Helen Thomas: The CIA Takes the Rap for the Iraqi Debate

[UpInArms]

http://www.fcnp.com/419/thomas.htm

President Bush doesn't seem to be perturbed over the fact that every ominous argument he made to invade Iraq has turned out to be false. Maybe that's because the public seems to be ho-hum about it all.

After a year-long study, the Senate Intelligence Committee has released a 511-page report -- the first phase of a two-part inquiry -- that rejects as wrong and exaggerated Bush's constantly reiterated claims that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and had ties to the al Qaida terrorists.

The committee blamed the CIA alone for the mistakes.

Bush later acknowledged there were "some shortcomings" in the intelligence area but praised the intelligence professionals for doing an "essential job."

Bush's low-key response is mystifying, given the fact that his entire justification for going to war has exploded and the administration's claims have been repudiated.

No expressions of apology or regrets have been heard from the president or other top administration officials. There was no admission that a colossal mistake had been committed, no recognition of the loss of nearly 900 American lives and thousands wounded in a war whose real reason remains mysterious.

...more...

[indepat]

1. There is no need for an admission that a colossal mistake had been

made when you have never made a mistake on any issue or action during your entire Presidency.

[joanne]

2. Not only that, Chimpy insists invading Iraq was the right thing to do

He continues to say this over and over, as well as "America is safer".

Bet he has not lost a moment's sleep over the lives lost, both with the troops and the thousands of innocent Iraqis, many of them CHILDREN.

[Miss Authoritiva]

3. What's the mystery?

"Bush's low-key response is mystifying, given the fact that his entire justification for going to war has exploded and the administration's claims have been repudiated."

Really, does anyone expect Bush to gnash his teeth, claw at his skin, pull out his hair, rend his clothes in anguish, grief, and guilt over the Iraq War? This is not "King Lear" or "Murder in the Cathedral." This is not a medieval Passion Play.

Truth is, once the first bombs and first boots landed in Iraq, Bush and his backers won. They must be baffled by the idea that they owe anybody explanations or apologies. How silly. How annoying.

Let's accept it: They won, they won, they won. They got the war they wanted, when they wanted it. And they got us to pay for it, dearly.

Now, what have we all learned from this?