Ex-CIA analyst condemns Bush 'manipulation campaign' on Iraq

[Judi Lynn]

Ex-CIA analyst condemns Bush 'manipulation campaign' on Iraq
27 minutes ago

MADRID (AFP) - A former Middle East specialist of the US Central Intelligence Agency has condemned what he called an organised campaign of manipulation by the Bush administration to justify the Iraq war.

Paul Pillar, a former CIA analyst specialising in counter-terrorism in the Middle East and Asia, said in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais that the United States had particularly wanted to prove a link between Al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein.

"That was not the case," he was quoted as saying. "I suppose by some definitions that could be called a lie."
(snip)

"The administration's voracious appetite to obtain material about this non-existent alliance cost a great deal of time and work to senior intelligence staff and the most highly experienced analysts in the CIA," Pillar said in the interview.
(snip/)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060504/wl_mideast_afp/iraqusciaattacks

[Spazito]

1. It is good to see more and more experts come out with the

truth. The dripping is now becoming a continuous stream.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Revelation from the same analyst concerning Iran:

Overlooking reported diplomatic overture in 2003, Wash. Times editorial declared that "Iran has shown no serious interest in negotiating" about its nuclear program
Summary: A Washington Times editorial asserted that "Iran has shown no serious interest in negotiating" about its alleged nuclear weapons program, despite evidence that, in May 2003, Iran made diplomatic overtures toward the United States.
(snip)

A February 19 Newsday article reported that "in May 2003, shortly after the U.S. military destroyed the army of Saddam Hussein, a fax arrived at the State Department with an Iranian offer to open talks that would include a discussion of weapons of mass destruction." The article also reported that "he fax was one of a series of informal soundings that emanated from Tehran in the months after the United States invasion of Iraq":

Iran's envoys to Sweden and Britain also began sending signals that the regime was ready to negotiate a deal, according to a former Western diplomat closely familiar with the messages. Iran was sending messages through other back-channels as well, according to Paul Pillar, who served as the CIA's national intelligence officer for the Near East and South Asia from 2000 to 2005.
(snip/...)

http://mediamatters.org/items/200605020009

[gratuitous]

3. "By some definitions" it was a lie, Mr. Pillar?

Would you accept that kind of "logic" from a four-year-old standing there with crumbs around his mouth telling you he didn't eat one of the oatmeal cookies? But it wasn't a lie because it was one of the chocolate chip cookies! Of course you wouldn't let the little pischer get away with that.

I submit that going to war, squandering the national treasury, and wasting thousands of lives is a slightly more important issue than a four-year-old stealing a cookie. But because I point that out, I'm an angry, Bush-bashing traitor to the United States.

[Dr Fate]

4. Are any Democrats on TV talking about this- or are they too frightened?

Perhaps we should email it to some late-night comedians or television actors- maybe they wont be too frightened to talk about it.

[WhiteTara]

5. Is this guy insane? By ALL definitions it was a lie

you Putz! I'm sure you're scared, but get a grip and say the words!
:grr:

[Dr Fate]

6. Dont worry- maybe we can get a comedian or actor to tell the truth...

...and call it a lie.

Perhaps Gilbert Godfrey,Howie Mandel or Emo Phillips. ;) Or Colbert or Clooney.

God knows that no one in Washington, including most Democrats know how to speak blunt truthiness.

It's a "LIE"- I'd love to see a Democrat, front and center, ON TV, witht he colberts to say so- and USE THAT WORD.

[Terran1212]

7. 0 surprise there

The scary part is most Americans won't know or pay attention to this and other shreds of evidence of this obsessive liar in the act.