Why isn't anybody commenting on the Senate Intelligence Committee

[gateley]

findings which show we were lied into this war?

As far as I know, Obama hasn't referenced it (PLEASE let me know if I'm wrong) and there appears to be a dearth of outrage from the Senate and House members who are usually vociferous on stuff like this (Biden, Kerry come to mind).

This should be THE story all over the media. WTF?

[tekisui]

1. Now, is Obama's chance to show what he is all about.

For the next 5 months, every word he says will be covered in the media. He can raise awareness for ANY issue. I would like to see him put focus on the War Criminals. But, I'm not holding my breath.

[MarjorieG]

10. Kerry spoke about a lot, but was never covered. Like ABC dissing Obama when he's critical of McSame

[babylonsister]

2. Pelosi has, FWIW. Maybe next week we'll hear more:

http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?p=1365

Senate Reports Confirm Administration Justification for Iraq War Built on Deception
June 5th, 2008 by Speaker Pelosi


The reports issued today by a bipartisan majority of the Senate Intelligence Committee are additional confirmation of the fact that the Bush Administration’s justification for invading Iraq was built on false pretenses, misrepresentations, and deception.

The Administration relied on more than bad intelligence in making the case for war; it promoted as true the claim that there was a link between Iraq and al-Qaeda when the Administration knew that claim was unsupported by intelligence.

Six years, tens of thousands of deaths — including more than 4,000 brave U.S. troops — and hundreds of billions of dollars later, the American people continue to pay a heavy price for the Administration’s falsely conceived and poorly planned war of choice in Iraq.

[gateley]

4. I'm glad she posted that statement -

I was hoping for more, though. :7 Outrage! Threats of prosecution! Whatever.

Thanks for this. We'll have to see what happens.

[babylonsister]

3. Oh, and the intel committee 'scolded' the wh:

White House scolded on prewar claims
Al Qaeda link to Iraq exaggerated, Senate panel says

Greg Miller, Los Angeles Times


(06-06) 04:00 PDT Washington - --

In a long-awaited report, the Senate Intelligence Committee rebuked President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney on Thursday for making prewar claims - particularly that Iraq had close ties to al Qaeda - that were not backed by available intelligence.

The report, which was supported by some Republicans but criticized by many others, accuses the president and other members of his administration of repeatedly exaggerating the evidence of an al Qaeda connection to take advantage of the charged climate after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"In making the case for war, the administration repeatedly presented intelligence as fact when in reality it was unsubstantiated, contradicted, or even nonexistent," said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. "Sadly, the Bush administration led the nation into war under false pretenses."

The report amounts to the most direct rebuke to date of the Bush administration's use of intelligence to build support for the Iraq war. But the document, which catalogs hundreds of statements by administration officials, stops short of calling for any further inquiry or punishment.

more...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/06/06/MNF411456V.DTL

[gateley]

5. Scolded? Exaggerated??

Man, they are sure softballing this. :grr:

[RC]

9. Golly Gee, ya think? Really?

Cheney for sure need to spend the rest of his life in a 8X10 cage in the middle of a 30X40 foot room. The only people he every sees are his guards and a doctor to make sure he stays healthy for as long as possible..

[spanone]

6. because the media was complicit

[ProSense]

7. KO had a good piece on it lastnight

"We Should Not Let Them Back into Polite Society" - Richard Clarke on GWB and His Cronies

Posted 6/6/2008 8:40 AM CDT

On Countdown last night, Keith went after GWB and his administration over the new Phase 2 Report on Iraq intelligence issued yesterday under chairman Jay Rockefeller. The conclusions reached by this report were vastly different from the Phase 1 report under Republican Senator Pat Roberts, where he essentially stonewalled any serious investigation for over 2 years until the Dems took the Senate in 2006. The report documents the manipulation of intelligence, the distortions, and the outright lies told to the world to whip up a war against a country that had not harmed us and was no threat to us.

In an interview with Keith, Richard Clarke, chief of counter terrorism under Clinton and demoted by GWB, talked about just how egregious the lies and distortions by the Bush administration were in the runup to the war. In his conclusion, Clarke made a startling assertion that I happen to agree with. When asked about repercussions for those who lied, he said that at a minimum, "We should not allow these people back into polite society and give them jobs on university boards and corporate boards and just pretend that nothing happened when there are over 4,000 Americans dead and over 25,000 Americans grievously wounded. They'll carry those wounds and suffer all the rest of their lives. Someone should have to pay, in some way."

Here's the interview in it's entirety:

http://www.chron.com/commons/persona.html?newspaperUserId=eljefebob&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaS">Keith Olbermann And Richard Clark

Impeachment is what GWB and Cheney deserved at a minimum. It is way too late for that, obviously, but there should be a public reckoning for those who perpetrated this war based on exaggerated intelligence and outright lies to the American people.

Iran, Iraq and Syria was also in focus, and Kerry and Hagel wrote this op-ed:

OPINION

It's Time to Talk to Syria

By JOHN KERRY and CHUCK HAGEL
June 5, 2008; Page A19

After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1991, President George H.W. Bush did the improbable and convinced Syrian President Hafez Assad to join an American-led coalition against a fellow Baathist regime.

Today, these leaders' sons have another chance for a diplomatic breakthrough that could redefine the strategic landscape in the Middle East.

The recent announcement of peace negotiations between Israel and Syria through Turkey, and the agreement between the Lebanese factions in Qatar – both apparently without meaningful U.S. involvement – should serve as a wake-up call that our policy of nonengagement has isolated us more than the Syrians. These developments also help create new opportunities and increased leverage that we can only exploit through substantive dialogue with Syria.

Syria's leaders have always made cold calculations in the name of self-preservation, and history shows that intensive diplomacy can pay off. Secretary of State James Baker made more than a dozen trips to Syria before Operation Desert Storm, and remember President Assad's price: U.S. support for Syrian dialogue with Israel. The ultimate challenge – moving Syria away from its marriage of convenience with Iran – will certainly not happen overnight. But it's telling that Iran lobbied Syria not to negotiate with Israel and that Syria decided to proceed regardless.

To support Israel and isolate Iran, President George W. Bush should offer direct support for the Israeli-Syrian initiative. Promoting peace between our ally and its neighbors has always been a bipartisan cornerstone of our foreign policy. Syria views peace talks with Israel as part of a broader rapprochement with America, and its strong desire for U.S. involvement can work to our advantage. We know that high level, direct talks will require a sustained and credible American role, just as they did in 2000, when President Bill Clinton met repeatedly with Mr. Assad in bringing Syria and Israel to the brink of a deal. With so much at stake, it's in our interests to come to the table again.

The agreement by the Lebanese parties provides another opening. Syria must respect Lebanon's sovereignty and end its deadly meddling. But the fact that Syria's ally, Hezbollah, secured much of the political power it sought should remove Syria's excuse for failing to open an embassy, normalize relations, and finally demarcate the border with Lebanon. Hezbollah must eventually be disarmed, as United Nations Resolutions 1559 and 1701 require, but its agreement not to use force internally could be used to push Syria to shut off the supply of weapons.

more

[gateley]

15. Thanks ProSense! nt

[wisteria]

8. We have been saying this since 2004, now we have proof positive and no one cares that a man

who lied to those he was suppose to lead was re-elected president.
There is something very wrong when people ignore the truth.

[YvonneCa]

14. I think most people never heard about the report...

...like we DU folks. I know so many people who are just focussed elsewhere. And I agree with you...there is something wrong here.

[jasmine621]

11. Everyone is still swooning over the obama win.

They will come down to earth by November.

[Kool Kitty]

17. The media may be still "swooning" over the Obama win, and

the "what will Hillary do next" stuff, but lots of us out here want to know what the hell is going to be done about this and why is the friggin' media not covering anything about this. I'm sick of hearing non-stories with breathless, play-by-play about the big meeting last night, the wall-to-wall coverage of tomorrow's speech, McCain's boring campaign and the other bullshit that they are talking about. This is huge. When Scotty was making the rounds talking to every talking head that would give him air time, this was big news. He was a "disgruntled ex-employee", he didn't know what he was talking about, etc. Now that what he was saying is a proven fact, and these people should be impeached or on trial, not even a whisper. We always knew the reasons given for this war were bullshit. I am furious that this isn't even the fifth story on any newscast.

[sfam]

12. ***Breaking News! Bush lied about intelligence***

Welcome to 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and now...

Yeah, its interesting and stuff, but we all already know this. No outrage necessary - other than what we've already expressed.

[TheDonkey]

13. We knew he lied many years ago :(

[gateley]

16. We've known it

but this is a Senate Intelligence Committee report! What would we be thinking if we were in Europe? We'd be thinking NOW will those Americans throw the bum out?