FLASHBACK: Pace Contradicted Rumsfeld Over Iranian Involvement In Iraq
FLASHBACK: Pace Contradicted Rumsfeld Over Iranian Involvement In Iraq
On Sunday, anonymous administration officials presented evidence purportedly showing that weapons have been smuggled into Iraq with “the approval of senior Iranian officials.” The next day, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Peter Pace seemed to contradict this claim, saying that he has not seen evidence that the Iranian government “clearly knows or is complicit” in the weapons smuggling.
As it turns out, we’ve seen this exchange before. In March 2006, Pace and then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld held a Pentagon press briefing, during which Rumsfeld warned reporters that Iran was “putting Iranian Quds Force-type people” into Iraq.
When a reporter asked Pace whether the Iranian forces in Iraq were “backed by the central government,” Pace responded frankly, “I do not know.” Rumsfeld was then asked the same question, and provided a very different answer: “Well, of course. The Revolutionary Guard doesn’t go milling around willy-nilly, one would think.” Read the transcript:
SEC. RUMSFELD: I will say this about Iran.They are currently putting people into Iraq to do things that are harmful to the future of Iraq. And we know it, and it is something that they, I think, will look back on as having been an error in judgment. … They’re putting Iranian Quds Force-type people into the country. … The Quds Force. The Revolutionary Guard types. …
Q Do you believe it’s backed by the government, or are they individual elements not backed by the central government?
GEN. PACE: I do not know. …
Q Do you think this is backed by the central government in Iran? What’s your —
SEC. RUMSFELD: Well, of course. The Revolutionary Guard doesn’t go milling around willy-nilly, one would think.
One year later, the Bush administration admits there is no evidence showing that officials in Iran’s central government are directing the weapons smugglers. “I do not know whether or not the Quds force was ordered from the top echelons of government,” President Bush said Wednesday. Yet the fact that Rumsfeld nonchalantly pushed that claim demonstrates once again how the most senior Bush officials have been willing to overlook facts to pursue their ideological agenda.
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That would be you, Rummy.
They talk like this?
February 16th, 2007 at 10:33 amThey talk like this?
Comment by Juan C
Rummy talks like that. I think it’s supposed to distract us while he sticks the shiv in our backs.
February 16th, 2007 at 10:38 amI yearn for the day to see both Rummy and Deadeye sitting in thick, clear plastic boxes…
February 16th, 2007 at 10:41 amThe Chimpy administration has been beating the war drums for Iran for quite a while now…on and off ever since Chimpy laid out the PNAC game plan in his infamous ‘axis of evil’ speech.
And now, we’re supposedly finding “evidence” of Iranian meddling in Iraq, while three carrier strike groups hold position in the Persian Gulf. The ‘catalyzing event’, whether it be an Israeli attack on Iran, or an Iranian attack on Israel or the U.S. (either genuine or false-flag) is mere weeks away.
You think Iraq is bad? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
February 16th, 2007 at 10:46 amThank God we have a straight shooter like Pace to add some sanity to the Bush loony bin.
February 16th, 2007 at 10:56 amI, too, believe that within weeks there will be a provacative act which will again start another war. This time with Iran. Welcome to World War
III, folks.
fasten your seatbelts…
February 16th, 2007 at 11:02 amComment by Mistress Z
Im slow…is that you, Zoo?
February 16th, 2007 at 11:05 amIm slow…is that you, Zoo?
Comment by Juan C
Yes, that’s me. My name was getting hijacked last night, so I changed it. Forgot to change back. You like it? :)
February 16th, 2007 at 11:09 amwhat a blessing it is to be rid of rumsfeld.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:13 amYou had me going…..;)
February 16th, 2007 at 11:15 amForgot to change back. You like it? :)
Comment by Zooey
Every single time… :)
February 16th, 2007 at 11:22 amEvery single time… :)
Comment by Juan C
Heh.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:26 amIf I wasn’t at work today Juan, I would be watching pie-throwing with half naked ladies, all in Spanish.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:29 ammike sez:
Actually, mike, Rummy is still very much in the picture…he just doesn’t have to go to all the bother of lying at press conferences anymore.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:33 amI would be watching pie-throwing with half naked ladies, all in Spanish.
Comment by ForTruth
Sorry for the delay, I was watching Telemundo…what did you say?
February 16th, 2007 at 11:38 amRumsfeld is alive and well at the Pentagon, making intimidating phone calls and shuffling/shredding papers. If this fact is pushed so that more people are made aware that the creep is still active behind the scenes, I’m sure the freak could be flushed out for a little “hoof-in-mouth” interview. Next to Cheney, he has got to be the most hated man in America.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:43 amSorry for the delay, I was watching Telemundo…what did you say?
Comment by Juan C
Heh.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:43 amIt’s SUPER SENSACIONAL! ^_^
February 16th, 2007 at 11:43 amI guess we are supposed to applaud the fact that a general at this level almost has a spine? whooooopiee
February 16th, 2007 at 12:25 pmI love that Pace. So nice to hear someone who has a problem with lying.
And I have to wonder… pie-throwing half-naked ladies?
Are you sure they are ladies?
February 16th, 2007 at 1:40 pmAre you sure they are ladies?
Comment by SKdeA
Uh…..no. Hope they are.
February 16th, 2007 at 2:43 pmAs Don DUMBSFAILED is no longer here to kick around anymore, he is not in a position to blithely skirt the issues, evade pointed questions, overlook facts and advance their own ideological agendas…but CHIMPya, Torticola Cheney, Condom-lesser Rice, Karl “Miss Piggy” ROve, Alberto VO5 Gonzales, Steve Po-faced Hadley, and the rest of Bushland Uber Allies is just picking up the slack left by Dumbsfailed’s exit…Sic Transit Gloria Mundi! These lying hyenas all THRIVE on OBFUSCATION and CHANGING THE SUBJECT to suit their position, which is a CRIMINAL one!!!!!
February 16th, 2007 at 4:33 pmDuh!
If you didn’t put the Shia in power, the Sunni would be stomping the asses of the Iranians.
Either Republicans want the chaos or they are sooooo stupid.
February 16th, 2007 at 8:52 pmRummy is living at his ranch in Taos, New Mexico, and counting the millions of dollars he stole while he was Secretary of Defense. Almost 9 billion in cash turned up missing in Iraq, so he most likely pocketed a few million.
February 16th, 2007 at 10:11 pm