"Curve Ball" the source of faulty Iraq intel revealed

Zhuge Liang · Local time: Nov 4, 2007, 01:54 PM

Looks like he fooled many people.

In a way, this may actually help derail the notion that the Bush Administration lied about the reasons for invading Iraq especially when this news here further illustrates that the intel viewed by the Congress and Senate was international in scope.

Note, I didn't say this helps completely absolve Bush & Co., but the implication that the administration lied or mislead people is a bit of a stretch. A slight embellishment perhaps, but not altogether deceitful.

Denicalis · Local time: Nov 4, 2007, 06:02 PM

I don't think the problem is so much lying as much as gross incompetence.

Zhuge Liang · Local time: Nov 4, 2007, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by Denicalis

I don't think the problem is so much lying as much as gross incompetence.

Too true. Somehow I think that the war wouldn't be nearly as unpopular if the public perceived a better sense of direction and execution and there isn't much of that going on save for the troop surge which should have happened long ago.

What Bush doesn't appear to get is that perception is reality.

RABicle · 02:32 AM

No. I can still remeber the cover of the West Australian back in 03 that summarised the US presentation to the sercurity council in response to the Blix report. The US produced photographs of the mobile weapons factories, pinpointed locations of weapon hiding spots, claimed to have numerous Iraqi defectors verify their story. It was a lot more than just one bragging general.

indutrial · Nov 5, 2007, 01:54 AM

Originally Posted by RABicle

No. I can still remeber the cover of the West Australian back in 03 that summarised the US presentation to the sercurity council in response to the Blix report. The US produced photographs of the mobile weapons factories, pinpoited locations of weapons hiding spots, claimed to have numerous Iraqi defectors verify their story. It was a lot more than just a bragging general.

Indeed. There was little chance that our country wasn't going to fall backwards into this war. I'm just hoping our population isn't stupid or cowardly enough to cave into the administration's next blundering march into Iran. Unfortunately, I think I heard that over 50% of a polled group of American fuckheads is already prepared to back military action in that country. I hope the idiots in the U.S. who are in support of this unfolding disaster like to ride their bikes to work.

RABicle · Local time: Nov 5, 2007, 04:31 PM

In Australia we consider it a lie too. I remember John Howard saying soemthing along the lines of "I KNOW that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction" when challenged in Question Time.