Analyst: White House lied on Iraq (Ray McGovern)

[huckleberry]

By Donna Jackel
Staff writer

(October 20, 2003) — The Bush administration lied to Congress to pave the way for war with Iraq, alleged a former CIA analyst who visited Rochester on Sunday.

Ray McGovern, 64, who was a CIA analyst from 1964 to 1990, was guest speaker at Metro Justice’s annual dinner.

The Bush administration’s deception of the American people began a year ago, according to McGovern. It was then that former Ambassador Joseph Wilson made a trip to Africa to investigate claims that Iraq was seeking uranium to build nuclear weapons.

Wilson reported to the Bush administration that the allegations were false. But the Bush administration reported to Congress that intelligence indicated Saddam Hussein was hiding weapons of mass destruction.

President Bush also gave “many” speeches linking Iraq to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, McGovern said.

“Never have I seen such a cynically orchestrated campaign over a year and a half,’’ he said. “Only a few weeks ago did Bush admit that Iraq was not involved in any way with 9/11.”

snip

If the Bush administration doesn’t let the United Nations take over administration of Iraq, McGovern said, he worries that the situation will turn into another Vietnam.

more at

http://www.rochesterdandc.com/news/10209624DCB_cia20_news.shtml

[JNelson6563]

1. Team Bush shouldn't have messed with

the spooks. Their arrogance prevented them from seeing the folly of this and now they will fall because of it. BFEE of all people should know better.

Julie

[snippy]

3. I know you are right about messing with the spooks. I hope you are right

about the fall. The CIA will not let this die until it gets what it wants. I think it makes sense that the career spooks want Whistle Ass gone.

[maggrwaggr]

2. but McCain said that if we do leave, it will turn into a quagmire!

how's that for backwards republican logic?

Uh ... if we leave .... Iraq will turn into another Vietnam.

If we stay ..... it will all be rosy.

He actually said this!

The guy is PSYCHO.

[transeo]

5. He's right, we can't leave

We made a huge mess and a huge mistake, but to completely pull out will make it far, far worse.

What we need is U.N. control over the situation with some of our troops and money to help out. We can't abandon the Iraqi people after destroying their country, and we can't leave it to the rest of the world to clean up our mess.

[Dhalgren]

6. Bull!

The Iraqi people are more than capable of governing themselves. We should pay reparations for the damage we have done, but we need to pull out now. Our presence there is only making things worse, not better. If the Iraqis really needed us they wouldn't be killing us. US out!

[MGKrebs]

7. Yeah but here's the dilemma...

Shrub's not gonna get any help as long as he's calling the shots. And he won't invite anybody else in UNLESS he gets to call the shots.

Only way out (and I've just recently come to this conclusion), declare victory, pull out, which leaves room for the UN to move in, and they can invite US back if they want.

The problem with this is, I am convinced that Shrub (or Cheney anyway) wants permanent military bases in Iraq, and the only way they are going to get them is if they rig the leadership over there. That ain't gonna happen if the UN is in charge.

It's going to take a new president to get the true clean up/fix up started.

[Dhalgren]

8. Yeah, that is the problem.

But the only way we can have bases in Iraq is at the point of a gun, regardless of what kind of puppet regime we install. The sooner we start treating other nations as adults and not as little "darky" children, the sooner we will be able to get out from under this supposed "terrorist" threat. We need to get the hell out of Iraq, and start taking care of our own business. Sorry if I rant, this is beginning to get the best of me - how many more killed today?

[Zhade]

11. This is an excellent point, Dhalgren!

"The sooner we start treating other nations as adults and not as little "darky" children, the sooner we will be able to get out from under this supposed "terrorist" threat."

You nailed it. All of the arrogance, hubris, and brutal 'fathering' of other countries that the U.S. does, wrapped up with one very clear change that must be made.

Rock on!

[RainDog]

12. Dhalgren, you are so right

However, for people who are part of the establishment which governs this country, I think they are still in denial at the moment. They almost "have to" believe that staying is better than going because if they were to go now, it would be an admission that this whole venture was a horrible mess.

Pride goeth before a fall, though. They should try to remember that as well.

But they also have to contend with the faction in this country which thinks the proper U.S. response to anyone is to bomb them to oblivion. Pols won't be rational because they might be labled as wusses.

Ask the soldiers who are dying, the ones who are kept in squalor while awaiting treatment for injuries if they are wusses for thinking America should get the hell out of Iraq...and, you know, I wish some of those soldiers could have the chance to look those in face who can talk so blithely about sending our soldiers into danger while they play armchair quarterbacks.

But, yes, I agree that Iraq is not going to bend to George's will. I don't think he will ever acknowledge this, though, and the world will pay for the political dirty tricks he will employ to keep himself from having to face this truth.

It's very possible that Iraq will split into three nations, after a civil war, no matter when we leave. We are definitely not making any allies their with our current policies, and seem to be making more Iraqis furious.

They don't want Bush or Osama to meddle in their affairs, and if I were in their position, I imagine I would feel the same.

[damnraddem]

9. No, staying is making it far, far worse.

Dubya is going to blow that country to bits, especially if he goes ahead with his idiocy of important Turkish troops. We made a mess, and Iraq may not recover from it soon; but it will be worse if we remain as conquerer ... err occupier ... err savior. We should pay for the cleanup, but we cannot trust Dubya to be in charge of that clean up, or the only ones to clean up will be Dubya's corporate cronies.

Support our troops in Iraq -- bring them ALL home NOW!

[trapper914]

14. Why we'll never leave

It's the WMD, Stupid. The Bushistas have painted themselves into a corner with this one. They cannot leave Iraq until the question is answered once and for all. Where are the WMD?

They either have to be found (ain't gonna happen), or the mis-administration has to admit they don't exist (really ain't gonna happen). Outside of planting them, we're in gridlock here.

[0007]

4. .....and junior still thinks the intelligence was great!

Can't wait for the big protest this week-end.

This will grab some attention now that the media is beginning to stir.

The heat is going up on junior and his numbers are going down.

[damnraddem]

10. The intelligence may or may not have been great.

But the problem was the lack of intelligence of the Bushistas, who lied about the intelligence, and everything else.

[RainDog]

13. I think Osama took a page from the U.S. playbook

in the U.S. claims that they bankrupted the USSR by the protracted war in Afghanistan.

Look at what's happening now.

We are facing huge deficits because Bush gave away so many tax cuts to the richest of the rich, while we are spending more and more to support action in both Afghanistan and now Iraq.

If Bush and his thugs succeed in their goal to dismantle the entire social contract in America, they can be sure to face opposition from those of us at home, as well.

They cut vet benefits, leave them undersupplied, deny them leave, and they don't think they might face a rebellion in the ranks for these terrible conditions?

Both Iraq and Afghanistan have the benefit of time going for them. In guerilla war, you have to merely outlast the enemy, not establish an occupying power or build an infrastructure.

We could pour money into Iraq like a money pit while guerillas continue to blow up parts of pipelines which make it impossible to use Iraq's oil to restore economic solvency.

The warlords in Afghanistan have their fiefdoms away from the city to maintain their bases of power and wait out the occupation.

When Russia invaded Afghanistan, the warlords fought back with antiquated equipment, and yet they beat the Soviets.

We cannot bomb an entire nation into submission, no matter what conservatives may want to believe. There will always be those who survive to carry on guerilla tactics.

But since Bush had no idea, going in, what he could realistically expect, there's no reason to think he can see this now. Especially when he gets his news spoon-fed to him by his neo-con nannies.