US gave inaccurate Iraq picture, ex-intel official

"As of March 2003, when we began military operations, Iraq posed no imminent threat to either its neighbors or to the United States," Thielmann said.

CIA Director George Tenet also made "some inaccurate formulations" when he told Congress that Iraq "retains" a small number of SCUD missiles, Thielmann said.

"This was not what the intelligence community said," Thielmann said. The intelligence community said Iraq "probably" had SCUDS because some could not be accounted for, he said.

As of March 2003, when we began military operations, Iraq posed no imminent threat to either its neighbors or to the United States.

No threat, no cause for war. So in other words, attacking Iraq didn't advance the "war on terror" -- it just was the terror.

To paraphrase Justice Robert Jackson, it is paramount we communicate to the American people that the crime for which their leaders should be tried is not that they conducted this war badly, but that they conducted it at all. We need to revive the moral imperative of the UN Charter, and hammer home the point that starting a war for any reason is unforgiveable -- that the only justification for use of military force is defending against an actual attack.

"Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday said the United States did not go to war with Iraq because of dramatic new evidence of banned weapons but because it saw existing information in a new light after the Sept. 11 attacks."

He would have invaded the following day. Project for A New American Century.

Iraq to 9/11 - and there were major attempts to tie the anthrax attacks on Iraq - they (PNAC) have been after Iraq for years.

Sorry for the dupe. This is important. It is a trickle--no longer a drip.

particularly since it appears the Wilkenson guy was a con. (I think many of us suspected that, since there was no other corroboration)

from your article:

(snip) "Some of the fault lies with the performance of the intelligence community, but most of it lies with the way senior officials misused the information they were provided," he said at a press conference held by the Arms Control Association.

President George W. Bush justified going to war based on the threat from Iraq's alleged biological and chemical weapons and nuclear weapons program.

"As of March 2003, when we began military operations, Iraq posed no imminent threat to either its neighbors or to the United States," Thielmann said. (snip/...)

If ONLY our news outlets will start performing the job everyone sane expects from them.

Thanks a lot, Ikinsale. Welcome to D.U. :hi: :hi:

It's a start...and apparently a credible one at that!