Is Covert Military Action in Iran ‘Under the CNN Line’?
Is Covert Military Action in Iran ‘Under the CNN Line’?
Retired Air Force Col. Sam Gardiner stirred interest last week by stating that “the decision has been made and military operations are under way” in Iran. In an interview yesterday, Gardiner discussed a similar series of covert military operations that occured in Iraq in 2002 — months before either the full-scale invasion in March 2003 or even the passage of the Congressional Iraq resolution in October 2002.
Then, in mid-2002, U.S. and British forces “doubled the rate at which they were dropping bombs on Iraq…in an attempt to provoke Saddam Hussein into giving the allies an excuse for war.” The bombings received scant attention from the traditional media at the time, but that was by design. According to Gardiner, Rumsfeld had told the military, “you can begin to bomb Iraq, but don’t let it appear on CNN“:
COL. SAM GARDINER: Well, the evidence is beginning to accumulate that a decision has already been made to use military force in Iran. Now, let me do a historical thing, and then I’ll tell you what the current evidence is. We now know that the decision and the actual actions to bomb Iraq occurred in July of 2002, before we ever had a U.N. resolution or before the Congress ever authorized it. It was an operation called Southern Focus, and the only guidance that the military — or the guidance that the military had from Rumsfeld was keep it below the CNN line. His specific words. The evidence that we’ve already –
AMY GOODMAN: Keep it below what?
COL. SAM GARDINER: The CNN line. In other words, I don’t want this to appear on CNN, okay? That was his guidance to the military, you can begin to bomb Iraq, but don’t let it appear on CNN.
Reports by Seymour Hersh and others indicate that U.S. forces are already working in Iran: marking targets, “working with minority groups” and exiles, and “encourag[ing] ethnic tensions.” Will traditional media outlets avert their eyes again?
Read the full interview HERE.
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
121 Responses to “Is Covert Military Action in Iran ‘Under the CNN Line’?”
Register
RSSLogin
Topic Cloud
Jesus. This is mind-boggling– the things the military can get away with as long as it’s not reported…
April 18th, 2006 at 3:35 pmGardiner has reallyb een incredible on Iran. He’s consistently out there with a strong, intelligent line, and he’s very reputable. Hope he keeps it up.
April 18th, 2006 at 3:35 pmIran-o-mania…
I might be able to get the clip from last night’s show and if I do, I’ll post it. But I want to bring everyone up to speed on Iran and provide y’all with some background links. I’m pretty convinced by the conversation I had last night with another …
April 18th, 2006 at 3:38 pmNow all the gov’t needs is another staged terror attack to legitimize the agenda.
April 18th, 2006 at 3:39 pmWell if they guy is going on CNN to talk about how their going to keep it under the CNN line, it seems like hes shooting his Iran argument in the foot.
April 18th, 2006 at 3:49 pmThe US military has been in Iran for many months now running “quiet” operations of all kinds.
We are now empire. Forget democracy. Forget republic.
The only way unilateral action like this can take place is if the head monkey is an Emperor/Dictator/Despot.
April 18th, 2006 at 3:58 pmGreat catch, and very scary!
April 18th, 2006 at 4:01 pmearth to squeegee - read the links…especially the last one…
April 18th, 2006 at 4:05 pm#8 Earth to earth
I’m not contending that it isn’t happening, I’m contending that it isn’t under the CNN line if the guy was on CNN talking about it.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:08 pmYa know, at one time, “our” government was probably quite transparent–the people supposedly in charge (us, the voters) probably knew a good deal of what was actually going on in our name and with our tax dollars. That sure ain’t the case now. Anyone who still thinks we live in some form of elected, representative government is thoroughly deluded. The big money multinationalists call the shots now–and “our” military works for them, not us.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:10 pmWe must to remove this administration before it’s too late.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:11 pmTHEPRESIDENT HAS TO START THE WAR THIS WAY BECAUSE YOU WUSSIE LIBERALS DONT HAVE THE GUTS TO DEFEND AMERICA FROM ISLAMIC NUT-JOBS. I KNOW YOU’D ALL WAIT UNTILL NEW YORK CITY IS BURNING, BEFORE YOU TOOK ANY ACTION.
GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD BOMB THE IRANIANS AND SO WOULD LINCOLN. THEY BOTH KNEW HOW TO KICK ASS , PUT THE SLAUGHTER DOWN, AND DEFEND THIS COUNTRY.
WILL ALL THE FRUITY LITTLE ISOLATIONIST WIMPY DEMOCRATS JUST ACCEPT THAT BUSH IS IN CHARGE AND HE, HE ALONE, NOT THE ERRAND BOYS IN CONGRESS, WILL DECIDE WHEN TO SMASH IRAN ?
AND ONCE THIS LONG OVERDUE IRANIAN WAR HAS STARTED ………… JUST STOP COMPLAING !!! WATCH AMERICA DO WHAT THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS NO BALLS TO DO : MAKE THE WORLD SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY.
BUSH IS THE DECIDER, AND HE DECIDES WHEN TO SAY ::: BOMBS AWAY
April 18th, 2006 at 4:13 pmSo Mr. Anvil, I suppose you will be at the local recruiters office tomorrow?
April 18th, 2006 at 4:14 pmwhat, no bold, just all caps, you must not really mean what you say!
April 18th, 2006 at 4:16 pm“… if the guy was on CNN talking about it.”
April 18th, 2006 at 4:17 pmDUH! HE WASN’T ON CNN - READ THE LAST LINK
NO. I WONT BE ENLISTING. I HAVE A LUCRATIVE CARREER BECAUSE I WENT TO COLLEGE. THERE IS AN OFFICRE SHORTAGE SO IF I WAS IN THE MILITARY I WOULD BE COMMISSIONED AS A IETENANT IN A SECOND. I’D PREFER NOT TO BE AN OFFICER. ID RATHER BE IN THE INFANTRY. I’D HAVE MORE RESPECT FOR MYSELF THAT WAY.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:19 pmIn addition, maybe I missed it, but it seems like all the current ‘military’ actions in Iran are intelligance gathering/bribing type missions. Something that needs to be started earlier rather then later in case there is an actual need for a military strike on Iran.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:19 pmThis administration has completely fucked up.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:22 pmWhat’s left for them to do, self destruct?
Clearly, that must be the course of action they’re adhering to so firmly.
If what Gardiner has said is true, then any politician in Congress who has known about this, especially the Republicans, should introduce impeachment proceedings as soon as possible. Not only were bombs dropped illegally on Iraq in the middle of 2002, which was six to eight months before the invasion officially began, the military then ordered the bombing rate doubled to entice Saddam Hussein to go to war. How many innocent Iraqis were killed and seriously wounded and maimed by these bombs which were rained down upon them? These people should be tried in The Hague for war crimes against humanity. This story should be on the major networks and the front pages of this country but except for outlets like Democracy Now! and Think Progress, almost no one will hear about this. This is serious stuff and major news but no one seems to care. Certainly not the politicians and especially the party in power, which is seemingly allowing this to happen by giving the Bush administration carte blanche to act. Where are the men and women who possess honor, integrity and principle in this country? So much for the idea of accountability and justice for those who are in power.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:22 pmThe invasion of Iran is the real reason Bush wants Rumsfeld as Secrtary of Defense. What other stooge can Bush depend on to do his bidding. Bush needs to be stopped dead in his tracks.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:24 pmThen doesnt that mean that Bush has just violated the U.S. Constitution YET AGAIN…
The constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure.
~George Washington
Only Congress has the power…
To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water;
April 18th, 2006 at 4:27 pmThe invasion of Iran is the real reason Bush wants Rumsfeld as Secrtary of Defense. What other stooge can Bush depend on to do his bidding. Bush needs to be stopped dead in his tracks.
Comment by turtle — April 18, 2006 @ 4:24 pm
LIEBERMAN WOULD BE HIS STOOGE AS SEC. OF DEFENSE.
LIEBERMAN WOULD LOVE TO NUKE IRAN
April 18th, 2006 at 4:28 pm#15 Earth, read the first link
“During an interview on CNN Friday night, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Sam Gardiner claimed that U.S. military operations are already ‘underway’ inside Iran, RAW STORY has found.”
He was interviewed Friday on CNN, and then ether he was interviewed again by someone else, and that second interview is when he talked about the CNN Line, or the last link is just a transcript of the CNN interview, but I can’t watch the video at work, so I’m not sure which it is.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:29 pmNO. I WONT BE ENLISTING. I HAVE A LUCRATIVE CARREER BECAUSE I WENT TO COLLEGE. THERE IS AN OFFICRE SHORTAGE SO IF I WAS IN THE MILITARY I WOULD BE COMMISSIONED AS A IETENANT IN A SECOND. I’D PREFER NOT TO BE AN OFFICER. ID RATHER BE IN THE INFANTRY. I’D HAVE MORE RESPECT FOR MYSELF THAT WAY.
Comment by ANVILNOGGIN
What town you live in? I will look up the address and phone number of your local recruiters office and post it here.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:29 pm#9 - Squeegy. Rummy told them to keep the initial activities in IRAQ under the CNN line. That’s the historical thing Col. Gardiner was talking about. Now Col. Gardiner is letting us know this administration is doing the same thing in IRAN. See?
April 18th, 2006 at 4:31 pmYes we have boots on the ground in Ian ,supply trucks are in and out of Iran everyday.
salon.com has a great article on the Israels Lobby group in Washington.i urge everyone to read it and no don’t even rightwingers use the anti-jew card as I am a Jew and I know what is happening and why and I am strongly against genocide in any an all forms..
This is an enlightening piece and it goes along with Salons.com article.
COL. SAM GARDINER: A year and a half ago I would have said high on the list of possible futures is an Israeli attack by themselves on the Iranian nuclear facility. That has changed. I think Israel has convinced the United States that it is better for the United States to do it by itself, rather than to have Israel do it, in terms of the potential reactions in the Middle East. So I think Israel’s policy statements are, you know, it’s a world problem that translates to being it is an American problem that has to be dealt with.
Remember today that george w bush told everyone of us he was “The Decider” (Dicator)
April 18th, 2006 at 4:31 pmWILL ALL THE FRUITY LITTLE ISOLATIONIST WIMPY DEMOCRATS JUST ACCEPT THAT BUSH IS IN CHARGE AND HE, HE ALONE, NOT THE ERRAND BOYS IN CONGRESS, WILL DECIDE WHEN TO SMASH IRAN ?
Comment by ANVILNOGGIN
You are an unAmerican benedict arnold.
The constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure.
~George Washington
Only Congress has the power…
To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water;
April 18th, 2006 at 4:32 pmgo ahead and enlist Anvilhead
Anyone who doesn’t know how to turn their caps lock key off, or spell Leutenant would not ever be commisioned one. What college did you goto? I want to make suremy kids don’t go there, I wish them to be actually educated.
Enlist away,chickenhawk
April 18th, 2006 at 4:33 pmKarl…errr Anvil, get away from the computer, you will only hurt yourself!
April 18th, 2006 at 4:37 pm#25 Zookeeper “Rummy told them to keep the initial activities in IRAQ under the CNN line. That’s the historical thing Col. Gardiner was talking about. Now Col. Gardiner is letting us know this administration is doing the same thing in IRAN. See?”
But Gardiner said it during a CNN interview, so already the CNN line has been broken.
Also, I have no problem with covert actions being carried out, if their for intel and bribing officals/tribes etc. That just seems to make sense, if war becomes necissary, why not have it set up to be as easy as possible.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:38 pmTo declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water;
Comment by Gerald Gibson — April 18, 2006 @ 4:32 pm
THAT WAS THE OLD PRE 911 AMERICA… YOUR A POST 911 TREASONOUS BENEDICT ARNOLD. STOP HURTING AMERICA…. STOP BEING A SOFT ON TERROR DEMOCRAT
April 18th, 2006 at 4:39 pmAlso, I have no problem with covert actions being carried out, if their for intel and bribing officals/tribes etc. That just seems to make sense, if war becomes necissary, why not have it set up to be as easy as possible.
Comment by squegeeboo
That is exactly the BS the Iranians have been telling themselves about sending out suicide bombers just incase…
WE CAN NOT STAND UP FOR GOOD IF WE ARE EVIL.
There is no way around that… talk and talk.. flap your lips. But the fact is still there.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:40 pmTHAT WAS THE OLD PRE 911 AMERICA… YOUR A POST 911 TREASONOUS BENEDICT ARNOLD. STOP HURTING AMERICA…. STOP BEING A SOFT ON TERROR DEMOCRAT
Comment by ANVILNOGGIN
You just said George Washington is PRE 911 AMERICA!!!!!
You belong in prison. No. Better yet. You belong on a street corner in Baghdad… where do you live? I will get your recruiters phone# in less than five minutes and post it here.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:41 pmWE CAN NOT STAND UP FOR GOOD IF WE ARE EVIL.
Comment by Gerald Gibson — April 18, 2006 @ 4:40 pm
Yet that escapes the far-right every time. Like those who bomb abortion clinics to protest murder… with murder. Crazy people.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:42 pm#32 Gerald, so if were forced into war, we shouldnt have all the possible intel and other advantages that we could obtain thru covert actions?
Theres nothing good/evil about that, its just sound strategy/planning. Hope for diplomacy to work, but prepair in case it dosn’t.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:43 pmWho is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
April 18th, 2006 at 4:44 pmWE CAN NOT STAND UP FOR GOOD IF WE ARE EVIL.
There is no way around that… talk and talk.. flap your lips. But the fact is still there.
Comment by Gerald Gibson — April 18, 2006 @ 4:40 pm
THIS IS GEOPOLITICS…………..NOT SURVEY OF PHILOSOPHY. GOOD AND EVIL ARE IRRELEVANT. GO PLAY IN YOUR SANDBOX LITTLE BOY … YOURE PROBABLY A VEGETARIAN BURNOUT WHO DRIVES A HYBRID. GROW UP
April 18th, 2006 at 4:45 pmSqueegy and Anvilhead…you guys stand over there and play with yourselves…let the adults figure this crime out–you just muddy the waters. O.K.?
April 18th, 2006 at 4:46 pm#30
Sheesh, do you actually read the articles or just go off on talking points? The interview wasn’t on cnn. *** Big clue that you havent read the articles!!!!!***
When you have actually read about it, come back and have an intellegent, informed discussion, squeeg
April 18th, 2006 at 4:47 pmBush Quote “Bush: ‘All Options on the Table’ With Iran”
except talking that is ??????
April 18th, 2006 at 4:48 pm#34 “Like those who bomb abortion clinics to protest murder… with murder. ”
Not to defend their actions, but I think the logic is thru killing one abortion doctor we just saved a larger number of babies. Sort of like sacrafice for the common good. Flawed logic depending on who you talk to, but at least actual logic, as opposed to the earth being 6k years old cause Jebus says so.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:49 pmexcept talking that is ??????
Comment by Monkey Knut Wrench — April 18, 2006 @ 4:48 pm
why talk with madmen?
April 18th, 2006 at 4:50 pmwhat did I say Karl - stay away from the computer - now you’ve gone and f’kd up…america before 9/11 is the same america as 1976, the standards put forth then have never been more important than since 9/11…
pre pearl harbor mentality
pre d-day mentality
pre Korean war mentality
pre Vietnam mentality
pre WTC ‘94 mentality
…they are all the same mentallity, the foundations this country was built upon…now bush (with your help karl) has underminded these principles & you want to justify it!
post 9-11 mentality is anti-american, patriot act is anti-american, YOU are anti american
April 18th, 2006 at 4:54 pmYou can type and talk in all caps for the rest of your life. But until the day you die you will be a pathetic loser. The type that is a jock in highschool that makes a complete embaressment out of him self and laughs about it while the girls swoon before him. You are to Americanism what Britney Spears is to Shakespearian art.
Was it people like you that made columbine happen? Is it your kind that made the Nazis happen? Is it your kind that made Ben Franklin turn against his government? Is it your kind that killed all the educated people in Cambodia? Is it your kind that called out to Pilate for the blood of Jesus?
I think so.
I do not know if I am right or wrong about God and Heaven and Hell. But I do know if I am wrong that YOU and your kind are all going to Hell.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:54 pmCNN would not notice bombs being dropped on Atlanta, Georgia, so Rummy has nothing to worry about bombing Iran covertly and CNN noticing > lol. Wolf Blitzer works for the Bush Regime anyways, so Rum-drinker just has to call him up and say quash any reports on Iran!
April 18th, 2006 at 4:54 pmor 1776
April 18th, 2006 at 4:55 pm#39 Wayne
When you click on the first link on the TP post, it says what I posted above ““During an interview on CNN Friday night, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Sam Gardiner claimed that U.S. military operations are already ‘underway’ inside Iran, RAW STORY has found.—
AND has a link http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/04/15.html#a7928
to the CNN interview that I’m referencing.
Like I said above, I don’t have the necissary plugins/programs to listen to the interview on the last link, so I don’t know if it matches with the CNN interview or not, but the fact remains that the CNN interview did happen.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:57 pmNot to defend their actions, but I think the logic is thru killing one abortion doctor we just saved a larger number of babies. Sort of like sacrafice for the common good. Flawed logic depending on who you talk to, but at least actual logic, as opposed to the earth being 6k years old cause Jebus says so.
Comment by squegeeboo — April 18, 2006 @ 4:49 pm
I’ve heard their rationalization (it’s not logic). It’s still stupid.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:58 pmdamn trolls…they know this is the exact same lead up they played innocent to 3 years ago and they think they can rehash the old talking points (good thing to since the recent ones haven’t been working) our only hope now is with the sheeple…hopefully people will still come forth and speak out against these criminals of the highest order! we are doomed to repeat the mistakes we refuse to learn from….and anyway you look at, Iraq was a mistake!
April 18th, 2006 at 5:00 pmWhen you click on the first link on the TP post, it says what I posted above ““During an interview on CNN Friday night, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Sam Gardiner claimed that U.S. military operations are already ‘underway’ inside Iran, RAW STORY has found.â€â€
AND has a link http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/04/15.html#a7928
to the CNN interview that I’m referencing.
Like I said above, I don’t have the necissary plugins/programs to listen to the interview on the last link, so I don’t know if it matches with the CNN interview or not, but the fact remains that the CNN interview did happen.
Comment by squegeeboo
Christ you are stupid. Just ADMIT IT YOU WERE WRONG. Christ is it so damn hard?
When my son was just conceived I thought my marriage was going down the toilet and thought it was better to just have an abortion. My wife did not agree. Several years later I am still with the mother of my children and my son means everything to me. I was wrong then. Is that such a hard thing to say? I can do it easily. You cannot even admit that you didnt read the god damn article …pathetic.
April 18th, 2006 at 5:01 pm#30 - But Gardiner said it during a CNN interview, so already the CNN line has been broken.
Squeegy, you are pissing me off again.
April 18th, 2006 at 5:04 pmCol. Gardiner was being interviewed by Amy Goodman for Democracy Now.
Read the f*cking link.
See #39 by Wayne.
Gerald, calm down, its an internet website, pretty soon your gonna have me thinking your Ryan Neat in disguise.
April 18th, 2006 at 5:04 pmIt’s the last link, Squeegy.
April 18th, 2006 at 5:07 pmThe one that says, Read the full interview HERE.
This is the one we’ve been trying to get you to read.
it is so sad how republicans say progressives are unpatriotic, but progressives are the ones who serve our country.
These trolls come onto this site and spew their ignorance and insist this so called leader can do whatever, whenever he wants to the point of violating our constitutional rights and sending Americans to die for his and his friend’s wealth. When and if we go to war with Iran they will not go. Even if the draft is reinstated, they will find a way out. Republicans are cowards, worse than cowards, they are traitors.
April 18th, 2006 at 5:10 pm#42
why talk with madmen?
Comment by ANVILNOGGIN
Which ones are you calling madmen? This administration of the ones in Tehran….they seem to blur together in their madness.
April 18th, 2006 at 5:11 pmThat felt good!!!
April 18th, 2006 at 5:11 pmIn my home district (Mi 8th) the war chest of the Republican incumbent stands slightly below $!,000,000, while his opponent (Jim Marcinkowski) reports a balance of $140,000 n his campaign chest. CNN, Faux News and all the others are already bought and paid for. My $200.00 contribution to Marcinkowski seems pretty lame.
In other words the cards are sooo stacked against us, it is unreal. I’ll put in some time on Marcinkowski’s phone banks, scrape some more nickles together, and hope like hell America has figured out the scam. Don’t think they have, but it is still legal to hope!!
BTW, brush up on “Duck and Cover”!
April 18th, 2006 at 5:15 pmEven if the draft is reinstated, they will find a way out. Republicans are cowards, worse than cowards, they are traitors.
Comment by Jules — April 18, 2006 @ 5:10 pm
LISTEN HIPPIE… IVE STATED MANY TIMES BEFORE IM ALL FOR THE DRAFT. WITH NO EXCEPTIONS. EVERYONE WHO IS CALLED SERVES… NO COLLEGE DEFERMENTS. WOMEN TOO. THEY CAN DO THE COKKING AND SOMEONE HAS TO DO THE LAUNDRY AND SCRUB THE TOILETS.
April 18th, 2006 at 5:16 pm#53 Fair enough, he didn’t talk about the CNN line on CNN, he talked about it in an interview that happened after his interview on CNN.
This means that my initial statement “Well if they guy is going on CNN to talk about how their going to keep it under the CNN line, it seems like hes shooting his Iran argument in the foot.”
Is wrong, and should have instead read “Well if they guy is going on CNN to talk about how this parellels the pre-war activity in Iraq, it seems like hes shooting his CNN Line argument in the foot that he mentioned in a later interview.”
Seems sort of semantic, but I WAS WRONG.
Zookeeper, Gerald, you guys happy now?
April 18th, 2006 at 5:16 pmTime magazine, March 2003, described the relationship between Powell, Bush, and Cheney (or the Neocons). When Bush was telling everyone that he had not decided and the inspector’s were doing their thing, the truth was, war had already begun, even as Powell was at the UN trying to get International support for a preemptive war. The magazine article said, diplomacy was lacking. That’s an understatement. Recent Washington Post article said that a memo from three years ago states Bush penciled in an invasion date for Iraq on March 10 whether or not WMDs would ever be found. But, as we all know, this white man speaks with a forked tongue:
Bush vs Bush
April 18th, 2006 at 5:17 pmGovernor Bush would not nation build, would not be arrogant, would not use force, etc., etc.
Anvil - you will never join the military because you are a coward. The only way you “defend” this country is by trying to beat down on patriotic veterans who love their country so much they cringe at seeing it placed in peril due to the likes of your kind.
I served but you never will because you are a coward!
April 18th, 2006 at 5:18 pmGerald, calm down, its an internet website, pretty soon your gonna have me thinking your Ryan Neat in disguise.
Comment by squegeeboo
Personally I am getting past the Ryan Neat point of no return. This BS is pissing me off to an extent I can hardly contain it. My wife puts up with me ranting and raving about how I cannot think of the face of Jesus or George Washington without feeling guilty that I do not forfeit my own life to help bring an end to this evil. I agree that NO religious crazies should have THE BOMB. But we must start by cleaning our OWN house. You cannot DEMAND respect from others until you have given it to them. IN WHAT WAY HAVE WE SHOWN ANY RESPECT FOR IRAN OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST?
April 18th, 2006 at 5:19 pm“Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,†Bush screamed back. “It’s just a *******ed piece of paper!â€
-Bush Jr.
GOP leaders told Bush that his hardcore push to renew the more onerous provisions of the act could further alienate conservatives still mad at the President from his botched attempt to nominate White House Counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court.
“I don’t give a *******,†Bush retorted. “I’m the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way.â€
“Mr. President,†one aide in the meeting said. “There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution.â€
“Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,†Bush screamed back. “It’s just a *******ed piece of paper!â€
April 18th, 2006 at 5:21 pmANVILNOGGIN- how did a disease like you live this long?
April 18th, 2006 at 5:21 pmSeems sort of semantic, but I WAS WRONG.
Zookeeper, Gerald, you guys happy now?
Comment by squegeeboo
Thank you,
Now please write the white house and tell them about your life lesson and suggest they learn it also. Please.
April 18th, 2006 at 5:22 pm#59 - Seems sort of semantic, but I WAS WRONG.
Zookeeper, Gerald, you guys happy now?
Comment by squegeeboo
Very good, Squeegy. ;)
April 18th, 2006 at 5:28 pm#65 #66
Zoo, Gerald
I did notice however, you wern’t attacking the merits of my statement, just me f’ing up by thinking the two interviews were one. Is that correct?
Also, I’ve heard Bush admit to being wrong once (at least I think I did), so that means I learned the life lesson from him, yet anouther way that great man has changed my life for the better
April 18th, 2006 at 5:31 pmBest part is, chickenhawks like anvil are too dense to recognize the irony of sending other people’s kids off to fight the war they champion while they themselves are “too busy”making money or whatever the hell their Cheney-esque “other priorities” excuse is.
April 18th, 2006 at 5:35 pm#67 - I almost feel sorry for you…almost.
If this is your idea of greatness, well you have a pretty low threshold!
April 18th, 2006 at 5:39 pm“It is true that much of the intelligence turned out to be wrong,” Bush said during his fourth and final speech before Thursday’s vote for Iraq’s parliament. “As president I am responsible for the decision to go into Iraq. And I’m also responsible for fixing what went wrong by reforming our intelligence capabilities. And we’re doing just that.”
“Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government and to the extent the federal government didn’t fully do its job right, I take responsibility,”
Here are two examples of old Bush admitting he was wrong.
April 18th, 2006 at 5:41 pm#69 Jules
If you set the bar low enough, its very hard to be disappointed, and normally your plesantly suprised, this way even mediocraty seems great!!!
April 18th, 2006 at 5:43 pmHere are two examples of old Bush admitting he was wrong.
Comment by Tundra — April 18, 2006 @ 5:41 pm
Not exactly. he admitted intelligence and response levels were in error - not himself. Try, try, try again :)
April 18th, 2006 at 5:44 pmI did notice however, you wern’t attacking the merits of my statement, (…)
Comment by squegeeboo — April 18, 2006 @ 5:31 pm
Please allow me to chime in.
Although Col. Gardiner did go on CNN to say that “I would say — and this may shock some — I think the decision has been made and military operations are under way,” he has no way of knowing for sure. His opinion carries weight, however, because it is an insider’s perspective. But fact remains the administration has not issued any kind of formal statement to that effect, thus remaining under the “CNN line”.
Also, Rusmfeld’s order was: “you can begin to bomb Iraq, but don’t let it appear on CNN.” Unless I missed it (and I am news junkie), we still haven’t seen a coverage of the military operations pre-invasion of Iraq -so that is still under the “CNN line”.
In a nutshell, the military has done a good job at keeping their ongoing activities in Iran away from public scrutiny thanks to the media’s complacency. Which is the point of the thread.
April 18th, 2006 at 5:44 pmUnbelievable, you beat me to the punch…. ;-)
April 18th, 2006 at 5:45 pmUnbelievable, you beat me to the punch…. ;-)
Comment by Gregor Samsa — April 18, 2006 @ 5:45 pm
I was long over due, you’re usually ten steps ahead :)
April 18th, 2006 at 5:49 pmThe arrogance of this administration is truly astonishing.
April 18th, 2006 at 5:51 pmSo tell me why Iran should not interpret the covert actions of the US as an attack on its soverreignty and territory? And not be fully justified in retaliataion. This has a lot more justification than the Bullying pre-emptive war talk we’ve been hearing lately
the Pentagon has been using a right-wing terrorist organization known as Mujahedeen-e Khalq (MEK)
Worse part is they are using an outlawed terriost group. Some people have no shame at all. So much for being a war on terror.
April 18th, 2006 at 5:54 pmsqueege - hey! what about me? … oh ok, i acccept your apology also…
curious about this line tho: “…so that means I learned the life lesson from him, yet anouther way that great man has changed my life for the better”
i almost hate to ask, but it might help resolve a family consternation - please name the ways the “great man” (gag, barf, ugh) had changed your life for the better… seriously, i need to know…
April 18th, 2006 at 6:00 pmthe end is nigh - we have become the planet of the apes (and mutant humans)
http://blogdebogs.blogspot.com/ 2006/ 04/ iran-beneath-planet-of-apes.html
April 18th, 2006 at 6:02 pm#67 - Great man, eh? We’ll see, Squeeg.
About your f*ck up, see Gregor’s comment at #73.
April 18th, 2006 at 6:11 pmI’m with earth at #78 in that I’d also like to know how the “great man” has changed your life for the better. We need details, please.
Not exactly. he admitted intelligence and response levels were in error - not himself. Try, try, try again :)
I cannot concur with your view on this.
“It is true that much of the intelligence turned out to be wrong”
Statement admitting something was wrong
“I am responsible”
re·spon·si·ble
Liable to be required to give account, as of one’s actions or of the discharge of a duty or trust.
Being a source or cause.
So here we could say: “I am a source or cause of wrong information about Iraq”
“to the extent the federal government didn’t fully do its job”
Didn’t fully do it’s job means the response was wrong
“I take responsibility”
April 18th, 2006 at 6:32 pmSee above
Holy. Tap. Dancing. Christ.
First of all, let me be the first to welcome Dick Cheney Jr to the board. Other priorities, have we?
Ok IETENANT Dick Cheney Jr, let me explain to me what you have to look forward to in the infantry. First, you will wear ineffective armor that will most likely get you killed with a helmet that doesnt work. You’ll be court martialled if you try to purchase your own armor that actually works, of course. We cant let orders to a valueable campaign contributor go down!
Then, to make sure your crummy armor is put to the test, you will be put in a convoy that has orders to stop and allow itself to be slaughtered when ambushed. Gotta fight em there so we dont have an army to fight em here!
Once your armor has been tested and failed, you will be airlifted to a hospital that has to get its suplies donated by charity, and should you die, you will not be counted as a casualty of the Iraq police action, because, hey, can’t have people thinking things are going less than swimmingly.
Should you survive, you will be a VET, AKA fair game to be screwed over by the Republicans.
Let me be clear- if my country asks me to, by instituting a draft, I will be the first in line to pick up a rifle and go. Until that time, you couldnt pay me enough. And I truly believe that serving as an officer in our armed forces is one of the most admirable, honorable careers- or it used to, before the valiant men and women in uniform became nothing more than fodder for the Reichwing neo-con oil/war machine.
April 18th, 2006 at 6:38 pmdrtomaso
I was Infantry. Although I do not agree with your impression of us, I would like to make a simple request. Please insult Anvilnoggin without insulting the Infantry soldiers. I’m sure he has left you plenty of fodder on his own.
Thank you
April 18th, 2006 at 6:44 pmRead my post and the links, Tundra. I will never insult anyone who wears a uniform and goes where I wouldnt go willingly. If my post insults any ‘class’ of people, it is republicans who abuse the position of power they have been given by the people by sending our troops into harms way for nothing. A leader’s sacred duty is to the troops he commands. Can you honestly say that the civilian adminstration commanding our forces takes this duty seriously?
April 18th, 2006 at 6:49 pmTundra - it did not sound to me as if he were insulting the infantry, just pointing out the dangers they must work under for an unappreciative administration.
April 18th, 2006 at 6:50 pmLOL Bush thinks he is the all knowing “Decider” now > He makes the decisions for the entire nation, so I guess everyone in the Congress can be fired because they are no longer needed to “rubber-stamp” Bush Regime corruption?! Does Dubya want to renamed Decider?
April 18th, 2006 at 6:52 pmDoes Dubya want to BE renamed Decider?
April 18th, 2006 at 6:53 pmYes Jay - he is now the “Decider-in-Cheif”
April 18th, 2006 at 6:56 pmopps - that would be Chief
April 18th, 2006 at 6:57 pm#16 - ANVILNOGGIN,
April 18th, 2006 at 6:58 pmWhere did you go to school? Get a refund and advise me where so I can warn others. I hope to God that your major was not English. The Infantry has officers - they are called captains, lieutenants and second lieutenants if you want a front line job. Higher ranks usually serve in the hindquarters or headquarters.
84,
My experience with Infantry soldiers is that they don’t ask for anything. Don’t want anyone’s pitty etc.
Using them as an excuse to slam anyone just bugs me (Everyone has their hot button issues) They don’t ask anyone to fight their battles or stick up for them, they do it. Sort of like having a wife jump up in a bar and beat down the guy who insults her husband.
I agree you didn’t insult them and jumped up a little quick, my apologies.
April 18th, 2006 at 7:07 pmSo Jules > Dubya Decider or Decider Dubya Dunce or Dubya Dunce Decider? I like the last one > lol.
April 18th, 2006 at 7:15 pmFlashback: Scott Ritter Article: US War on Iran has already begun
April 18th, 2006 at 7:27 pmI cannot concur with your view on this.
I’m not one to argue semantics, but I’ll make an exception for you…
“It is true that much of the intelligence turned out to be wrongâ€
Statement admitting something was wrong
Yes, the intelligence. He never says HE was wrong.
“I am responsibleâ€
Think like a politician. He is responsible. Not an admittance of success or failure.
re·spon·si·ble
Liable to be required to give account, as of one’s actions or of the discharge of a duty or trust.
Being a source or cause.
Unltil he says he was responsible for mistakes, his statement sounded like he was admitting to being responisble for acting on bad intelligence, which is not the same as admitting HE was wrong. He’s saying that due to bad intelligence, he acted in a way that led to mistakes. Making himself the conduit and not the source. He accepted responsibility as teh messenger, and we all know you don’t shoot the messenger.
So here we could say: “I am a source or cause of wrong information about Iraqâ€
A logical person maybe, but he’s a politician. I don’t think that’s what he meant to say at all.
“to the extent the federal government didn’t fully do its jobâ€
Didn’t fully do it’s job means the response was wrong
Again, he never said I in this part of the sentance.
“I take responsibilityâ€
See above
Comment by Tundra — April 18, 2006 @ 6:32 pm
ditto
April 18th, 2006 at 7:55 pmI’m not one to argue semantics, but I’ll make an exception for you
Awwww, how sweet!
A logical person maybe
You called me Logical???? I may feint
but he’s a politician
April 18th, 2006 at 8:06 pmOooh a distrust of politicians, I’m really beginning to like you (Muwahahahahaha)
Earth
Sorry to not include you in the apology, it was directed more towards the last few people who were begining to be exasperated in me due to my stubborness/denial.
Also, the great man comment was a joke.
April 18th, 2006 at 8:07 pmActually, Bush bombed the hell out of Iraq to get Saddam to come to the table to accept resolution 1441 at the UN. Guess what - it worked.
Clinton bombed Iraq more than Bush did, in the same amount of time that Michael Smith talks about in that article. Was Clinton trying to provoke Saddam into war? Of course not. He was trying to provoke him into cooperating with the demands of the world.
As Clinton did, Bush did. But there I go talking about facts again.
April 18th, 2006 at 8:13 pm#97
you are kidding right?
if not that is the most moronic sh!t iI have read on this thread anyway.
I do not recall Clinton having killed 2500+ of our soldiers and 17K maimed
for life and tens of thousand Iraqis MANY women and children.
Of course, W attacking Iraq had nothing to do with wanting to
be “war president”, or PNAC or oil, or his daddy being threatend by
Saddam. No could not be that.
seixon you are a tool and a fool.
April 18th, 2006 at 9:26 pm[…] The full transcript can be viewed on http://thinkprogress.org/2006/04/18/iran-cnn-line/ […]
April 18th, 2006 at 9:44 pmSince King Dubya believes that he is the “Decider,” expect an attack on Iran very soon! Bush could wake-up this morning with an upset stomach and demand that Iran be destroyed > lol.
April 19th, 2006 at 12:15 am#now all the gov’t needs is another staged terror attack to legitimize the agenda.
Comment by Justin — April 18, 2006 @ 3:39 pm
Funny that you say this, I was reading about the New Saudi Ambassador Earlier…..and then about Riggs Bank.
April 19th, 2006 at 1:41 amIn a way, the neocons’ Iran project is very similar to the early phase of their Iraq one. It includes a steady drumbeat of threats and warnings, Washington lobbying, a media offensive and support for exile groups–in Iran’s case a mishmash that combines supporters of Khomeini’s grandson; Reza Pahlavi, the son of the fallen Shah, and the Iranian monarchists; and the Mujaheddin e-Khalq (MEK), a 3,800-strong exile force based in Iraq. In one of the strangest events ever to occur at a Washington think tank, last September Khomeini’s grandson–dressed in rough-hewn black and brown robes and crowned by a turban, with dark brooding eyes like his grandfather’s–took the podium at AEI, introduced by Michael Ledeen, to call for US assistance to overthrow the Iranian government. He even welcomed an alliance with the Pahlavi monarchists.
Many analysts view the prospects of a Pahlavi-Khomeini-MEK alliance with exceeding skepticism. And they note that the neocons, having bungled Iraq, don’t have a lot of credibility left on Middle East policy. But it would be wrong to count them out. A former CIA officer who took part in the debate over Iraq policy in the 1990s recalls how the neocons ultimately prevailed. “The neocons had this idea of working with the Iraqi opposition to arm and train them and to overthrow Saddam Hussein, and people like me said, ‘That is really stupid,’” he says. “But you get people to think about it, you get the President engaged, then options expand and then when opportunities come along, you seize them. That’s what they did. They got people to buy in. Before September 11, people told them, ‘It’s never going to happen.’ Come September 12, the rules changed.” An explosion in Iraq, and some Iranian mischief there, and the rules could change again.
April 19th, 2006 at 1:54 am—————-
Lets Hope that Someone. alot of someones, in the Bush Administration finds their Balls before this turns into something really really terrible. These guys are courting Khomeinis grandson, whom Leeden has called Clerical Fascists many times before. What the Hell are they Thinking? Chalabi didn’t work? Now they want the people that kidnapped 50 Americans to Run Iran?
China, Russia welcome Iran into the fold
By M K Bhadrakumar
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which maintained it had no plans for expansion, is now changing course. Mongolia, Iran, India and Pakistan, which previously had observer status, will become full members. SCO’s decision to welcome Iran into its fold constitutes a political statement. Conceivably, SCO would now proceed to adopt a common position on the Iran nuclear issue at its summit meeting June 15.
The SCO membership is therefore a lifeline for Iran in political and economic terms. The SCO is not a military bloc but is nonetheless a security organization committed to countering terrorism, religious extremism and separatism. SCO membership would debunk the US propaganda about Iran being part of an “axis of evil”.
It could get a bit bigger than Iran, at least rumsfeld would be busy, shit loads of people to torture and get happy snaps of.
April 19th, 2006 at 2:15 am2001;
No Wonder RUMMY doesn’t want PEOPLE to see what hes been up to. I bet that Creepy SOB has more Skeletons in his closet than that Sicko Clown Gacye [sp?]
Rummy “IS” THE ONLY ADVISER?
April 19th, 2006 at 2:20 amRumsfeld begins to fight a turf battle with Rice, whose counter-terrorism chief, Wayne Downing, is floating war plans and hoping for more influence in the administration’s decisions. Rumsfeld fears the National Security Council will start interfering with his authority. He sends a memo to Rice asking her to make sure there is only one “principal military adviser” — himself.
FIRST, ALL OFFICERS CAN CUT THEIR VEINS NOW AT THE PENTAGON, IT WON´T MATTER TO BUSH AND HIS CROWNIES, BECAUSE RUMSFELD KNOWS A LOT OF DARK STUFF OF BUSH AND CHENEY. **SECOND, RUMSFELD ALTHOUGH HE HIDES HIS JEWISH ROOTS AND THEREFORE INTEREST AND SERVING, HE HAS A LOT OF ISRAELI ROOTS AND I WRITE HE´S BELIEVED BY BUSH TO BE ONE OF HIS BEST ASSOCIATES, BECAUSE NO JEW IS A FRIEND. THERE ARE MANY RETIRED AND ACTIVE ISRAELI-ROOTS GENERALS AND ADMIRALS IN THE U.S., BUT THIS RUMSFELD GUY KNOWS TOO MUCH DARK BACKGROUND OF BUSH. *** NOW, HOW THE ATTACK WOULD BE? QUIT SIMPLE IN THE VICINITY OF 4 SUBMARINES, AT LEAST, WILL FIRING OFF THE IRANIAN COAST THEIR WEAPONS SHOULD EASILY DESTROY NUCLEAR PLANTS, AND THE SAME TIME WARPLANES WOULD TRY TO SURPRISE, COMING FROM AFGHANISTAN, USING SPACES BETWEEN MOUNTAINS TO AVOID RADARS, OF COURSE THE F-117 WILL COME FIRST BLASTING COMMAND, CTRL, AND COMMUN. & INTEL. * THE USUAL STUFF FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT…AAAANNNNNDDD WILL BE CALLED “HEROES”…..
April 19th, 2006 at 2:20 amMongolia, Iran, India and Pakistan, which previously had observer status, will become full members. SCO’s decision to welcome Iran into its fold constitutes a political statement. Conceivably, SCO would now proceed to adopt a common position on the Iran nuclear issue at its summit meeting June 15.
India and Mongolia? I think IRAN does have two Chinese Reactors..as well, but India just got Approval by Bush for Nuclear Technology. So Israel has the bomb, Pakistan, Korea, Iran, Russia, Korea, China, and a few others.
Atoms for Peace.
Maybe once they all have the Bomb, then None should use it because if they did then they would be wiped out.
Yet Iran and Ledeen, Khomenini..SCO India Mongolia Pakistan..Krazy Man Krazy.
April 19th, 2006 at 2:31 am1993 Clinton–
Wolfowitz and other neo-cons are already starting to work against the new president’s Iraq policy, arguing that it will be ineffective and that WMD in the Middle East — a topic Wolfowitz has been thinking about since his academic days — are a serious threat.
1993-1995:
The Debate over Bosnia
Another part of the world has grabbed Wolfowitz’s attention: Bosnia. Some neo-cons argue for a U.S.-led invasion to stop what seems like the beginning of a genocide. Wolfowitz advocates arming Bosnian Muslims and complains that the U.S. has taken no effective action.
1996;
Wolfowitz has a busy year: teaching at Johns Hopkins, advising Sen. Bob Dole with Rumsfeld, and keeping tabs on Hussein, who has just attacked the Kurds in Northern Iraq. Chalabi, who has now known his ally Wolfowitz for years, begins to push hard for Husseins removal
1998;
With Wolfowitz as one of their leaders, the neo-cons go public with their letter to Clinton. The INC’s profile is increasingly public, too: Chalabi meets with Congressmen and generals. Clinton signs the overwhelmingly popular Iraq Liberation Act, stating for the first time the U.S. wants to oust Saddam and establish democracy in Iraq.
1998;
Rumsfeld, along with Wolfowitz and prominent neo-con Richard Perle, signs another letter to Clinton agitating for a more aggressive policy in the Middle East, specifically in Iraq. Rumsfeld is also advising George W. Bush, who has started to organize a presidential campaign.
1998 Desert Fox Bay of Goats;
April 19th, 2006 at 2:37 amAfter U.N. weapons inspectors leave Iraq, America and Britain launch four days of air strikes against Iraq. CENTCOM commander Anthony Zinni reports that Hussein is almost toppled by the attack. That isn’t enough for Wolfowitz, who pushes for all-out regime change immediately. Zinni, to say the least, does not agree.[Wolfowitz vs. Zinni]
——
Rumsfeld is also deeply involved in the post-war planning — he tells the NSC he wants 100 percent responsibility for the reconstruction of Iraq.
April 19th, 2006 at 2:47 am———–
Greedy Beady Eyed Beastard Isn’t He?
The war plan now calls for 300,000 troops to be deployed in Iraq. Rumsfeld wants to activate them gradually rather than all at once. He is also busy approving interrogation techniques for Guantanamo Bay detainees from the Afghan war, including the use of dogs to frighten prisoners. And he’s won his bid for responsibility in the post-war period in Iraq: two months later the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance will be created, not at State, but at Defense.
April 19th, 2006 at 2:51 am—————-
Can you Believe this?
Rummy Wants to be the only Adviser, the Only Responsible Reconstruction office for IRAQ in the Defense Dept? Krazier and Krazier they get…
[Forgive my late nite trips thru neo-con la la land, but aint this some sheeaht?]
98,
He brought up a legitimate point about the topic of the thread.
Clinton made sure CNN aired it and Bush didn’t. Reasons are up to you to decide but I wouldn’t call it the most moronic post on the thread (I think it breeds thought, but I’m a fool myself just ask around).
April 19th, 2006 at 3:06 amThe Decider Sticks With the Derider. Man, MoDo doesn’t waste a minute, does she? Come take a peek behind the firewall.
My money’s on the redhead.
April 19th, 2006 at 7:04 amAwwww, how sweet!
What can I say? ;)
You called me Logical???? I may feint
Funny visual… I don’t imagine you as a little scrawny guy.
Oooh a distrust of politicians,
I trust few people. But people who are trying to sell you something in their best interest? Doesn’t seem wise.
I’m really beginning to like you (Muwahahahahaha)
Comment by Tundra — April 18, 2006 @ 8:06 pm
Oh, I’m terrified ;)
April 19th, 2006 at 7:15 amComment by Tundra — April 19, 2006 @ 3:06 am
Do you sleep? Vampire? :)
April 19th, 2006 at 7:22 amAccording to a UN official close to the Security Council whom Larisa interviewed, the “newly renamed MEK soldiers” were being employed in the place of U.S. military advance teams to commit “acts of violence in hopes of staging an insurgency of the Iranian Sunni population.”
“We are already at war,†the UN official told RAW STORY.
Oh crap, I hope this isn’t true. The last thing the USA needs is the damn UN involved in an action where US soldiers are present.
April 19th, 2006 at 9:23 amA nuclear attck on Iran would be not accepted by the world when images of charcoaled children start hitting the TV
April 19th, 2006 at 2:18 pmA nuclear attck on Iran would be not accepted by the world when images of charcoaled children start hitting the TV
Comment by Tom the Republican
By then it would be too late wouldn’t it? Besides the USA is not responsible for what images the world accepts. The fact is once you’ve seen the slobbering mob in the Mid East positively drool over the beheading films made by their peaceful Muslim brothers and once you’ve seen the films of the aftermath of a Hamas suicide bombing and once you’ve seen people jumping out the 90th floor window of the World Trade Center a few charcoaled Iranians do not seem so bad. If the “world” disagrees…let them try and do something about it.
April 19th, 2006 at 5:09 pm[…] More creepiness. I’ve long been bothered by the tone BushCo has been taking on the subject of Iran. I do not find this admission to be comforting. […]
April 20th, 2006 at 12:10 pm[…] More creepiness. I’ve long been bothered by the tone BushCo has been taking on the subject of Iran. I do not find this admission to be comforting. […]
April 20th, 2006 at 1:38 pm[…] More creepiness. I’ve long been bothered by the tone BushCo has been taking on the subject of Iran. I do not find this admission to be comforting. […]
Pingback by Cat Sidh
I suppose the tone Iran has taken doesn’t bother you a bit? That, to me is creepy. There is nothing about the idiots on the Left (like you) that I find comforting.
April 20th, 2006 at 2:30 pmThe redneck neocons are out in force
December 16th, 2006 at 3:35 amHardcore Sex Sex Hardcore Hardcore Porn Videos
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 22nd, 2008 at 1:44 pm