CIA warned Bush of no WMDs in Iraq before Bush gave order to invade

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2006/April/focusoniraq_April132.xml§ion=focusoniraq

WASHINGTON - The Central Intelligence Agency warned US President George W. Bush before the Iraq war that it had reliable information the government of Saddam Hussein had no weapons of mass destruction, a retired CIA operative disclosed.

But the operative, Tyler Drumheller, said top White House officials simply brushed off the warning, saying they were “no longer interested” in intelligence and that the policy toward Iraq had been already set.

The disclosure, made in an interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes” program due to be broadcast late Sunday, adds to earlier accusations that the Bush administration used intelligence selectively as it built its case for the March 2003 invasion of Iraq and the toppling of Saddam’s regime.

The administration claimed in the run-up to the war that Baghdad had extensive stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons and was working clandestinely to build a nuclear arsenal, therefore, presenting a threat to the world.

[acmavm]

1. I know that we think and feel that the truth coming out is a wonderful

thing. But believe me, with every revelation by people who were part of the planning of this war on how the real reasons were conquest and control, more and more people around the world will look at our poor country like we view Nazi Germany in the 30s.

People scoff at the comparison of the neocons to the nazis and America to nazi Germany, but they are valid. The aims were/are the same, control of the planet and its resources. A feeling of superiority. A might makes right justification. That's what we have let loose in this country. And there are a firm 30% (die hard fundies and republicans) who support this reasoning and actions.

Our democratics representatives better get off their well-paid asses and start to make some noise. Show how we are not a nation of corrupt and decadent thugs who believe that we have the right to attack an unarmed nation that didn't do a damn thing to us just so that could further the plan of taking over control of the entire Middle East. Genghis bush** and Atilla Cheney need to be turned over to a war crimes tribunal along with the rest of the barbarians. Because to kill indescriminately and without conscience is truly barbaric. During the much vaunted 'Shock and Awe' we DID NOT HIT AND KILL ANYONE BUT INNOCENT IRAQI CIVILIANS. The media and the Pentagon and the White House lied during the build-up and the initial phase of the 'war' about our successes. Mission Accomplished and all that. We have to try to redeem ourselves in the eyes of the world for what these lying criminal bastards have done. People celebrate the arrest and coming trial of Pinochet. Well, this cabal have killed way more innocent people than he and his junta ever did. Just think how the world would celebrate if this bunch were brought to justice.

[Arkansas Granny]

2. I think that Bush's "shock and awe" of Baghdad was probably

comparable to German's blitz of London in 1940.

[tanyev]

3. "Slam-Dunk" Tenet needs to return his Medal of Freedom.