Bush OK's Independent Probe of Prewar Intelligence

[nixonwasbetterthanW]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1723-2004Jan31.html?nav=hptop_tb

[wroberts189]

1. Dont tell me... Kissinger???

oh boy.. the fix must be in.


I guess they think they will get another Hutton report.

[alittlelark]

23. I think they know they are F***ED

They will do what they can to mitigate the damage - but I would not be suprised by ANYTHING that these Neo's do. New terrorist attacks? New War? Assasination attempts? Anything to remain in power.
They have it all right now and will not give it up w/o a massive defense.:tinfoilhat:

[Nlighten1]

34. hahahahah

I thought the exact same thing when I read about this.

[Malva Zebrina]

2. this will be kind of fun

we all know by now how he makes a big deal out of a seeming great proclamation, but then, behind the scenes falls flat on his face, purposefully. It is that initial news headline he aims for. I wonder how long it will take before the news comes out of his lie about this one. It is not funny anynore, but I do think most people, by now, are on to the lie, and the failure to follow up. That is why I think it will be interesting.

[hlthe2b]

5. He's denied the 911 commission the right to view their own notes,

for God's sakes.... This needs to be the front page headline of every newspaper in the country--Bush obstructs 911 commission. Damn if we let this ploy let him off the hook!

[LosAngelesDemocrat]

18. lol.. going to make it drag and drag and drag and drag?

lol... hmmm... how long will this investigation go for?

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Loading the question

The panel, (Senator Pat) Roberts said, would have to be bipartisan and include only recognized experts whose recommendations could "leapfrog" over the current debate and quickly tackle the issue of how to fix intelligence deficiencies.

That assumes that there were intelligence deficiencies. One of the questions is whether the intelligence was politicized prior to the war in order to get it to support a already-decided upon policy. That is a very dangerous idea and one that should, if borne out, lead to the impeachment and removal of those responsible.

[proud patriot]

4. CHECK !

:evilgrin:

[Entente]

6. Here's another article similar to this one

Bush may back Iraq intelligence panel


- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Katherine Pfleger



Jan. 31, 2004 | WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House is considering endorsing the creation of an independent commission that would investigate whether the United States used faulty intelligence information when it decided to go to war in Iraq, government sources said Saturday.

http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2004/01/31/bush_intelligence/index.html


<SNIP>


Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, in a debate Thursday night, criticized Cheney for allegedly berating CIA operatives because he did not like their intelligence reports.

"It seems to me that the vice president of the United States therefore influenced the very reports that the president then used to decide to go to war and to ask Congress for permission to go to war," Dean said.

[pacifictiger]

7. call me suspicious

but who really thinks they'll get more cooperation than the 9/11 commission? He's doing this for now to turn down the heat. His arrogance precludes him from believing that he is anything less than invincible.

[Entente]

10. You are right

but we can all make sure this backfires for them and gets totally out of their control.

[cosmicdot]

8. "Vice President Cheney has begun to call lawmakers ...

... on the intelligence committees, who have encouraged the administration to proceed with an inquiry."

:shrug:

and????
why????
what for????
to do what????

[pacifictiger]

24. cheney does not

fear being able to cover this up. He was in charge of the senate committee investigating the iran/contra scandal - he knows how supression works. He stopped the investigation from proceeding up the chain after a couple of scapegoats were named. They didn't sing either - notice some cushy treatment when they got out of the slammer? Play along like a good soldier for the good of the cause and we'll make sure you're taken care of when you get out.

[pinto]

9. Pat Roberts (R) KA, says probe would be beneficial "politically" and

Busboy is said to be officially "agnostic" about WMD........:crazy:

in any event, bring on an investigation! would be nice to see the beginning of the unravelling, no?

[grytpype]

11. Here's what's going to happen.

By joining the effort to create the commission rather than allowing Congress to develop its framework on its own, Bush will likely have more leverage to keep the focus on the CIA and other intelligence orgnizations rather than on the White House.

But trying to keep the focus on the CIA ain't gonna work.

The CIA is going to come to the hearing and say "We told you there were dubious reports about WMD activity. That was true. You didn't like the 'dubious' nature of the reports and pressured us to present Iraqi WMD as an imminent threat. We refused. You set up the Office of Special Plans, which told you what you wanted to hear. You killed the UN inspection program and invaded. Within weeks, you had positive confirmation that there were no WMD. You continued to pretend that there were WMD, for almost 10 months."

And the WH knows that's what the CIA will say, which is why their case against the CIA is that it misunderestimated the dubiousness of the reports, and didn't see that Iraq was totally incapable of WMD programs.

[pinto]

15. kick, I still pick Tenet as the fall guy.

He was appointed by.......

[alittlelark]

28. Last time Tenet fell on his sword.....

This time I hope he throws daggers

[knight_of_the_star]

37. He will this time

Tenet was a Clinton appointee, surprisingly enough. He fell on his sword last time for reasons unknown. This time that can't happen. And if the rumours are true, then the CIA already has a rather large cabinet full of VERY sharp knives ready to be thrown at will. They are NOT happy about being blamed for something that was not their fault, I will bet good money that they will come to the comission and start pointing fingers IMMEDIATELY with documents to back themselves up. It's generally a BAD idea to piss of the spooks, they know where the bodies are buried on this one.

[grytpype]

12. Some key exerpts from the article.

It's helpful to include exerpts, don't you think?

By joining the effort to create the commission rather than allowing Congress to develop its framework on its own, Bush will likely have more leverage to keep the focus on the CIA and other intelligence organizations rather than on the White House. Democrats have asserted that Bush exaggerated the intelligence on Iraq to justify going war, a theory that was boosted by recent allegations from former Treasury secretary Paul H. O'Neill that Bush had been contemplating the ouster of Hussein long before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Politically, the decision to back an independent probe contains substantial risks for Bush. It means the White House will have to surrender some control over the timing of the investigation, raising the possibility that such a panel could release information about the intelligence failures before the Nov. 2 elections.

But the pressure on Bush to accept an independent inquiry became intense after Kay, in testimony on Wednesday, said it is "important to acknowledge failure" and that his own view is that "it is going to take an outside inquiry, both to do it and to give yourself and the American people the confidence that you have done it."

Six separate panels -- the House and Senate intelligence committees, a CIA internal review team, the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, the newly refocused CIA-led Iraq Survey Group and an Army team -- are already investigating the prewar intelligence process.

[wabeewoman]

13. I think its their regular ploy

to try to control the situation. Why do they need to agree to it anyway?? It should be done with no input from them. I don't recall them asking Clinton if they could investigate him?

[NJCher]

14. Looks to me like he had to choose the lesser of two evils (for him)

This way...

Bush will likely have more leverage to keep the focus on the CIA and other intelligence organizations rather than on the White House.

How many tapdances can somebody who can't walk and chew gum handle? Yes, we know he has a whole staff behind this but we have seen how visibly the pressure affects him.

Will be interesting.


Cher

[kskiska]

27. They're just trying to get it out of the headlines

until after the election. They're hoping that if it's under investigation, there won't be daily revelations.

[DoYouEverWonder]

16. Damn, I feel like we all are living

in the belly of that whale that exploded over in Tiawan, except the fallout from this mess is going to be global.

[lovedems]

17. Somebody explain this to me please,

Why do the subjects of the investigation get to be a part of framing and determining the nature of the investigation?

They (and the republican leaders in the house and senate) should not be able to come within 5 feet of any of this.

Now, why am I suppose to be happy about an investigation under these terms? I smell a Hutton inquiry disguised as an "independent investigation" and this sucks.

Edit: If Cheney is accused of pressuring the CIA, who's to say he won't pressure the lawmakers to make a report that fits his needs. He is probably pretty damn good at that kind of intimidation by now.

[grytpype]

21. well...

Strictly speaking, the Duhbya Administration is not the subject of the investigation. Yet. The plan is -- still -- to blame every damned thing on the CIA.

[YouMustBeKiddingMe]

19. Well that's a surprise

But if the White House has a hand in setting up the terms it isn't going to be an objective probe.

[Just Me]

20. I am sick of the cowardice BS,...JUST PROSECUTE!!!

I mean, for crying out loud!!!!! I want to see COURAGE and INTEGRITY towards the pursuit of TRUTH!!!

It totally disgusts me that those in whose charge the best interests of this country are SUPPOSED to be served,...are freakin' wimpy sell-outs,...spineless advocates of illusion!!!

*sigh*

...no wonder our country is in such a mess,...no one stands up for even the most basic of human values anymore,...

[candy331]

22. Yep! just another Hutton whitewash.

Will someone please stand up and stop this madness for God's sake, why don't the impeachment proceedings get started? Oh, forgot the repubs are in charge and the pink tu tu's just take marching orders...

[mrdmk]

25. Here is what is going to happen

Start an Independent Probe and have it complete its work in a year and a half, conveniently six months after the election. These people have kept a zipper on everything and now they are playing for time.

As far as blaming the CIA, here is an interesting article written last year on this matter

http://www.counterpunch.org/tripp10112003.html

[knight_of_the_star]

39. This will get nasty

The only way they will be able to investigate the CIA is to call up CIA personell to testify. And they ain't happy. I fully expect them to finger BushCo and squeal as loud as humanly possibly. This should be fun.

[pacifictiger]

26. The new factor in exposing all these shennanigans

that is different than in years gone by is the internet and c-span. The fact that all of us are instantly able to share documents and info sort of reminds me of a modern day french resistance movement, wouldn't you say? There is no way they will be able to shut the flood gates of criticism without out and out marshal law and if all we seek is truth, how can we fail?

[NJCher]

29. pacifictiger

did you see the thread about the 200 protestors outside Tony Blair's house? And also the story contained news about how Guardian employees all chipped in to buy a huge ad criticizing the whitewash!


Cher

[Zhade]

47. I believe it was the BBC, not the Guardian.

NT!

[maddezmom]

30. wow, just heard on CSPAN this am

how long will this investigation take?

[DrBB]

31. "Independent" panel's brief will NOT include the WH

Want to bet? They're going to try and set it up to be the US version of the Hutton inquiry--a White House White Wash:

By joining the effort to create the commission rather than allowing Congress to develop its framework on its own, Bush will likely have more leverage to keep the focus on the CIA and other intelligence organizations rather than on the White House. Democrats have asserted that Bush exaggerated the intelligence on Iraq to justify going war, a theory that was boosted by recent allegations from former Treasury secretary Paul H. O'Neill that Bush had been contemplating the ouster of Hussein long before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

[4dsc]

35. Looks like the white wash is on!!

Write your congressperson and tell them there needs to be an independent inquiry.. Nothing else will do!!

[formactv]

32. The difference is subtle.

Asked about an independent inquiry on Friday, Bush said: "I want to be able to compare what the Iraq Survey Group has found with what we thought prior to going into Iraq."

[mrdmk]

33. This is going mainstream

<snip>
At this point, the White House has not decided on a deadline for the investigation — a sensitive issue since its findings could become an issue in the presidential campaign which will be decided with the election in November. Given the broad mandate of the investigation, it is not likely to be completed before the November elections.
<snip>

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4049012/

Gee it would be wonder if let out the facts before it becomes a non-issue or one of impeachment.

The new White House motto: Impeach me if you can.

[waywest]

36. Maybe AHHHnold can provide a crack team

As soon as HIS self investigation is completed.

[mrdmk]

38. Actully Arnold will talk to Jeb

Gotta go through channels to get to the top crack. :bounce:

[Rainbows]

40. Roberts ... " Leap Frog" the issue ... No time and n/t

[drscm]

41. Do you suppose that Baker is going to head it?

This is just another White House coverup. Meanwhile the Democrats will sheepishly follow along the road of ther master...

Moral outrage is saved for a former legally-elected president's sex life or Janet's boob, while the play-president f@cks us all.

Every day we are reminded that it is getting more and more difficult to be cynical.

[yellowcanine]

42. Hitler appoints commission to investigate intelligence about Poland Attack

Amid growing controversary about the accuracy of reports that Poland attacked Germany prior to the German counterattack in September, 1939, Chancellor Hitler said Monday he would appoint a chancellor commission to review German intelligence on the Polish attack against Germany. The Chancellor told reporters, "There is no one who wants to find out the truth about the Polish attack more than myself. In fact, this investigation is so important to me that I am thinking of having it led by Joseph Goebbels, who is recognized as being relentless in finding out the truth in matters such as this."

[enki23]

43. "And," Bush decreed,

"All dictionaries are strongly urged to update their definitions of 'independent' to better reflect current usage."

[lumpy]

44. Bush wants intel inquiry to go beyond Iraq

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001848943_weapons02.html

[wabeewoman]

45. Yes, the SOB is going

to try to use this as justification for attacking Syria, Iran and others. I can't believe the nerve of these jerks. Instead of finding that they themselves manipulated intelligence to justify an illegal war they are going to design this 'independent' investigation and look into the other areas of concern to try to justify another war. Daschle was customarily meek and weak in objecting(on ABC news).

[Point_n_click]

46. Since when ...

Since when does a suspect in a crime get to appoint the investigators who will handle the case?

Who the hell do they think they're kidding?

Corrupt bunch of bastards.

[0007]

48. These three probes are bleeding into each other -

Gonna to hard to keep all the lies straight, not counting who said what and when.

1. 911 Investigation -

2. Joe Wilson Investigation -

3. WMD Investigation -

Plus taking heat now as a Commander in Chief that went AWOL while serving in the National Guard.

[TexasPatriot]

49. i dont understand why people are upset over this

If bunnypants has proven anything over the last 3 years... the one thing beyond a shadow of a doubt - that he may be the foremost expert in the world on is...

"what is an intelligence failure"

afterall, he's been a walking intelligence failure his whole life