Iraq, Iran: Is the Bush administration telling more lies to justify more war?

Question

President Bush's Defense Secratary Robert Gates said yesterday that Iran's government (Shiite) is supplying the Taliban (Sunni) weapons in Afghanistan.

Is this yet another propaganda campaign, first the lies about WMDs in IRAQ-now IRAN is the new boogie man, to keep the United States in ever more Military Wars in the Middle East?

The commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, Gen. McNeill, contradicted Gates and implied that the arms trafficking from Iran is being carried out by private interests, not the government of Iran. "[W]hen you say weapons being provided by Iran, that would suggest there is some more formal entity involved in getting these weapons here," he told Jim Loney of Reuters June 5. "That's not my view at all."

Answer 1

Has Bush ever heard of a little story called "The Boy who cried Wolf"?

Answer 2

It's been like that since the whole thing about Iran supplying weapons began - the Shrub distorts, you decide.

Gen Peter Pace (the highest military man in the US) said the exact same thing not too long ago.

Answer 3

Here is an interesting article outlining the conflicting views between the Sec. State Rice and V.P. Chenney.

The Vice President is accused in the article of "cherry picking intelligence" to support his view war is better than diplomacy with Iran.

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/52992/

The office of Vice President pressed for intelligence to support invasion of Iraq.

If this and other reports are correct, the same technique is being applied to Iran from the same source.
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An Indian report quotes a Taliban official stating publicly Pakistan Intelligence is supplying equipment.

"Mullah Jamal traveled to Pakistan for talks with ISI officials last month, the Taleban commander said, following up the deal to supply 700 motorbikes, rocket-propelled grenades, Kalashnikov rifles, wireless sets, dozens of satellite phones, torches and radios."

http://news.indiainfo.com/2003/11/30/30taliban.html

Pakistan officials supplying material support to Taliban fighters does not negate any supply by Iran, but it does indicate intelligence concerning supplies to the Taliban is being used selectively in relation to policy.
................................................

One thing is sure:

When intelligence is selected to justify policy already decided upon,

rather than policy guided by facts gathered from intelligence,

the best interests of the nation is not sought.


The Sec. of State appears to favor diplomacy with Iran at this time.

Answer 4

sure ... and whether they have not got self belief it the folk in this us of a tend to allow our government do as they like without protest. The bush administration has gotten away with lots under the table politics it makes me unwell to the tummy. If our information media and different elected officers might end being afraid to do their jobs we does no longer be having this verbal substitute. human beings greater efficient pay greater interest to how our government is transforming into a dictatorship with the wealthy stepping everywhere in the middle and undesirable human beings of this us of a. as quickly as we elect to concentration on it it will be too late. yet another conflict and this conflict is filling the wallet of the wealthy mutually as youthful undesirable and center classification individuals are loss of existence

Answer 5

The only thing that pisses me off is that people are still going in for war

Answer 6

Didn't lie about WMDs. Everyone knows he had them, the question is where are they. Also had Sadaam kept to the treaty he signed after the Gulf War he would still be in power.

Answer 7

Well, considering the only person saying we should attack Iran is a Leiberman, a Democrat,
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/10/ftn/main2908476.shtml

And that Iraq's WMDs were found in Syria
http://www.2la.org/syria/iraq-wmd.php

And considering A LOT of Dems made statements about Iraq when they VOTED FOR US TO GO TO WAR

"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."
President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998.

"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."
President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998.

"Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face."
Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998.

"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998

"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs."
Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others Oct. 9, 1998.

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998.

"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."
Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999.

"There is no doubt that . Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies."
Letter to President Bush, Signed by Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL,) and others, Dec, 5, 2001.

"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them."
Sen. Carl Levin (d, MI), Sept. 19, 2002.

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."
Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.

"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power."
Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seing and developing weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002.

"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..."
Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002.

"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force — if necessary — to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security."
Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002.

"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years . We also should remember we have alway s underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Jay Rockerfeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002,

"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do."
Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002.

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002

"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction. "[W]ithout question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation. And now he has continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real ...
Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003


I'd say you should watch more than just Liberal Media outlets if you want to know what's really going on, instead of what they want you to believe.