Lieberman: Criticism Of Administration’s Iran Intelligence Is ‘Unwarranted’

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/27/lieberman-iran-intel/

Lieberman: Criticism Of Administration’s Iran Intelligence Is ‘Unwarranted’

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) said today that he is upset that critics have been questioning the administration’s intelligence on Iran, calling the reaction “unwarranted.” Lieberman said the “danger point” learned from the criticism is that the media and politicians reacted with “suspicion.” “I wouldn’t start with suspicion,” Lieberman said.

Lieberman also encouraged the intelligence community to push their conclusions further and complained that there has been a reluctance of people in the administration to do so. He spoke out against what he sees as “a kind of defensiveness — I dare not call it timidity” of the intelligence community due to incorrect judgments made in the lead-up to Iraq.

Watch it at link:

Skepticism is entirely justified. The White House stated without evidence that the highest levels of the Iranian government were responsible for weapons transfers to Iraqi insurgents, but later conceded that the intelligence went “a little too far.” Prodded by bloggers, the media has begun to assert “intelligent skepticism” on Iran.

A Senate Intelligence Committe inquiry on pre-war Iraq intelligence found that more action was needed to “challenge assumptions and group think.” Lieberman’s approach dooms Congress to repeating its previous failure.

Transcript:

LIEBERMAN: I thought that the reaction to the briefing first given in Baghdad, and then later here, about Iranian involvement in Iraq showed two danger points.

The first was that a lot of people responded both in government and the Congress and in the media with a suspicion to the intelligence that came out that I thought was unwarranted. We give a lot of money to the intelligence community, taxpayer money to the intelligence community. Doesn’t mean you are flawless. You make mistakes, but I wouldn’t start with suspicion towards what you are recommending.

And the other part which was troubling what Senator Levin referred to before is the reluctance by the people in the administration to draw a conclusion that I would call highly probable. In other words, a kind of defensiveness — I dare not call it timidity — based on previous criticism of conclusions drawn from intelligence.

<…>

So it would be, to me, shocking if the Quds force was carrying out this mission in Iraq without Ayatollah Khamanei knowing it. And I think we have to count on you on moments like that to tell us what may not be certain, but is highly probable based on everything we know.

[Fresh_Start]

1. lieberman reelection unwarranted is more like it

CT you should have known better

[texpatriot2004]

2. Lieberman is a TRAITOR nm

[Bonhomme Richard]

4. I agree. It is not this nations interest he...............

is beholden to.

[texpatriot2004]

15. Exactly. I think he's a traitor to Party and Country. nm

[rodeodance]

3. He blames it all on the Intell people-Not what Adm DID with it after they

received the intell.

[sakabatou]

5. I will criticize the government whenever I fucking want to

And no one will tell me that I can't!

[Ninja Jordan]

6. The media's role is to be suspicious you idiot.

[AX10]

7. And again he's up the ass of Mr. Bush.

This is sad! He is NOT my Senator! 1/3rd of the state's Democrats voted for this asshole! WHY??? WE could have had Ned Lamont as our Senator!

:argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh:

[enuffs_enuffs]

8. Just go away Joe! n/t

[JerseygirlCT]

9. Lieberman is unwarranted nt

[roguevalley]

10. I don't know ANYONE personally or historically that I despise

more than this insect. NO ONE!

[Beetwasher]

11. Ugh, What A Vile Human Being

n/t

[gratuitous]

12. The administration and the military led the criticism!

After that "anonymous" press briefing, the higher-ups in both the military and the administration criticized the intelligence about Iran, Mr. Lieberman. I guess the reporter failed to record the part of your comments where you denigrated them, huh?

And why wouldn't you be skeptical of an administration that has been so wrong so often, has exaggerated findings for maximum bloodlust, and even betrayed the country when it suited their political ends? Now that the factory has been found in southern Iraq that puts the lie to just about every allegation made in the anonymous briefing, why in the world would you want the intelligence community to lie harder?

Which side, Mr. Lieberman? At long last, whose side are you on?

[EndElectoral]

13. I am trying hard to contain the profanity I feel like shouting out right now towards this man!

[Jacobin]

14. "Yeah, let's you go blow up Iran, and stop asking why."

What a gutless, slimey excuse for a human he is.

[zulchzulu]

16. Dictionary definition of "unwarranted" and some other definitions for reference

un·war·rant·ed (?n-wôr'?n-t?d, -w?r'-) adj. Having no justification; groundless: unwarranted interference. See Synonyms at baseless.

base·less
–adjective having no base; without foundation; groundless: a baseless claim.

OK... so I looked up "Lieberman":

Lie-ber-man (lie-bore-man) n. stupid or silly or contemptible person; a dolt. A thoroughly contemptible, detestable person

[Initech]

17. Lieberman is like a bad reality TV show. No matter how many times you get rid of him...

he keeps coming back for more.