PressCoverage

Bush Ignored Senate’s Pre-War Intelligence Warning of Post-War Fiasco »

Yesterday, a White House correspondent candidly asked Bush why the American people should trust him as “a credible messenger on the war,” in light of the major mistakes he has made since first invading Iraq:

Q: The majority in the public, a growing number of Republicans, appear not to trust you any longer to be able to carry out this policy successfully. Can you explain why you believe you’re still a credible messenger on the war?

BUSH: I’m credible because I read the intelligence, David.

Watch it:

Today, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released pre-war intelligence that warned the Bush administration in early 2003 that invading Iraq could create massive internal strife, giving extremist groups like al Qaeda new opportunities to expand their influence.

The U.S. intelligence community’s pre-war clairvoyance is notable. While there was originally no link between al Qaeda and Iraq, they accurately predicted how a U.S. invasion would ignite Islamic sentiment against the U.S., allowing terrorists networks like al Qaeda to resurge elsewhere and disrupt regional stability. Some highlights of the report:

“A stable democratic government in postwar Iraq would be a long, difficult, and probably turbulent challenge.”

“Al Qa’ida probably would see an opportunity to accelerate its operational tempo and increase terrorist attacks during and after a U.S.-Iraq war.”

“Rogue ex-regime elements could forge an alliance with existing terrorist organizations or act independently to wage guerilla warfare against the new government or Coalition forces.”

“A US-led defeat and occupation of Arab Iraq would boost proponents of political Islam and would result in ‘calls for the people of the region to unite and build up defenses against the West.’”
“Funds for terrorist groups probably would increase as a result of Muslim outrage over US action.”

But like several other reports, the Bush administration dismissed these predictions. “The committee also found that the warnings predicting what would happen after the U.S.-led invasion were circulated widely in government, including to the Defense Department and the Office of the Vice President.”

Four years after the invasion, these predictions have become reality. Al Qaeda is resurging in Afghanistan and Pakistan, partly funded by allies in Iraq. Anti-U.S. sentiment in the Middle East continues to rise.

Does Bush really “read the intelligence?”

Read the intelligence report HERE.

DarrylS

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
- Sun Tzu

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"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

mikey

QUESTION: The majority in the public, a growing number of Republicans, appear not to trust you any longer to be able to carry out this policy successfully. Can you explain why you believe you’re still a credible messenger on the war?

BUSH's Answer: I’m credible because I read the intelligence, David. [/quote]


What a MORONIC response.

The guy is a certified buffoon.

.

PressCoverage

he didn't read any gawddammed intelligence... he was spoonfed by Cheney and others... this president doesn't read much of anything... certainly not the dossiere he received on 8/6/01...

PatsFanInVa

"All the intelligence I need is in the Book of Revelation..."

Real World

One question, if the senate warned him about all that was going to go wrong, why did they still vote for the war, as opposed to against giving the authority for it?

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"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him."
Leo Tolstoy, 1897

PressCoverage

gosh... 23 senators voted against giving the authority for it...

regardless, what does that have to do with them providing warnings (all of which have come true), and then the administration saying for years "it was impossible to predict... (blah blah blah)?"

wistahpatsfan

RW,
Are you just conducting an exercise in debate tactics?
I agree with you that Congress is just as responsible as the president regardless of who originated the whole insane project without a plan (Bush). I think most of those who oppose the war agree too. The point of the thread is that this imbecile ignored warnings that were clear and it could be reasonably said that he did so on purpose. Forget about deflecting blame for a minute. The focus here is on the actions of the President, who has a special individual responsibility, don't you think?

scout

Furthermore, it was Bush's intentions to go to war with Iraq regardless of anyone's opinion, input, consequences, proof, or justification. In Bush's first cabinet meeting he stated he was just wanted an excuse to attack Iraq. Prior to his presidency, Bush mentions to his biographer (true or false, you make the call) that a war would give him enormous power. Blame Congress if you choose, but the ultimate authority led them down that road.

DarrylS

I get all the news I need from the weather report...

__________________
"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.