In light of Suskind's book, something else to remember:

Articles from The Guardian, dated September 2002


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/sep/06/usa.iraq

At the height of the summer, as talk of invading Iraq built in Washington like a dark, billowing storm, the US armed forces staged a rehearsal using over 13,000 troops, countless computers and $250m. Officially, America won and a rogue state was liberated from an evil dictator.
What really happened is quite another story, one that has set alarm bells ringing throughout America's defence establishment and raised questions over the US military's readiness for an Iraqi invasion. In fact, this war game was won by Saddam Hussein, or at least by the retired marine playing the Iraqi dictator's part, Lieutenant General Paul Van Riper.

In the first few days of the exercise, using surprise and unorthodox tactics, the wily 64-year-old Vietnam veteran sank most of the US expeditionary fleet in the Persian Gulf, bringing the US assault to a halt.

What happened next will be familiar to anyone who ever played soldiers in the playground. Faced with an abrupt and embarrassing end to the most expensive and sophisticated military exercise in US history, the Pentagon top brass simply pretended the whole thing had not happened. They ordered their dead troops back to life and "refloated" the sunken fleet. Then they instructed the enemy forces to look the other way as their marines performed amphibious landings. Eventually, Van Riper got so fed up with all this cheating that he refused to play any more. Instead, he sat on the sidelines making abrasive remarks until the three-week war game - grandiosely entitled Millennium Challenge - staggered to a star-spangled conclusion on August 15, with a US "victory.

AND:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/aug/21/usa.julianborger

The biggest war game in US military history, staged this month at a cost of £165m with 13,000 troops, was rigged to ensure that the Americans beat their "Middle Eastern" adversaries, according to one of the main participants.
General Paul Van Riper, a retired marine lieutenant-general, told the Army Times that the sprawling three-week millennium challenge exercises, were "almost entirely scripted to ensure a win".

He protested by quitting his role as commander of enemy forces, and warning that the Pentagon might wrongly conclude that its experimental tactics were working.

______________________________________________________
NOT ONLY WERE WE LIED INTO A WAR - WE WERE LIED INTO A WAR THEY KNEW WE COULDN'T WIN. THAT'S MURDER AND THAT'S TREASON.

this is just so much "hot air". I heard him yesterday in an interview and was left with the impression that he did not intend to share the tapes with anyone.

Ah but then again, why should we expect anybody to do the correct thing about any of this anymore?

This is a VERY bleak period in our history.

insider could have the solid evidence that unravels this entire sordid mess. It could be done. The evidence would have to be well protected video and audio recordings of key conversations incriminating the top Administration officials, namely Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield, Rice, Gonzales, Scalia and Mukasey. Copies of the evidence would be sent all over the world to media, governments and individuals.

The person who masterminded the expose' would possibly lose their life and perhaps the lives of his or her family. That would be a big price to pay. Will such a hero ever step up? I don't thinks so.

sadly, he won't need to, because this book will quickly be forgotten, because it's getting ignored on cable TV....they're too busy pushing Fredoso, and, I assume Corsi

I saw Fredoso three times yesterday morning, just flipping between CNN/MSNBC

I'm sure they had more of him on in the afternoon

back to suskind what I saw didn't dwell on his releasing tapes (my memory, anyway), but I'd assume he'd have no trouble releasing the crucial ones of Richer and Maguire (is that right on the names of the two who are backpedaling?), because they spoke on the record. what reason would he have to withhold them? I'd think he'd be ANXIOUS to put their tapes out there; their words would only bolster his case

what do you think?

specifically about whether he would release the tapes. Twice he said "I don't dump my interview tapes that were obtained with the understanding of confidentiality" (That was a paraphrase of what he said.) He sounded as though he was going to take the usual journalist right to confidentiality.

When asked about whether he thought Bush should be impeached he spoke only weasel words that meant nothing.

I understand the journalists need for confidentiality. But, this information pertains to items, that if true, are proving major treason by the President and his Administration. The seriousness should preempt the journalists need for privacy just as psychiatrists are required to reveal to officials when a patient has made threatening statements.

America is in desperate need for one or more true heroes willing to step up with the hard evidence that is out there. Yes, we have true heroes now dying in Iraq and Afghanistan. But,their deaths are not stopping the criminal behavior that is the root of our greatest national problems.

I assume he means the tapes of those on record.

he knows the possible consequences of what he's written, at least he does now.

sounds like he may have changed his tune

btw, was blitzer confrontational/oppositional?

will check the transcripts, I guess

thanks for your insight

wonder what he thinks about the alternate story surfacing. did you see that? Feith was behind the letter, supposedly

No, I haven't heard about the "alternate" story. What was it?

could be part of disinfo campaign

it was an interesting thread

I think formercia commented on it, but I get them all mixed up at this point

Thanks for finding it for us.

Face it. Our government, Democrats and Repubicans alike will never, ever, EVER hold anyone in this administration accountable for any crime. It's probably because of some kind of blackmail going on behind the scenes, but it's there and we will never be able to overcome it.

Bush and Cheney will live out the rest of their lives in wealth and comfort and there's nothing any of us can do.
OJ set the new moral tone for America.