Rummy: intel reports can be uneven, and "sometimes it's just flat wrong"

[sabra]

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/politics/15630965.htm

Rumsfeld comments on intelligence report

PORTOROZ, Slovenia - It is impossible to know with any precision whether the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have created more terrorists than they've killed, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Thursday.

In his first extensive remarks about a recent U.S. intelligence report saying the threat of terrorism has risen, Rumsfeld told reporters at a NATO meeting that, in general, the value of intelligence reports can be uneven, and "sometimes it's just flat wrong."

But he added that, "the implication that if you stop killing or capturing people who are trying to kill you, then therefore the world would be a better place, is obviously nonsensical."

http://www.fas.org/irp/cia/product/iraq-wmd.html

Key Judgments (from October 2002 NIE)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Iraq's Continuing Programs for Weapons of Mass Destruction
We judge that Iraq has continued its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs in defiance of UN resolutions and restrictions. Baghdad has chemical and biological weapons as well as missiles with ranges in excess of UN restrictions; if left unchecked, it probably will have a nuclear weapon during this decade. (See INR alternative view at the end of these Key Judgments.)

We judge that we are seeing only a portion of Iraq's WMD efforts, owing to Baghdad's vigorous denial and deception efforts. Revelations after the Gulf war starkly demonstrate the extensive efforts undertaken by Iraq to deny information. We lack specific information on many key aspects of Iraq's WMD programs.

[Avalux]

1. Whoa - let me try to wrap my head around that contradictory mess.

Sorry! Can't do it! :silly:

[JHB]

3. It's very simple: What's the constant element in "flat wrong"?

Rummy himself, of course. If he says one thing, bet on the truth lying elsewhere.

[bullimiami]

2. who you gonna trust rummys lying hole or those intel reports.

[underpants]

4. Who said anything about stopping killing or capturing people?

I mean other than Rummy. Anyone? Anyone have an idea of who might have said that?

[grytpype]

5. How about bombing and invading a country that was not trying to kill us

is that nonsensical too? Heavens to Betsy, yes.

[dkofos]

6. If only one intelligence agency said it, I may be inclined to agree.

BUT IT WAS A CONSENSUS OF ALL 16 INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Let's see, we've killed 4,000 in Iraq alone and created...oh, what...

about 4,000,000!