Former Centcom Commander (Zinni) - the American's have been "conned"

[cthrumatrix]

Iraq has old-school Marine regretting support for Bush :

By Thomas E. Ricks
The Washington Post

snip

He sees both conflicts as beginning with deception by the U.S. government. "I think the American people were conned into this," he says. Referring to the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident, in which the Johnson administration claimed that U.S. Navy ships had been subjected to an unprovoked attack by North Vietnam, he says, "The Gulf of Tonkin and the case for WMD and terrorism is synonymous in my mind."

And the goal of transforming the Middle East by imposing democracy by force reminds him of the "domino theory" in the 1960s that the United States had to win in Vietnam to prevent Southeast Asia from falling into communist hands.

That brings him back to Wolfowitz and his neoconservative allies as the root of the problem. "I don't know where the neocons came from — that wasn't the platform they ran on," he says. "Somehow, the neocons captured the president. They captured the vice president."

He is especially irked that, as he sees it, no senior officials have taken responsibility for their incorrect assessment of the threat posed by Iraq. "What I don't understand is that the bill of goods the neocons sold him has been proven false, yet heads haven't rolled," he says. "I think some fairly senior people at the Pentagon ought to go." Who? "That's up to the president."

Zinni says he hasn't received a single negative response from military people. "I was surprised by the number of uniformed guys, all ranks, who said, 'You're speaking for us. Keep on keeping on.' "

snip

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5438.htm

[cthrumatrix]

1. Sound's like he has a "bit more knowledge" in this area than Cheney

snip

"Cheney's certitude bewildered Zinni. At Central Command, Zinni had been immersed in U.S. intelligence about Iraq. He was all too familiar with analysts' doubts about Iraq's programs to acquire weapons of mass destruction, or WMD. "In my time at Centcom, I watched the intelligence, and never — not once — did it say, '(Saddam) has WMD.' "

Though retired for nearly two years, Zinni says, he remained current on the intelligence through consulting with the CIA and the military. "I did consulting work for the agency, right up to the beginning of the war. I never saw anything. I'd say to analysts, 'Where's the threat?' " Their response was, "Silence." "


snip

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5438.htm

[NewJeffCT]

this needs to be reported

But, it won't be... Rove is too good at burying it, and war is good for ratings.

But, imagine how good impeachment would be for ratings?

[pnziii]

2. It's tru, but it won't go anywhere

Notice that you have to go to information clearing house to get this story.

Why hasn't the media been plastering this all over.
Because they are too busy telling us Dean made a gaff.

There is so much underground news on how bad this war is really going and the media ignores it.

[seventhson]

4. Yes, BUT we are becoming the media. Just keep this story alive

through DU, Democrats.com, Truthout, wherever we can.

Those who ate tuned in will be turned on and will VOTE the Bushes to oblivion in 2004.

[cthrumatrix]

5. Pass this article to your "military friends"...ask what they think

even the repugs have to give weight and credibility to Zinni

[BootinUp]

6. I saw this on-line in Wash Post about 1 or 2 weeks ago

I have never seen him on TV though, but he'll probably get his chance before long to hit some news shows (guess). We need more like him. This is another example of how military men or generals that have seen war are the last ones that want to go to war.

[zbird]

3. I guess he never heard of the PNAC?

"Somehow, the neocons captured the president. They captured the vice president."

Doesn't he know that Cheney IS a founding neocon?

[maggrwaggr]

7. kicking

This is a good story

[bobthedrummer]

8. Another American speaking truth to lies

impeach the lot of them! The neo-conservatives are traitors IMHO.
Since impeachment seems out of the question we must vote them out.
The worst pResident ever.

[cthrumatrix]

9. Tweety should have this guy on his show .... bet he won't touch it

Or for that matter...let's have him talk to insannity instead of the lap dogs Faux pays to have lie

[w4rma]

10. This guy is *exactly* correct, and he is in a position to know, also (n/t)