Top Senate Democrat concerned about Bush and Iran (Rockefeller)

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N22191773.htm


INTERVIEW-Top Senate Democrat concerned about Bush and Iran

WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - The Democratic chairman of the U.S. Senate intelligence committee said on Monday he is concerned President George W. Bush could act against Iran despite uncertainties about Tehran's intentions in the Middle East.

Sen. John Rockefeller of West Virginia, in an interview with Reuters, also said be believes Japan could become a nuclear armed nation within the next six years in response to North Korea's test of a nuclear weapon and an aggressive military buildup by China.

The 69-year-old lawmaker, one of a handful in Congress to be briefed on the most highly sensitive intelligence, said any U.S. attack on Iran would make little sense given how stretched American forces have become in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I can't imagine, given the condition and the amplitude or lack of amplitude of our troops, that we would undertake such a mission," Rockefeller said.

"But I can't completely cast that out of my mind because I don't know how the president makes decisions," he added. "Go back to how it was he got us into Iraq."

[diane in sf]

1. Bush would do any horrible thing one could imagine. eom

[shain from kane]

2. "...because I don't know how the president makes decisions," We're all in the dark on that one.

[cal04]

3. Rockefeller: Iraq drains security funds

The new chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said he fears the government will not have enough money for homeland security and other domestic priorities because of President Bush's " Iraq adventure."

In an interview on Monday, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., criticized almost every major facet of the Bush administration's national security course since Sept. 11, 2001. "The president has in a sense walked away from the war on terror," Rockefeller said.

Because of what he termed a misplaced fascination with Iraq based on faulty intelligence, Rockefeller said al-Qaida and0 Afghanistan have been neglected. He said he worries that U.S. intelligence on Iran is lacking, and what the nation knows about North Korea is even worse.

And he recently told Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson that domestic programs — such as education, health care, the environment and homeland security — are suffering. "That is one of my great, great worries about this Iraq adventure: the shortage of money for homeland security," he said.

Economically, "everything is going to close up and get tougher, and it's all because of the budget and the result of something called Iraq," Rockefeller later added. "I am furious about that."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070122/ap_on_go_co/senate_intelligence_1

[madrchsod]

4. it`s getting to be a bright light turned on in a dark room

no intelligent person can not deny what the see

[Lasher]

5. It took awhile for Jay to get really mad, but watch out now.

Things are quite a bit different when you're in the majority and chair the Intelligence Committee.

[donkeyotay]

6. I hope "concerned" is diplomatic speak for "terrified"

"I can't imagine, given the condition and the amplitude or lack of amplitude of our troops, that we would undertake such a mission," Rockefeller said.

"But I can't completely cast that out of my mind because I don't know how the president makes decisions," he added. "Go back to how it was he got us into Iraq."

Yes, let's go back to how he got us into Iraq. Recall the famous neocon quote about how they create reality, and while we're reacting to it, they create more.

We should be worried about George's messianic visions re: Israel. We should be worried when we hear Richard Perle say:

"Would this president do it? I think that until the day he leaves office, this is a president that, if he is told, 'Mr. President, you are at the point of no return,' I have very little doubt that this president would order the necessary military action."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2698137