?
Report thisBy Douglas Chalmers, December 3, 2007 at 5:42 pm #
#117793 by Paolo on 12/03 at 4:56 pm: “I think Iran never had a nuclear weapons program at all....... The USA have screwed themselves....”
Three is one reason alone for this - the USA now no longer has the ability to invade IRAN!
Reasons:-
Report thisMost of its jet fighter aircraft are grounded with faults.
Its new stealth jet fighters are a decade away from production.
Israel is a luxury the USA can no longer afford.
It can’t afford another war because:
(a) the price of oil is killing the USA AND its allies,
(b) the cost of the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan has weakened the US domestic economy,
(c) the cost of Hurricane Katrina is still impacting the US “homeland”
(d) the cost of global warming is far greater than acknowledged.......
(e) the forthcoming recession is the first one that won’t be avoided by having another war......... etc etc etc
By anthony, December 3, 2007 at 5:17 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
This is another sign of stupidity similar to the Curveball (read book by that name) incident about Iraq. Again the Bush govt. is wrong!
Report thisBy Freedom Jenkins, December 3, 2007 at 5:17 pm #
Typical. This really shouldn’t surprise anyone without amnesia.
Report thisBy Paolo, December 3, 2007 at 4:56 pm #
In my opinion, Iran didn’t give up its weapons program in 2003. I think Iran never had a nuclear weapons program at all. But even if they did--so what? Let’s say Iran (contrary to everything they have said, and contrary to all the inspections conducted by the IAEA), actually managed to build a nuke. That gives them one nuke, versus several dozen (at least) for Israel, and thousands for the USA. What are we afraid of?
But of course, the fear of Iran is just the mechanism. The end is US domination and hegemony. Fortunately, that’s not going to happen, because our economic account has been long since overdrawn. In the course of the next twenty years, you will likely see Russia, China, Japan, and Europe emerge as the major economic players. The USA have screwed themselves.
Report thisBy purplewolf, December 3, 2007 at 3:33 pm #
Blackspeare, no doubt the good ole USofA gave the nukes to Israel( just like the presidents have done here for decades-*keep arming our enemies who were once our friends who were once our enemies*) and last I heard they have over 200 of them. So why isn’t the mental case in the WH worried that if Israel gets ticked off at us they won’t use them on us. If he is so bent out of shape because of non-existent nukes, he should really have a harry attack about his so called friends having over 200 nukes. Just goes to show everyone how completely incompetent he is.
Report this* repeat from 1st * to last* over and over until you tire of it.
By Myronh, December 3, 2007 at 3:25 pm #
If any Democratic Congress-person votes for one more of GWB’s insane programs, they should be impeached right along with the Republican war-mongers.
It appears the Iranian Government consists of representatives with some common sense and intelligence. I have concluded most of our politicians are lacking of either.
Report thisBy Blackspeare, December 3, 2007 at 3:05 pm #
My question is, if it is taking Iran so long to develop a fissionable weapon both in time as well as the need for large land areas and massive equipment, then how did Israel purportedly get so many nuclear weapons in a relatively short time? Remember, the alleged claim goes back to before 1967! Did they have help? Did some one give them plutonium (the easy way to make a bomb)? Did they steal it? Buy it? Or is it just one a big ruse?
Report thisBy measles, December 3, 2007 at 2:59 pm #
Now that that’s been resolved, I guess we won’t have to invade them to prove they don’t have WMD. Thank goodness.
Report thisBy dsmith, December 3, 2007 at 2:54 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
This confirms what lying bastards these neocon warmongers all are. Norman Podhortez and Bill Kristol would swear on their mother’s grave that Iran was building nukes if it would stir the US into bombing Iran.
This news makes John McCain look especially foolish in that last week he blamed Ron Paul of being akin to those who failed to act against Hitler( a favoirite refrain of the neocons)back in the thirties. McCain lashed out at Paul because he (Paul) would talk to Iran instead of bombing them. McCain would kill innocent Iranians for what turns out to be...false intelligence.
Shades of WMD’s?
Report thisBy thomas billis, December 3, 2007 at 2:05 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
It is what sane people have been saying all along.That Iran is not a mad dog country intent on blowing the world up.The media again has done a piss poor job of reporting about Iran.The reason it is hard to censure these reports now is the intelligence agencies are not happy that they were scapegoated as the war went badly.I heard the term Islamo fascism again and I wonder if the speaker just does not know any better or the assumption is if you tack fascism on the end of anything Americans are too stupid to figure out the term is contradictory.Or else what we have is the Christo Facists vs the Islamo Fascists.Let the best God win.
Report thisBy dick, December 3, 2007 at 2:00 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
This report is several years old, but was blocked by Bush. Bush is a wonderful liar, and our gullible electorate believes him and all other of Washington’s liars.
Report thisBy hass, December 3, 2007 at 2:00 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
From IranAffairs.com:
Report thisBy 1drees, December 3, 2007 at 1:27 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
WAXMAN:
TRUST ME YOU USED THE MOST VICIOUS MATERIALS TO DEFEND YOUR HOUSE, SO THE WOULD-BE BURGLAR IS SURELY DEAD. ....... LOL
OTHER THAN THAT I THINK THE NOTABLE US OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN OPPOSING THIS NEXT “ADVENTURE” FORCED THIS SLIP OUT, COZ ITS EXTREMELY UNLIKE ALL THE OTHER CRAP THAT HAS BEEN DOLED OUT RECENTLY.
BUT WE STILL DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THE US POLITICIANS WILL QUOTE THIS REPORT OR MAYBE THEY WILL KEEP GIVING OUT THEIR OWN FACTS SO AS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A JUSTIFICATION TO ATTACK IRAN, COZ LATELY THEY SEEM TO BENT ON DOING IT & MANY EVEN PLEDGED TO AIPAC ETC TO DO IT SO IF ITS BEEN PROMISED TO AIPAC ETC I’D SAY THAT THERE IS A VERY HIGH LIKELYHOOD THAT EVENTUALLY IT WILL HAPPEN, LETS WATCH THE NEXT 2 YEARS, LETS SEE IF THIS ISSUE MAKES AN EXTREMELY STRONG COMEBACK SUDDENLY WITHIN THE NEXT 24 MONTHS
MARSHALL HERE SEEMS TO BE A FACE-SAVER FOR THE US OFFICIALS BUT HE CAN BARELY JUSTIFY ANYTHING AFTER WHAT THE OFFICIALS BEEN DOING & SAYING RECENTLY. COZ ACTUALLY THE POLITICIANS, ATLEAST RECENTLY, EVIDENTLY BEEN CHERRY PICKING & REVERSE ENGINEERING THE REPORTS.
MAYBE HE IS AN ACTUAL US MARSHALL WITH A NEW JOB DESCRIPTION OF .....................
MY FRANK OPINION IS WAR WITH IRAN WILL BE CATASTROPHIC FOR USA AND USA IS ALREADY IN AN EXHAUSTED SITUATION. BUT ........
GO BUSH GO! GO MAN GO! YAY USA ! GO USA!
Report thisC’MON WE KNOW YOU CAN DO IT ! GO MAN GO!
By waxman, December 3, 2007 at 12:53 pm #
JUST FINISHED LANDSCAPING AROUND MY HOUSE TO KEEP VARMITS OUT..SURROUNDED THE ENTIRE HOUSE WITH A ROW OF DICKBUSHES…
Report thisBy Marshall, December 3, 2007 at 11:53 am #
This report doesn’t contradict Bush, it contradicts the previous report two years ago which said that Iran was intent on building nukes. Where do you think politicians get their information? FROM THESE REPORTS! The intelligence has obviously changed over the last two years.
Report thisBy ender, December 3, 2007 at 11:50 am #
I’m amazed this slipped out past the Administrations spin team. I guess they’ve lost so much of the team they can no longer suppress independent agencies from telling the truth.
I bet Dick Vader and Shrub are hot enough to f..k
Report this