Fineman: Intel Community To Release ‘Three Iran Reports’ To ‘Slow Down’ Bush’s Warmongering
Fineman: Intel Community To Release ‘Three Iran Reports’ To ‘Slow Down’ Bush’s Warmongering
On the Chris Matthews Show today, NBC’s Howard Fineman revealed that the intelligence community will release “three different reports” in upcoming weeks to “slow down” the administration’s current drumbeat for war with Iran:
The intelligence community over the next few months is going to come out with three different reports on Iran about internal political problems of Iran, about the economy, and about their nuclear capability.
Those are going to be key to decide what the Bush administration is going to do, and it’s the intelligence community I think trying to slow down what the president, most particularly the vice president, want to do in Iran.
Watch it:
The intelligence community’s warning against war with Iran echo its warnings prior to the invasion of Iraq. Pre-war intelligence forewarned that occupying Iraq could be a “long, difficult and probably turbulent challenge” and would “accelerate” regional terrorism.
Similarly, the administration “ignore[d] the intelligence community’s belief that the militant Islamist al-Qaida and Saddam’s secular dictatorship were unlikely allies,” instead setting up an “alternative intelligence” shop to disseminate false information about Hussein. Mohamad El Baradei of the International Atomic Energy Agency has also warned that pre-Iraq failures are being repeated with respect to Iran.
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41 Responses to “Fineman: Intel Community To Release ‘Three Iran Reports’ To ‘Slow Down’ Bush’s Warmongering”
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Hill’reh leads in Iowa - netrooters triangulated again ….
http://www.abcnews.go.com/ Politics/ story?id=3699185&page=1
October 7th, 2007 at 11:38 amAll of this lends credence to the paranoid belief that GWB has no intention of actually stepping down. It takes time to gear up for a war, even on the political side, and by the time the thugs have managed to whip the country into a frenzy of fear and hate, it would be time for an election (always assuming Americans are so gullible as to buy into the frenzy). Start a war and then announce that it’s just too dangerous to changes horses in the middle of a stream, especially when the horse is HRC.
October 7th, 2007 at 11:38 amIf past experience is any indicator of future behavior, those intelligence reports on Iran, should they ever see the light, will be dutifully ignored by the current occupant of the White House.
Pres Bush has never let facts get in his warmongering ways. I see nothing compelling that would make him change his behavior now.
October 7th, 2007 at 11:40 amIt’s nice to know that there are still people in the government who haven’t gone bat-shit insane. But, Bush will ignore their reports or dispute them based on what he “thinks” Iran is doing.
I am totally baffled at the Democrats going along with the Republicans on Iran. Why are they not demanding proof that Iran is doing what Bush “thinks” they are doing? Didn’t they learn their lesson from Iraq. Apparently not.
I sent Harry Reid an e-mail chastising him for voting for the Kyl-Liberman amendment. He sent back a very condescending return e-mail justifying his vote. And he even used “what we think” in his e-mail. I guess he has no idea how stupid that made him sound. Voting for something that could be used as justification for bombing another country because of what you “think” may be going on.
October 7th, 2007 at 11:41 amIt wont make any difference, if it’s what Chen666ey wants, it’s going to happen.
October 7th, 2007 at 11:49 amyea… but, dammit… the way this psycho operates,
October 7th, 2007 at 11:51 amthese reports will only spur on the iranian bombing pipe dreams…
…
Watching the Democratic leadership is like watching somebody with battered spouse syndrome. You can have the abusive partner arrested, but they’ll just bail them out. And they have this overwhelming sense of guilt and powerlessness.
October 7th, 2007 at 11:52 amThe Bush administration has got away with practically everything they’ve set out to do. Occupying Iraq? Check. Patriot Act? Check. Torture aka “enhanced interrogation techniques”? Check. Endless detentions, suspension of Habeas Corpus, avoiding scrutiny and accountability? Check, check, and check.
There is nothing that could stop the Bush administration from attacking, invading, and then occupying Iran, fulfilling the American corporatocracy’s long-held dream of permanent military presence in the Middle East and control over the region’s oil.
The White House will use the terrorism-WMD-Iran link boogeyman (no evidence needed, of course) and the average American will drink the kool-aid once again.
October 7th, 2007 at 11:53 amgummitch: “It takes time to gear up for a war…”
yep… they’ve had 6 years now… from what i’ve heard here,
all the players are in position… tally ho!
ugh…
October 7th, 2007 at 11:53 amThey aren’t going to slow down, Cheney and the boy’s need more money.
#1: Bush has already signed an executive (power) order providing for that ‘paranoid’ scenario you describe. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit.
∞
October 7th, 2007 at 11:54 amgregor samsa: “There is nothing that could stop the Bush administration from attacking, invading, and then occupying Iran…”
um… not even millions of iranian soldiers and people?
and if nukes are used, we could hardly occupy… not?
October 7th, 2007 at 11:58 am.
I like ‘Stop’ rather than ‘Slow Down’…
October 7th, 2007 at 12:00 pmum… not even millions of iranian soldiers and people?
Comment by katy — October 7, 2007 @ 11:58 am
Militarily speaking, Iran is no match for the US.
They will fight back, and they will resist an occupation, that is certain to happen. But that will only make occupation more costly -just like it’s happening right now in Iraq, which happens to be under American military occupation.
The ultimate goal of this (and any other administration) is to remove any regime that is not friendly to American interests. They will use force if necessary.
October 7th, 2007 at 12:03 pmThe only way to stop these maniacs is impeachment. But it won’t happen.
October 7th, 2007 at 12:13 pmCongress needs to pass a law stating that not one penny can be spent on military actions on or over Iranian territory with Explicit Congressional Approval.
We could bomb Iran with cruise missiles, but I don’t believe we have the troops to enter and occupy that country. And we need to consider the actions of China and Russia. Are we going to attack their ships, if they want to continue trading with Iran??? God…I hope not.
October 7th, 2007 at 12:15 pmooops….WITHOUT Explicit Congressional Approval.
October 7th, 2007 at 12:18 pmso is this Fineman’s way of alerting the bush/cheney/neocon regime so they can edit the reports to be supportive of attacking Iran?
October 7th, 2007 at 12:25 pm.
I think before someone talks about occupying Iran, he needs to look at :
1. The size of Iran geographically
2. The Shiite faith and sacrifice’Shahada’ for their country.
It is a cornerstone of their dogmatic belief.
3. Iran has a formidable force that is willing to fight for years, they do not lack the equipment,the people to fight, or the will.
The current government was not be popular in Iran,because AhmadiNejad promised many things that he could not deliver with regard to local economy.
October 7th, 2007 at 12:36 pmBut the talk now of war with USA is making AhmadiNejad more popular..If a war breaks up…they will rally behind their government.
Their commander in chief is their spiritual leader Ali Khamenei,and not AhmadiNejad.
This is a different situation than when we went fighting a dictator like Saddam in Iraq, becuase in Iran it is the word of Ayatollah Khamenei that counts at the end.
The administration doesn’t care what anyone says. Since day one, they have acted unilaterally in all matters.
October 7th, 2007 at 12:41 pmMeanwhile, back at the ranch…
October 7th, 2007 at 12:51 pmI assume Intel community is operating under the edict, “Thou shall not say the name Saudi”?
I’ve read reports stating that at least half of all foreign fighters are from Saudi Arabia. I do remember that 90% of 9/11 guys were from the kingdom, and the big dude, OBL, also comes from the kingdom.
Are we only allowed to fight shadows here? Are we just playing a great big game of pretend. What does it take to start impeaching these traitors?
October 7th, 2007 at 12:58 pmCan anyone tell me when former gray haired Fineman was ever correct anout anything? PLEASE!
October 7th, 2007 at 1:13 pmInside the high-rise tower that houses the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), computers kept humming and clerks kept counting as petrodollars continued to cascade into the desert kingdom’s coffers at a rate of $320 million per day.
SAMA’S favorite investments are super-safe U.S. Treasury bills and notes, of which the bank now holds about $30 billion. Much of the rest of the agency’s surplus is in short-term deposits at some 80 different blue-ribbon Western banks.
So don’t expect much Saudi Bashing from the US Govt.
October 7th, 2007 at 1:16 pmImpeach both of these traitorous bastards before it’s too late.
October 7th, 2007 at 3:24 pmComment by John Kerry — October 7, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
What a pathetic attempt at shooting down the messenger.
And your point is…?
October 7th, 2007 at 4:45 pmsomewhere, roger_roger is sad.
October 7th, 2007 at 4:54 pmTwo mission for the US two Presidents. The White House has put up smoke screens for two terms with the help of the Media.
Three years ago Cheney made deals with Dubai for Iran oil with the approval of Iran. Now remember the Iran President is a figure head not the leader. The Supreme Leader calls the shots.
Dubai will not allow Iran to be bombed and Bush/Cheney know it. While Americans were watching celebrities headlines Cheney has been busy with oil deals. Yes Iraq was disappointing but Cheney knows the any leader in Iraq will work with Iran and Dubai. Now the Saudis worked with the US to get control of Iraq but it didn’t work. Now the Saudis feel they have to set aside they friendship with the US and support their followers in Iraq. While the White House officials were lying in the hearings the Kurds made a deal with Turkey with Kurd oil.
Are you following me yet.
All the talk about bombing Iran and hating the Iran President is to cover up that deals are in the works with Cheney and Iran as well as Dubai. Dubai has a hotel in New York City as pay off for the problems with the New York Ports. Now Dubai does have the ports but under a proxy name so that plan worked. Oh yes and Daddy Bush has his shares in it. The GOP knew just how to pull the strings of the American people and it worked.
Now the secrets are out and the moves have been made so you notice how many people are leaving the White House inter circle of Bush/Cheney. This was the plan when Bush took office and with the help of the Media and putting the right Judges in place it worked. Some loyal players had to fall for the cause but they are all good soldiers for the Satan Party.
The sad part of this truth is some GOP leaders weren’t part of the team and will be labeled bad because of those who went along with the Crimes. Our troops were just a front for what was really going on. Our tax dollars were used to silence those who were players. Other countries even as small were given weapons and money to join in. Osama was never seriously the White House’s target of interest. Now that you know what was really going on if you don’t believe me you’ll see for yourself in the need future as it will come out, but it’ll be to late for Americans to do anything about it.
October 7th, 2007 at 5:09 pmThey will use force if necessary.
Comment by Gregor Samsa — October 7, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
One small correction, Gregor?
“They will use force EVEN IF IT’S NOT necessary.”
In other words, because they want to…
Is okay?
October 7th, 2007 at 5:24 pmComment by The Republic of Stupidity — October 7, 2007 @ 5:24 pm
Heh. You’ve got a point there.
Although I would argue that “necessary” is a very relative term when used by the Bush administration.
After all, they insisted the invasion of Iraq was “necessary” lest those pesky, non-existing WMD find their way into some unknown, unnamed terrorist’s hands.
October 7th, 2007 at 5:55 pmHere is a scenario for you all.
Bush decides to go to war with Iran and starts airstrikes. He has forces in the region but they are all attending to other matters. Do you send half the forces in Iraq dashing across eastern Iraq into Iran? Do you leave them Iraq and after the airstrikes, Iran invades Iraq with the assistance of the Shia in southern Iraq who they have probably been supporting already?
Do we really have the forces in the region in large enough numbers to take on total war with a nation-state. Hell, do we have the forces in the region and without to take on a nation state in total war.
How deep in the shit are we then?
October 7th, 2007 at 6:04 pm“And your point is…?
Comment by Gregor Samsa”
And my point is that ANYTHING a left nut Fineman would say is meaningless as he obviously has an agenda! A LEFT ONE!!
Can you please give me an example as to what he has been CORRECT on??
Do you get it now???
October 7th, 2007 at 6:10 pmMilitarily speaking, Iran is no match for the US.
Comment by Gregor Samsa
I assume by this you mean that the US has a superior military. Where have you been? The US has a broken military full of tired, shell-shocked and ill-equipped soldiers. You think they could successfully invade Iran with it’s huge well equipped army? Dream on, it ain’t going to happen. If we invade Iran, we will be creamed and many of our soldiers will lose their lives for another unwinnable and unnecessary cause.
October 7th, 2007 at 6:39 pmComment by John Kerry — October 7, 2007 @ 6:10 pm
Your “explanation” is only more nonsense.
So, Fineman is not to be believed that three reports on Iran are going to be released? Or that these reports, in his opinion, are going to slow down Bush’s race for a confrontation against Iran?
And if you have any evidence that no such reports are going to be released, or that they do not cast doubts on Pres Bush’s “Iran is evil” rhetoric, let’s see it. Otherwise your psychotic rants are just that, psychotic rants.
(Fineman’s “left-wing agenda”? What a bizarre statement. It would seem anyone not prostrating themselves before the Bush altar has a “left-wing agenda” nowadays. At least in the opinion of the Bush cultists -that odd, circus-freak lot)
October 7th, 2007 at 6:40 pmCongress needs to pass a law stating that not one penny can be spent on military actions on or over Iranian territory with Explicit Congressional Approval.
If I remember correctly, they said that they would do that before the left for their month-long vacation. That vacation seems to have given them a good case of amnesia because they haven’t done one thing they said they would do before they left for vacation like reverse the wiretapping law, restore habus corpus and rein in Bush on Iran.
October 7th, 2007 at 6:41 pmGiven that they still think that Republicans will fare better in an election if we are at war, I think they will wait till the lead up to Nov. 08 to attack Iran.
They don’t want to go to soon then they will loose the “shock” value, and if it turns into a quagmire, they could loose a lot of seats in congress as well as the White House.
They are much better off going right now and getting it done quick, or waiting till Aug or Sept. 08, then selling the “dems are soft on war” crap.
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October 7th, 2007 at 6:44 pmYou think they could successfully invade Iran with it’s huge well equipped army? Dream on, it ain’t going to happen.
Comment by bilbobaggins — October 7, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
I don’t dream of a military invasion against Iran, any more than I dreamed one against Iraq -which is to say not at all.
The US’ military spending and hardware have no rival on the planet. And Iran doesn’t even have a nuclear deterrent.
If we invade Iran, we will be creamed and many of our soldiers will lose their lives for another unwinnable and unnecessary cause.
I didn’t say Iranians would put their arms down and open the doors to the American troops, did I?
What I was trying to say, and I stand by that, is that -given its track record of absolute recklessness- I fear the Bush administration will likely launch an attack against Iran, and that the US troops will enter that country. At what cost, I don’t know, but it will certainly won’t be small.
Not that that fact would stop this administration hell-bent on a permanent military presence in the Middle East.
October 7th, 2007 at 6:48 pmThe Bush administrations joint venture with AEI and AIPAC will involve a repeat performance of “Shock and Awe” which used to be called blitzkrieg and was used to some success in Iraq, France, and Great Britan.
If you want to believe that our “smart bombs” reduce collateral damage, you go right ahead, but the Pentagon says they missed 100% of their first 50 targets in the Iraq version of “shock and Awe”. Makes you kind of wonder if they missed targets or just didn’t want to admit they hit what they wanted to hit, civilian targets.
October 7th, 2007 at 6:55 pm“Clinton did and Obama didn’t vote at all.”
They didn’t vote for it because they didn’t want to lose that “bundling” money.
October 7th, 2007 at 6:56 pmLiberman-Kyle is not Aladdin lamp that will give us the win by rubbing the lamp.
October 7th, 2007 at 7:39 pmThis resolution will lead to a disaster if we go again to a war that we have no way of knowing what will be next, no way of knowing how many thousands of soldiers will die, how many extra billions and billions of dollars will be spent, and how will Iran,Gulf states and the Moslem world as a whole will react.
No war ever was fought without many unknowns.The more the unknowns the more the war becomes difficult. Fighting Iran, will have many unknowns even to the best experts can’t figure them out.
Starting wars is easier than finishing them.
Achieving goals is the hardest part. A war with Iran might involve Israel,Syria..and can drag Egypt and the whole area to it,and will erupt the whole Middle Eastern area like a volcano.
And for us and the world means difficult times,difficult economies due to fuel shortages,and possible depression.
With just a little over a year left in office, I’ve been trying to figure out what Bush’s rationale would be for invading Iran. Of course, there’s the official rhetoric/propaganda, but what would be the underlying hidden agenda of Bush/Cheney for invading Iran now? Another blogger proposed that if Bush invaded Iran just before his term expired, he would be able to remain in office beyond the end of his term. But how could this be? There is no provision in the Constitution that allows Presidents to extend their terms of office during time of war. For this reason, it does not seem this would be the underlying motive for beginning a war with Iran.
Some could argue the motive to invade Iran would be Iranian oil. But with the terms of Bush and Cheney ending in January ‘09, it would seem unlikely they would be able to fulfill such a goal before they were out of office. Would Bush starting a new war just before the ‘08 elections help the Republican Presidential candidate get elected? This potential benefit would seem dubious a best.
Maybe its just the ongoing neo-con insanity and its obsession to conquer the entire Middle East.
Again, anybody have any thoughts about the hidden agenda of this Administration for invading Iraq?
October 8th, 2007 at 1:56 amNot so inexplicable. The Bush-evangelical faction wants to support Israel at any cost. The Bush-Cheney-neocon faction wants Israel to remain the region’s sole, uncontested nuclear power. The Cheney-Rice-Bush-oil-money faction wants “American” interests dominating the region to ensure their hands are on the oil spigots as supplies dwindle and prices begin to spiral astronomically in the coming decades. The Cheney-Rumsfeld-Halliburton faction wants endless war so the greatest portion of America’s GNP (68% according to Tom Paine) will continue to feed the insatiable gaping maw of the military-industrial complex.
October 8th, 2007 at 2:32 pm