Hersh: Bush Told Olmert Of NIE Two Days Before President Was Allegedly First Briefed On It
Hersh: Bush Told Olmert Of NIE Two Days Before President Was Allegedly First Briefed On It
Yesterday, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley told reporters that President Bush was first briefed on the National Intelligence Estimate’s conclusions on Wednesday, Nov. 28.
But today in an interview with CNN, Seymour Hersh, The New Yorker’s Pulitzer-Prize winning investigative journalist, revealed that Bush actually knew about the NIE at least two days earlier and had a “private discussion” about it with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert before the Middle East peace summit in Annapolis, MD, last week:
Israel objects to this report. I’m told that Olmert had a private discussion with Bush about it during Annapolis — before Annapolis. Bush briefed him about it. The Israelis were very upset about the report. They think we’re naive, they don’t think we get it right. And so they have a different point of view.
Watch it:
Bush had two meetings with Olmert — one on Monday, Nov. 26, and one on Wednesday, Nov. 28. But as Hersh makes clear, Bush discussed the NIE with Olmert at the first meeting before the conference, on Nov. 26 — two days before Hadley alleged that Bush first was briefed on the report. This revelation provides evidence that the Bush administration is misleading about when it first learned that Iran had halted its nuclear weapons program.
UPDATE: Last night on NBC News, Brian Williams reported, “[D]uring last week’s Middle East peace conference where so much of the talk was centered around the Iran threat, US intelligence officials had information indicating they knew better, and the administration said so today.”
Transcript:
BLITZER: But you were suggesting that there was a real run-up to war developing within the administration, even as there were some in the administration — the intelligence community — suggesting, Hey, hold off. Maybe they did suspend or freeze their nuclear weapons program.
HERSH: Well, of course. I think it’s still not over.
BLITZER: Because I want to press you on this. Does that mean, now that this new NIE has been released publicly, it is over, the run-up to a potential military confrontation with Iran?
HERSH: Well, there’s always Israel.
BLITZER: What’s that mean?
HERSH: Well, it means that Israel can always decide to take military action, or with us covertly. Israel objects to this report. I’m told that Olmert had a private discussion with Bush about it during Annapolis — before Annapolis. Bush briefed him about it. The Israelis were very upset about the report. They think we’re naive, they don’t think we get it right. And so they have a different point of view.
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This is evidence but not the entire story. If Bush didn’t ask McConnell last year what he meant by “new intelligence” and just blew it off, then Bush is totally incompetent and needs to be removed from office. This is an unconscionable action by the leader of a country concerned with what’s going on in Iran, as he so purports to care so much.
We need to give Bush the boot! New evidence is coming out, thanks to Hersch et al that Cheney knew about it for a full year which means that Bush also knew about it for a full year - while they both spewed lies and fear in order to cook the agenda for war with Iran. Sickos!
December 4th, 2007 at 6:15 pmWhat?!?!? You mean the maladministration’s a lying sack’o’shite?!?!? CWITMFN?
Cheers,
December 4th, 2007 at 6:15 pmBush and his sycophants may try to spin this every way till Sunday but nothing he comes up with will work against the damage which has already been exposed. He’s a national disgrace at this point. If he knew and lied, then it’s treason. If he didn’t know but should have asked questions of his Director of Intelligence, then he’s unable to fulfill the parameters of his office (and oath) by not asking questions.
This reeks of total lies to me.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:16 pmSurprise!
December 4th, 2007 at 6:17 pmPresident George W Bush told Palestinian ministers that God had told him to invade Afghanistan and Iraq - and create a Palestinian State, a new BBC series reveals.
US Withdraws UN Text Backing Mideast Peace
US Pulls UN Middle East Draft Disliked by Israel
Israel Doesn’t Want UN to Adopt Annapolis Decisions
I BET GOD IS PISSED OFF AT THE MOMENT
December 4th, 2007 at 6:19 pm*banging head on desk*
December 4th, 2007 at 6:19 pm*banging head on desk*
*banging head on desk*
*banging head on desk*
*banging head on desk*
Zach: Yes, we’ve known that Bush has been lying to the people since his run up to the war in Iraq and cherry-picking and setting intel to fit the policy (see Downing Street Memo for that doosey).
What is new is the level of criminality involved in this last batch of lies and how repeatedly Bush was willing to go out there and spew evil when he knew better. That’s what’s gut-wrenching today. The truth will be revealed because no one is going to allow themselves to be kicked to the curb for Bush who is becoming a national disgrace with his buffoonery and lies. No one in his current administration is willing to be a martyr for bush at this point.
Pat Buchanan was just on CNN stating that this is the “most indicting” evidence against the Bush White House thus far. Pat knows and sees the obvious - Bush and his gang of thugs are sliding down the toilet.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:19 pmJERUSALEM (AP) - Israel announced plans Tuesday to build more than 300 new homes in a disputed east Jerusalem neighborhood, drawing quick Palestinian condemnation that the move will undermine newly revived peace talks.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/ worldlatest/ story/ 0,,-7126593,00.html
December 4th, 2007 at 6:22 pmThe reichwingnuts are trying to “hijack the conversation” to a dissection of what the intel means - the fact is that what’s more important right now is that the president once again used fear mongering based on lies to try to frighten the american people into another war. The topic of discussion is the new lack of credibility of the commander in chief and his sidekick. The topic of conversation in Congress and out on the campaign trail today needs to be the rallying support for impeachment of Bush & Cheney based on this horrendous bunch of lies. Any candidate who does not come out and publicly express their horror against what Bush has just done certainly doesn’t deserve to serve in any public office in this country.
Sadly for Hillary, this news about Iran makes her singular “yea” vote to enable a known liar to engage this country in another war of choice for oil a “noose around her neck” from which she cannot wrangle. That, combined by being “lied to” in her previous vote on Iraq and I’d say that her campaign is coming to a screeching halt.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:23 pmBush told Olmert “Now (wink, wink) don’t you go a bombin them Iranites, heh…
December 4th, 2007 at 6:24 pmIsrael’s real strategic asset is its powerful lobby in the United States, and this lobby is already facing what it dreads most – becoming a public political issue. Sooner or later, the American public will rebel. What I fear is that when it happens, it will come in the form of a rebirth of anti-Semitism. That will be a terrible price to pay for Israeli intransigence and ideological and religious fanaticism.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:24 pmThis has to be the first time TP has mentioned anything to do with Isreal
December 4th, 2007 at 6:25 pmIt all points to Hillary either being a war monger herself (back to her GOP roots and the inculcation she received back then?) OR - she has no business running for president due to a lack in judgment. We’ve had 7 years of poor judgment and bravado; we certainly don’t need one more minute than we have to endure!
December 4th, 2007 at 6:25 pm#11 ~ BCU ~ Well stated!
December 4th, 2007 at 6:26 pmHey Plunger! Great to see you! I wouldn’t say that a Plunger is no longer needed; in fact, if it weren’t for you and your references and links, many of us would be a lot more uninformed. So I’d have to say that although Bush may be swirling around of the edge of the toilet at this moment before descending down into the dank abyss, a plunger here and there might help “wash those bubbles down the drain”….Roto-Tooter! Toot! Toot!
December 4th, 2007 at 6:27 pmBCU: More and more people are discovering the truth about AIPAC and it’s tenacles into our government operations.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:28 pmThe high Crimes and Misdemeanors keep piling up yet Nancy Pelosi keeps insisting that impeachment is “off the table”, seemingly for the sake of political expediency in 2008. One wonders what it would take for Pelosi to admit that these scoundrels need to be impeached from their jobs as soon as possible. One can imagine a future administration perhaps just as evil as this one [if that is possible] realizing that since this Congress has decided to remain supine in spite of the transgressions that this administration has committed, that they could get away with anything, since Congress would never punish them for their misdeeds.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:28 pmWhy was Cheney conspiring with Neoconservatives on his staff to convince Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to attack the Natanz facilities, in hopes Iran would over-react and give Bush and Cheney a pretext for doing regime change in Tehran?
Why did the Bushies keep leaking to prominent journalist Seymour Hersh the story that Cheney was planning an attack on Iran?
Why did Bush go so far as to say that World War III could only be prevented if Iran was denied the knowledge of how to enrich uranium?
Cheney and Bush have probably known since at least April that Iran has no weapons program.
http://www.juancole.com/
December 4th, 2007 at 6:28 pmThat’s the problem with liars - they have a hard time keeping their lies straight.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:29 pmHowya doin Ace?
December 4th, 2007 at 6:29 pmPlunger: We know it’s fascism when…… But consider this as the side effect of media manipulation (aka propaganda). Eventually, those prostituting themselves will find that they’ve become totally irrelevant. I’m finding it incredible how few people believe anything spewing forth from any of the MSM - Fox News is the worst propagandist/Bush Megaphone but even CNN has now become a wholly owned subsidiary.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:30 pmCan we start a collection to buy Nancy an effin table?
December 4th, 2007 at 6:30 pmThe BullShat is somewhere north, east and south of the White House Lawn…
December 4th, 2007 at 6:31 pmAce: What I think is funny is that on the spiritual level (the one only some of us are able to work within) it’s already occurred. On a time line compendium, the mainstream media IS irrelevant. When critical mass consciousness disbelieves anything they say, they’re the morons who still aren’t aware of the truth about themselves.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:31 pmHi RU! Absolutely. I’ll chip something in if Nancy’s winery has fallen on hard times for that effin table of hers!
December 4th, 2007 at 6:32 pmThat will be a terrible price to pay for Israeli intransigence and ideological and religious fanaticism.
Comment by Bush Cover Ups
Poor wittle Israel. Ye reap what ye sow.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:32 pm18 - Veritas
Ok It was an article I read
read the full text Its a great read
http://www.antiwar.com/reese/?articleid=11987
Don’t Expect Peace
December 4th, 2007 at 6:32 pmby Charley Reese
Seymour Hersh wrote in the New Yorker over a year ago that our intelligence was showing that Iran stopped their program four years ago.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:34 pmWilliam Hill once again attempts to ply us with his wit and only exposes the dull ember that fails to evoke even a chuckle.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:35 pmI used to support Israel wholeheartedly…but they lost me when they built that damned wall.
Jews building a ghetto for Palestinians turned my stomach.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:36 pmThe only reason I’m watching television today is because I believe it’s a day of celebration: (1) that the lies and spin of the Bush Administration vis-a-vis the nuclear capabilities of Iran were simply that: lies and spin
(2) That we’ve now caught Bush and Cheney in the largest lie they’ve perpetuated to date. This time they thought it would be a slam dunk, a Iraq redux, and they were nabbed red-handed with their fingers in the cookie jar. This is a slam dunk for the people of this country who know that we don’t have another year of this level of criminality and chicanery before this country is in very serious trouble.
Now all we have to do is press Congress to do what they were elected to do and for which they took their oath of office: To defend and protect the people of this country against even enemies within their midst.
When Bush knew it matters little in the scope of things - even if just learned about it yesterday. Either way it’s “culpable negligence” in his execution of the position of commander in chief by NOT investigating what he heard from McConnell some 6 months to a year ago….
OR….the more obvious. That, once again, Bush and Co. have lied to the american people.
When Pat Buchanan turns his back on Bush, you know it’s all over but for the cryin’.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:36 pmDoes Seymour Hersh know more than our president? Or is he telling the truth while Bush is lying?
December 4th, 2007 at 6:37 pmKeith: When Sy Hersch writes about the NIE report a full year ago, duh??? Where the heck was Bush’s brain? Does he ever read? How did a news reporter get this critical information when Bush claims that he did not? You’ve got to be kidding me if Bush thinks anyone is going to give him the benefit of the doubt at this point. He’s over.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:38 pmIsreal can fight their own wars.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:38 pmHey Keith: Our thoughts crossed in cyberspace - again!
December 4th, 2007 at 6:38 pmaha! I know what Bush’s defense will be: His reading ability is on the level of about first grade when My Pet Goat was a challenge for him while our country was being invaded. That’s it.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:39 pmDoes Seymour Hersh know more than our president? Or is he telling the truth while Bush is lying?
Comment by Keith — December 4, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
Or? How about “AND”?
December 4th, 2007 at 6:39 pmIt’s time to contact our “representatives” again. State and national, Congress and Senate. Please phone them, e-mail them, and send them a good ‘ol fashioned letter. Make it clear that failure to act will cost them your vote.
It’s our only recourse short of violence.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:40 pmI was told he has a “kit†he uses to uncover these great stories and it includes two sets of x-ray specks a spy cam with nitevision.
Comment by Billy Hill — December 4, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
Seymour Hersh is something you’re obviously unfamiliar with: a reporter. True, they are hard to spot these days, but they do exist.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:40 pmJust found the actual number of security briefings by Bush regarding Iran: 60!! Sixty lies!
December 4th, 2007 at 6:41 pmThanks, Ace for that tidbit about Blitzer and AIPAC. I knew there was something sleazy about the man and even thought he appeared to be truthful, my bullshit detector kept going off ad infinitum.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:42 pmWhat did the President know and when did he know it?
Hey….it got Nixon to resign.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:42 pmThey don’t call you Veritas for nothing.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:42 pmthis is HUGE and definitely is not going away. Either Congress picks up the ball or the masses will. Mainstream media and Bushies are jumping ship by the droves with this new indicting evidence. Anyone who still supports a pathological liar has to be one themselves - and, naturally, they’d prefer to believe the lie about themselves versus the cold, hard truth. American incredulity - thankfully, the majority of americans do not fall into that category.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:44 pmKindness: Nixon resigned because he knew the gig was up; I don’t believe Bush has the integrity to resign nor the insight to recognize the degree of psychiatric pathology from which he suffers.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:45 pm60 security briefings: 60 Bush lies
December 4th, 2007 at 6:46 pmVeritas at #50
Unfortunately, I suspect that it is not politically expedient for Congress to do anything, since the Democrats seem to bizarrely believe that impeaching this administration will somehow negate their chances of winning in 2008.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:49 pmI’ve had an interesting conversation with friends and relatives in Europe today. They’re laughing at us again and again - can’t imagine why.
IMPEACH
December 4th, 2007 at 7:03 pmI share the frustration of many posters here, but I agree with Veritas: today is a day of celebration. There are people in the corridors of power — people who most of us would not see eye to eye with on many things — who have chosen this moment and this instrument to strike at Dick Cheney, a blow from which he will have great difficulty recovering from.
Yes, the papers are full of spin, and all the major powers in Europe are going on record saying Iran is still a threat — but that’s all fluff. This report ends the chance of a new war in our democracy. The only options Cheney et. al. have left are: a) an attack by Israel; b) hoping against hope for a terrorist attack and a state of emergency; c) staging a terrorist attack and declaring a state of emergency.
All three options are bad, and rendered more hazerdous to would-be perpetrators by this report, which gravely undermines the credibility of all the mouthpieces who have been promoting this new war: from Bush to Kristol to Brooks to Poderetz.
The American democratic process has taken alot of hits, from the assasination of JFK to the stolen elections of 2000 and 2004. Today, somebody hit back, and hit back HARD. No, Nancy Pelosi is not likely to turn into Bobby Kennedy any time soon, and John Murtha and Rahm Emanual are out there cutting deals with all the other crooks.
But our society took a step back from war and insanity. That’s how democracies are supposed to work. Remember that McConnel said the NIE’s would be classified from now on — and that this report has been in the pipeline for a year or more (see Seymor Hersh). The cover up broke down.
Like they used to say, one for the Gipper.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:08 pmI was immensely relieved yesterday when I saw the NIE story on CNN. Like I had finally taken a much needed sh!t.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:24 pmThe ten-thousand top lies of Mr. Bush… As the old Bush family saying goes, “Four lies a day, keeps democracy away…”
December 4th, 2007 at 7:25 pmForTruth: For many of us, this news about Iran not being a threat and coming one step closer to recognizing our own enemies with is like one “HUGE COLONIC”.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:28 pmErroll: Nothing could be further from the truth if the Dems actually believe that. What would occur is that the people of this country would rally around the Democrats if they, for once, illustrated that they take their oath of office seriously and have developed a bit of osseous structure called “backbone”.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:30 pmI know tons of Independents who would vote for a democrat IF the Dems would take on this administration and finally do the right thing.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:31 pmOf course he should be impeached. He should not only be impeached, he should stand trial for war crimes and should be indicted for federal crimes. But, as with Nixon, the impeachment is not going anywhere without the cooperation of at least quite a few republicans and that doesn’t seem to be happening.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:33 pmVeritas, what if every single Democrat “got a spine” as you say and moved for impeachment and no republican cooperated? How far would impeachment get? It would get out of committee and to the floor of the House for a vote and then, it would fall short because they don’t have a two-thirds majority and no republican would cooperate.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:35 pmLIAR, LIAR PANTS ON FIRE!!!
December 4th, 2007 at 7:37 pmThis insistence that they do something everyone who knows how things work knows is impossible - is it a product of the fact that schools don’t teach Civics anymore? I really want to understand this because I know that you, Veritas, for example, are not stupid and yet you keep insisting on a useless political manuver which would result in almost nothing of substance.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:38 pmIn his defense, Bush is too busy speechifyin’ and deciderizin’ to be bothered with petty facts that might justify one of his planned invasions. War Presidentin’ is after all his Chimp raison d’etre, no matter what war or what factual justification.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:40 pmIn all practicality, impeachment would not get the votes it needed. This is a problem.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:45 pmColonel: If every Democrat in congress pressed for impeachment and every Repuke voted against it, it would permanently “out” every Republican as an enemy of the people, once and for all. Even if impeachment is not possible due to Republican obstructionism, clearly, it would send a heft message to this gang of thugs as well as to the american people that there are some folks in Congress who take their oath of office seriously.
If congressional dems fail to support impeachment, then you will see a massive movement of registered democrats moving to the Independent status in the next few months. Right now the numbers are rising and have eclipsed the GOP (28% GOP/36% Indy’s). By registering Indy, the power comes back to the people where it belongs. It’s patently clear that the two party system is in gridlock and no longer represents a growing number of americans.
Becoming Independent (I didn’t say voting for an Independent candidate) gives a new throng of voters immense power. After all, the I’s are the ones who are going to determine the next president - like it or not.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:48 pmImpeachment may not get the votes it needs; however the message would be clear to the american people. Democrats actually “care” about their oath of office; Republicans are sycophants who give two shits about the people. It would send an immense message to the people and the dems would win by a landslide.
Impeachment proceedings brought to the fore right now by Dems (and one of the candidates who desires to become a frontrunner) would ensure an overwhelming landslide democratic victory in 08.
Just picture this: Impeachment is plastered everywhere one looks for the next year - Bush looks more and more like a lying spinmeister rather than a president; Cheney looks more like Darth then Darth himself. Just the concept of impeachment will tank ANY republican candidate immediately. The longer impeachment is out there and on the lips of all americans, the more damage it does to the GOP.
After all: This is “their president” and this is “their war”. Two strikes against any incumbent Republican in Congress and every GOP presidential hopeful.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:52 pmBesides, since when did anything congress do over the last 7 years make sense? Sure, the obstructionist swine in Congress would have to out themselves as unpatriotic by not supporting a move clearly being pressed by the people.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:53 pmVeritas I’m concerned about the overall argument and perception that American Presidents are always gettin’ impeached and our government is an international joke. Or the focus of the argument becomes on impeachment itself, instead of who is getting impeached. And the 24%ers might go batshit and ignite a civil war.
This is my worst case scenario.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:57 pmI believe that after this indicting evidence today, if the Dems do not capitalize on the severity of the Bush/Cheney lies and press immediately for impeachment, they will suffer the consequences just as they have been over the past year for not making good on their midterm promises.
If they fail to do what their oath of office requires of them which is impeachment when impeachable offenses are “suspected to exist”, then they will be blasted out of office for “derelection of duty”. Sure, they’re worried about looking like the bad guy here impeaching poor helpless, hapless, hopeless individuals and that comes with the territory when one party presses for impeachment; however, the sheer “good” and “resurrection of american confidence” would far outweigh any consequences they may believe that following their impeachment mandate would incur.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:57 pmBush Told Olmert Of NIE Two Days Before President Was Allegedly First Briefed On It
yea, but as usual bush didn’t know what he was saying thereby maintaining plausible deniability.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:59 pm.
ForTruth: I hear what you are saying but refuse to buy into Bush’s fear agenda. Doing what’s wholesome, honest, and in accordance with one’s oath of office can never be problematic. That’s the same ridiculous nonsense that has precipitated the debacle called the Bush Administration. I refuse to believe such drivel myself.
Miring this administration down in impeachment proceedings would also put them on notice that the people will have no more chicanery and will cut them off at the knees from wreaking more damage on this flagging democracy.
The upshoot of course is that the Dem party will prove that it is listening to the people finally (ridding washington of this corruption within) and following the mandate of their oath of office.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:00 pmpluege: Plausible Deniability in his case = an insanity plea.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:00 pmFinally, whether impeachment is possible is probably pretty irrelevant. The damage it will do to this administration will be legion; the accolades it will receive from the international community will help the image of the US globally. They will view it as “finally the people are stopping this fascist regime”. And, they may begin to realize that americans are not all hypocrites like this administration.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:02 pmNBC’s Brian Willams and Andrea Mitchell pretty much skewered Bush in tonight’s news. Andrea looked sorry she had to deliver that news.
That was a pretty big deal. Maybe it is time to stand up and make a motion to impeach!!
December 4th, 2007 at 8:03 pmIf you ask any Independent why they switched their party affiliation from democrat to Indy, they will tell you that they became totally disgusted that the dems refused to impeach Bush way back on his other impeachable offenses.
If the dems fail the people on this one, I fear that the I’s will vote Ron Paul and the Repubs will win simply because no dem in congress is representing this chunk of americans right now.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:04 pmMaybe it is time to stand up and make a motion to impeach!!
Comment by ForTruth — December 4, 2007 @ 8:03 pm
Why hasn’t anyone thought of that? ;)
December 4th, 2007 at 8:04 pmYes, finally the MSM “has to” weight this one in or go down the toilet with Bush and Co. Finally, everyone seems to be recognizing that this will be Bush’s last hurrah and will seal his legacy once and for all. The “indicted administration”.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:05 pmForTruth: It’s because they know this one is the “smoking gun” which will take them all down.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:05 pmAs I’ve said, Pat Buchanan also skewered Team Bush tonight. I believe it’s all over but for the cryin’ and Bush looked today like he’d been crying in his beer instead of sleeping one wink last night.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:06 pmI know - I know what’s coming!! Cheney will have to hit the sidelines next month due to his heart problem and Chimpy will go into alcohol rehab along with Larry Craig.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:07 pmYeah Bush should go smoke a gun.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:08 pmThis NIE has been in the making since January. If anyone thinks that Bush and Chaney did not have their hands in the cookie jar while the NIE was being written needs a new brain. There is no way Bush and Chaney would sit back and just wait until the NIE was issued. That is not the way they work. They meddle and cherry pick facts to meet their needs and I’m willing to bet that they tried to do this with the current NIE. But, it looks like some people in the government are feeling that they can’t afford to let Bush and Company bully them any longer since the fate of our country hangs in the balance.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:09 pmHere’s a real hoot!. Thick as a Brick Freerepublic thinks the State Department is a bunch of traitors, and the Revolutionary Guard fed false info to them.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1934735/posts
December 4th, 2007 at 8:10 pmHi Zooey.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:11 pmHi Truth.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:11 pmYou left nut wackos are losing it! I hate to tell you but (and I know this will shock you!) George Bush is NOT running for President in 2008! Sorry about that. So why are you concerned about this as all it does is show that, because of George Bush’s leadership, Iran was forced to halt nukes (if this is true!).
December 4th, 2007 at 8:13 pmThat Freerepublic link was effing scary. All the posts were by one dude. I’m afraid of that guy.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:13 pmI think that Freeper dude was JK. Ahhhhh.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:14 pmComment by pluege — December 4, 2007 @ 7:59 pm
Bush Told Olmert Of NIE Two Days Before President Was Allegedly First Briefed On It
yea, but as usual bush didn’t know what he was saying thereby maintaining plausible deniability.
Of course he didn’t know. He’s a sock puppet.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:14 pm.
I’m a left nut wing whacko.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:15 pmIn all practicality, impeachment would not get the votes it needed. This is a problem.
Comment by ForTruth
And you know this how? If there is an impeachment and an investigation and we finally get to the bottom of all the crimes Bush/Chaney have committed and they are laid out for the world to see, it would be very hard for any Democrat much less any Republiscum to vote against impeachment. Once the will of the people was behind it the Republiscums running for re-election would realize that they either voted to impeach or decided to retire.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:16 pmI’m a left nut wing whacko.
Comment by ForTruth — December 4, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
Me too, proudly so. I’m also a feminist.
Boo!
December 4th, 2007 at 8:17 pmComment by John Kerry — December 4, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
George Bush will be runing: from patriots, who will go after him with every avqilqble law. He’d better get used to Paraguay real fast, if he wants to live outside of a cell.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:18 pmSo why are you concerned about this as all it does is show that, because of George Bush’s leadership, Iran was forced to halt nukes (if this is true!).
Comment by John Kerry
That’s what you would like to believe, but that is not necessarily the case. Once Bush took out Saddam (Iran’s enemy), I think they felt less need for a nuclear weapon. And the reason why this is important is that this country needs to regain some moral compass and tolerating continued lies by this administration is doing a lot or harm to not only our government but also to the world’s view of our government. That may not concern you, but it does concern me.
Why is this troll still here? Are you all flagging him for abuse?
December 4th, 2007 at 8:18 pmBilbo that would be awesome to see.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:19 pmVeritas, these are all compelling arguments, but they all involve perceptions. I’m not sure perception is something to hang your hat on when we’re dealing with a corporate media which has proven over and over that it will do everything it can to protect the prospects of the party which favors media deregulation which means more profits for the parent corporations which own the media.
In addition, I don’t buy this at all: “By registering Indy, the power comes back to the people where it belongs.”
Just as I believe unions, though the vehicle of collective bargaining power, bring more power to individual workers, I believe a major party, because of it’s ability to pass legislation, brings political power to individuals. Yes, candidates must pay attention to the increasing percentage of independents if they want to get elected, but the machinery of party is how you get legislation. This is why I feel the best way to go forward now is to continue to try to move the Democratic party to the left.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:19 pmThe key is the public fully backing impeachment.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:21 pmEveryone knows that the NIE really hurt Cheney’s bloodlust to bomb Iran.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:21 pmIs it a coincidence that Cheney had heart problems on the very day that Hersh says Bush was made aware of the NIE’s findings?
Just how much of our tax money do these people want? Outrage doesn’t begin to cover it. They lie everyday for their own benefit (and that of Saudi Arabia and China). Will the Senate and the House ever realize that these people are traitors?
If they nuke Iran it will make Iraq look like a church picnic. And for what?
Bush, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Feith, Rice and all their cronies are insane and must be stopped now. Biden needs to move up the timetable a bit. If we wait until they do it, it is too late. Please Pelosi and Conyers, you have a job to do.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:24 pmComment by John Kerry — December 4, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
because of George Bush’s leadership, Iran was forced to halt nukes (if this is true!).
BwaaaHaaaaaHaaaaaHaaaaaa
You Little Green Footfungus retreads crack me up!
December 4th, 2007 at 8:24 pmCheney’s tickkker has problem’s when evil loses out to good.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:26 pmI’m also a feminist.
Comment by Zooey
Count me in, gorgeous! :D
December 4th, 2007 at 8:28 pmComment by questioneverything
Whaddaya think about the recent nuke-warheads accidentally flying over the states?
December 4th, 2007 at 8:28 pmSo why are you concerned about this as all it does is show that, because of George Bush’s leadership, Iran was forced to halt nukes (if this is true!).
Comment by NOT John Kerry
————————-
Of course, at the same time you’re saying that Iran gave up it’s nuke program because Bush is so damned smart, you’re probably saying that North Korea and Syria were building nuclear weapons together in Syria, which would really blow your sychophantic thinking all to bits, wouldn’t it?
December 4th, 2007 at 8:29 pmCount me in, gorgeous! :D
Comment by Juan C. — December 4, 2007 @ 8:28 pm
I can always count on you. ;)
December 4th, 2007 at 8:30 pmbecause of George Bush’s leadership, Iran was forced to halt nukes (if this is true!).
Comment by John Kerry
That comment would be more absurd with some flying jets over the sky and some beach boys song in the background noise.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:30 pmWhat is funny is that trolls claim that the Bush leadership (sic) stopped Iran from having nukes, but certainly couldn’t stop Saddam from getting and producing WMDs when Iraq was already a ruined country with no airforce and its population starving and Iran has the greatest army (in numbers) in the Middle East?
You have to be a troll to think like this.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:33 pmBesides which to say, ForTruth, if the Democrats do begin impeachment proceedings, the country will be watching. As more and more testimony comes before Congress, the (D), (I), and (R) voters will, on a daily basis, flood the phone lines, e-mail servers and post boxes at the local, state AND federal level. If the testimony is damning, the Republicans will HAVE to cave, or watch their political party helplessly as it is swept in to history’s dustbin. That is what happened with Nixon. It wasn’t until the REPUBLICANS finally caved in to their constituents that Nixon was forced to resign (and would certainly have been impeached).
The public doesn’t have to FULLY back impeachment, for the 24%ers will never give in, methinks. Rather, a significant enough percentage of the public must pressure the REPUBLICANS to finally relent, or face political extinction.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:35 pmIn answer to “Whaddaya think about the recent nuke-warheads accidentally flying over the states?”
What accident? There are no accidents, especially at that level of military operations.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:37 pmWell, that, and getting the gov to allow special council Patrick Fitzgerald actually…you know…pursue such avenues as Archibald Cox did during the Nixon administration.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:38 pm#89
You left nut wackos are losing it! I hate to tell you but (and I know this will shock you!) George Bush is NOT running for President in 2008! Sorry about that. So why are you concerned about this as all it does is show that, because of George Bush’s leadership, Iran was forced to halt nukes (if this is true!).
Allow me. It’s pretty simple. Even you could understand it if you can pay attention long enough. Just forget all the nutty spin you’ve got there and try to grasp this. Bush IS president right now. With me so far?
Bush got us stuck in Iraq by lying about weapons of mass destruction that didn’t exist. He was told by reliable sources that they didn’t exist and still went ahead and invaded Iraq.
And now he and Cheney have been trying to justify an attack against Iran by talking about World War III and claiming that Iran was building nuclear weapons, even after they were told that Iran’s nuclear weapons program was shut down four years ago.
I know it’s not a big deal for chickenhawks to have other people go fight and die in a war that never should have been started in the first place and might never end. But, if you’ve got a conscience at all, you have to admit, if only to yourself, that Bush and Cheney were trying to get us into a war that would make Iraq look like a skirmish. And that’s just plain evil.
Bush and Cheney are big on the “doctrine of pre-emption”. Great idea. Let’s have a pre-emptive impeachment. We know that Bush and Cheney are trying to get us into an unjustified war that could destroy our country’s ability to defend itself and ruin the economy. Let’s stop them before they can do it. It’s a matter of national security. Impeach now.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:38 pmI imagined the Beach Boys playing Christmas songs, with jets flying overhead. I became all warm and fuzzy, and thought, what the hell, lets give the Freeper a Christmas present.
Because GWB scared the shit out of Iran with his reckless endangerment. They halted their nuke program.
Merry Christmas!
December 4th, 2007 at 8:40 pm“pre-emptive impeachment”
Excellent idea.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:45 pmnuke-warheads accidentally flying over the states?â€
From what I have heard, it is not possible for this to accidentally happen. They are too readily identifiable. There are too many precautions. They were knowingly flown. Don’t believe anything this government says. If you always believe the opposite, you will be right a lot more often.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:48 pmQ: What is conservatism?
A: Conservatism is the domination of society by an aristocracy.
Q: What is wrong with conservatism? 
A: Conservatism is incompatible with democracy, prosperity, and civilization in general. It is a destructive system of inequality and prejudice that is founded on deception and has no place in the modern world.
From the article:
What Is Conservatism and What Is Wrong with It?
Philip E. Agre 
August 2004
The wheels are really coming off the conservative bus. If it isn’t JulieAnnie getting caught red handed playing “cops”, its Turd Blossom actually smelling like the cess pool he climbed out of as he tries to rewrite history, or now (the burning) Bush being outed in one of his endless lies. The Republics are “dead candidates walking” and the primaries aren’t even here yet.
What a great political drama is unfolding right before our very eyes! We will look back on these times with both pain and joy.
To paraphrase:
December 4th, 2007 at 8:48 pm“Though the mills of Justice grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small.”
Yes, the Republics time is at hand!
In all practicality, impeachment would not get the votes it needed. This is a problem.
this is utter defeatist drool. There is enough known already of bush’s crimes to impeach, convict, remove. If an actual investigation were made they would find that what we now know was just the tip of the iceberg.
the bush/cheney regime is criminality through and through. If they were ever exposed to the light of day decent people would be shrieking for their heads across the US. Many republicans would hardly be able to hold back.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:48 pm.
Keith,
We’ve been closely following the Minot Nukes case on TheZoo.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:50 pmHey Zooey. I should check it out.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:52 pm“pre-emptive impeachmentâ€
Excellent idea.
Comment by ForTruth — December 4, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
A “post-emptive” war crimes tribunal would be nice too.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:53 pmHi Keith. nwmuse has done a great job following that bizarre happening.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:53 pmMaybe this is saving Bushy from himself. If he nuked Iran, that would get him impeached.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:53 pm#114 Comment by chimpeach — December 4, 2007 @ 8:38 pm
pre-emptive impeachment
I second ForTruth. Excellent idea and good thinking.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:55 pmYes and I read the story about he “accidental” nuke flight over the US, at TheZoo, of course. It’s a great place to get some news.
Anyway. I feel Bush/Cheney were trying to hijack those weapons, to use on Iran. Or false flag ops.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:59 pmForTruth: I can’t see what else diverting such warheads would accomplish. There are plenty of nukes able to precision bomb Iran within striking distance. Only if they wanted to conduct a false flag, or SELL those nukes to an interested party, would they attempt to secretly divert such weapons.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:04 pmGood article at the Zoo by Global Research:
“There was no way that the six nuclear missiles could have been “mistakenly†loaded, especially when their separate warheads had to be affixed to the missiles by individuals specialized in such a momentous task.”
It says there was a probable tie-in with an attack on Iran.
First I heard about all the related deaths.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:06 pmApparently 14 signatures are needed, to load a nuclear-warhead tipped missile on a plane.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:13 pmIt is no surprise… These WAR CRIMINALS open their mouth to deceive and manipulate… IMPEACH, INDICT AND IMPRISON!
December 4th, 2007 at 9:18 pm#11 - You saved me some typing. I couldn’t put it better myself.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:24 pmFrankly, Scarlet, I’m confused.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:31 pmUSA/ISRAEL=WAR CRIMINALS!
December 4th, 2007 at 9:33 pmYesterday 12/3, Hadley said that Bush knew about the NIE Report for “several months,” which would be before his 10/17 press conf, where he went into his spin about “Iran and WWIII.”
Today, Bush said that he only learned about the NIE Report last week. Oh, really? Hersh challenges that statement, based on Bush’s conversation with Olmert on 11/26, where he discussed the NIE.
How can anyone believe Bush when he said that Mike McConnell told him about the new NIE report in August, but Bush “didn’t ask about it” and “wasn’t told anything.”
If this could possibly be true, and Bush didn’t know about the NIE when he said on 10/17 that Iran would start WWII, WHY didn’t Mike McConnell correct this misstatement? Why didn’t he go public about Iran’s nonexistent nuclear program so that Bush’s bellicose statements could not lead to War? Can anyone believe this scenario?
No — of course not. We all know Bush lied in his press conference today. It was a pathetic sight to see Bush — from the most powerful position in the world — looking so pathetic. We need to nail Bush on this. Call Congress and the media — demand action.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:48 pmThat Freerepublic link was effing scary. All the posts were by one dude. I’m afraid of that guy.
Comment by ForTruth — December 4, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
If one wants to see the face of the Gorgon, read FreeRepublic. I do to see what makes these people tick. It is literally a collection of sociopaths, rednecks, Neo-Cons, War Mongers, Ditto Heads, Religious Fanatics, and just plain dummies. I used to read Bizarro Comics as a kid, but this is much funnier…..Well, let me take that back, if people weren’t dying and the USA wasn’t in such rough shape, it would be very funny.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:56 pmTo ThinkP12-4-07 re: Hersh and Iran:
Maybe if Valerie Wilson hadn’t been exposed, the CIA would have had more concrete info on Iran’s nuke program sooner. Perhaps that was the reason they outed her and her undercover operation. Perhaps the Congress could look into the connections. Perhaps they could actually ask Bob Novak what in the f*** he was being paid for. Oh, wait, I forget, few of them care to ask the right quesitons. Dots–what dots? Pelosi believes they still have no evidence of impeachable offenses. We all know it’s already been proven.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:56 pmThis entire series of events is all interconnected. Valerie Plame was covertly investigating weapons proliferation, but her company would have blown holes in Cheney’s plan, so she had to go.
This NIE has been in the pipe for more than a year - while Cheney tried strong arm tactics daily to get them to support his maniacal claims. I think the NIE agencies just decided they would not be made patsies any more.
To even consider that Bush heard from McConnell about the direction of this report and did not question him further tells us one of two things: either Bush is incredibly more stupid than we thought, or worse, he’s not that stupid, but he is a liar, out of control.
He is either too incompetent to be president, or too corrupt. He has been proven to have lied to the public and the world. He is way past irrelevant now.
Read Hersh’s piece in the New Yorker from last November - he nailed it.
December 4th, 2007 at 11:54 pm“Hersh: Bush Told Olmert Of NIE Two Days Before President Was Allegedly First Briefed On It”
He must think the American people are village idiots. Another nail in the clown’s legacy.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:02 am“That’s what you would like to believe, but that is not necessarily the case. Once Bush took out Saddam (Iran’s enemy), I think they felt less need for a nuclear weapon.”
Hey bilbobaggins, I actually agree with you. ANd thank you so much for reinforcing my point that, thanks to the great George Bush taking out your good old pal Saddam, Iran “felt less need for a nuclear weapon”!!
I’m starting to like you bilbo! Welcome to the RIGHT side pal!!
December 5th, 2007 at 12:37 amHersh said:
“I’m told that Olmert had a private discussion with Bush about it during Annapolis”
By whom? I cannot take Hersh’s word at face value. He is known to fabricate information to bolster his agenda.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:59 amthanks to the great George Bush taking out your good old pal Saddam,
Comment by John Kerry — December 5, 2007 @ 12:37 am
Progressives ALWAYS opposed Saddam. Carter had sanctions against him. Reagan quickly removed the sanctions and began aiding him strongly. Ditto GHWB. Ditto Rumsfeld. It was our CIA which put him in power in the first place. I contributed to Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Red Cross which told of Saddam’s atrocities while the cons were supporting him.
The Arab League said that Saddam had agreed in March 2003 to leave for $1 billion and a guarantee of safety. But neocons didn’t want to just “take him out”. He wanted to control that part of the world–mainly because of the oil and natural gas.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:14 amWell give Bush a break. If his wizard John Bolton says “never, until this week,†long befor publication of the NIE brief, when his tarot card reader advised him that THIS week, he would be informed that Iran didn’t have a WMD capability, he wouldn’t actually KNOW it until this week, how could Bush possibly have known (amnesia is such a convient contrivance . . .”Yes, I hire advisors, but they only advise me. . . I absolutely will not tolerate the truth”).
Just think back to 9-11, how could Bush possibly have imagined that jets would slam into the World Trade Center towers, he had been briefed, but the reality of the fact really wasn’t exactly reality until it was.
Heck, he had Wolfowitz screaming afterward that the Iraqi’s had WMD and were responsible for the bombing (not that Iraq had anything to do with it), Wolfowitz was the expert on WMD, he said bomb, we bombed, he lied and got sent out to pasture at the World Bank (where he continued to wreak havoc). Years later, memories lapse, 4,000 Americans and Lord knows how many tens of thousands of Iraqis dead, Wolfowitz is back in charge of WMD policy with Iran in his cross-hairs, Iran has no WMD, but all is right with the world . . . dub’ya wasn’t properly briefed more than a year ago, he’s been screamin’ WWIII, and hot damn, we’ve got an election on the horizon.
And all is right with the world.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:20 amrockyroad,
Spring 2001, The Lone Gunmen tv show had someone takeover a commercial airliner by remote control and fly it into the WTC! But Rice and W tell us that noone could have foreseen such a thing.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:45 am“I used to support Israel wholeheartedly…but they lost me when they built that damned wall. ”
Really, annie? Why? The wall is an admission that they can’t hold their settlements. Which are against international law and have been for decades. I am glad you realize the Israelis are not exactly on the up and up but I am curious why you think they were before?
December 5th, 2007 at 1:53 amoh no, israel disagrees. and they’re always right…..
December 5th, 2007 at 2:07 amKeith:
December 5th, 2007 at 2:18 amWorld Trade Center bombing #1, al Quaed’s penchanchant for returniing to the scene of the crime, known Saudi terrorists training to fly airplanes but not to land, FBI agents standing on their heads screaming that Arab terrorists planning to bomb the Trade Centers with airplanes, a National Security Briefing detailing the possibility that Arab terrorists planned to attack American financial institutions and monuments with airplanes . . . who had the imagination to imagine the fact that terrorists planned to attach the World Trade Centers during the first week of September 1991 with airplanes . . . I dunno know. Certainly not Bush, who was busy reading a story about goats to children while on vacation in Crawford, Texas, while that briefing laid “unread” on his desk.
Poor spelling, I know. I will no longer apologize. My passions run fairly high on the subject.
Perhaps I was a child left behind. . . . In fact, I believe that dub’ya counts on the ignorance of the masses.
Anyone who can’t add up the inconsistencies in Bush’s statements (and for that matter all GOP candidates and a couple of Democratic positions) needs rudimentary math classes. This is a topic about which I am passionate. Fingers fly faster than I can type.
Worst president ever. He has forever changed our concept of democracy. “We’ve got the best democracy on the planet . . . an example for all” . . . hell, get over it.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:27 amO what tangled webs we weave when first we practice to deceive!
December 5th, 2007 at 7:06 amWith no consequences for deception, Doc, the web can be as tangled as necessary.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:46 amis this the same seymour hersh who admits to lying on a regular basis when speaking in public ?
Then there’s Sy. He’s the public speaker, the pundit. On the podium, Sy is willing to tell a story that’s not quite right, in order to convey a Larger Truth.
“I can’t fudge what I write. But I can certainly fudge what I say.â€
Hersh insists that he takes great pains to be right when it counts the most—that is, when he writes, not when he talks
that well known right wing outfit NY Mag came up with a profile titled “Sy Hersh Says It’s Okay to Lie (Just Not in Print)”
so is sy hersh going for the “larger truth” here ?
December 5th, 2007 at 8:21 amor is he actually telling the truth ?
DreamCrusher … wait … stay perfectly still … what is that stuff coming out of your face??
OH!
It’s CRAP!
I guess I should have known.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:47 am“Never mind that he’s been claiming Bush was about to bomb Iran for about 4 years straight now.”
Are you now denying that the Bush Administration has wanted to bomb Iran? Really?
“Who the hell cares if he got the date wrong? What relevance does it have?”
Christmas will be celebrated on Thur Dec 27 this year. Enjoy.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:44 pmThe powers that be must HATE the Internet. Lol. If it wasn’t for the Internet then we’d love Bush and think he’s the best President in history.
Thank you Internet :)
Love,
December 5th, 2007 at 5:41 pmDiana Moneymaker