Nobody Could Have Predicted...

RICE BECOMES WHAT GWB HATES: A REVISIONIST HISTORIAN

On second thought, he probably applauds it when it serves his purpose. Anyway, why these fools in the Senate, especially Diane Feinstein, go on about how qualified Rice is and how well she’s performed as the National Security Advisor. The worst attack since Pearl Harbor occurred on her watch. Oops! Her testimony before the 9/11 Commission with her arrogance and obvious plan to “run out the clock” was disturbing. She speaks about how and what Bush thinks as if she’s channeling his thoughts, or perhaps just providing them. Her credibility has been completely shredded.

Okay, so now she’s going to be Secretary of State. Now we’re going to use diplomacy. My guess is that the administration’s idea of diplomacy is to use more bribes and less coercion when trying to form a coalition. Or perhaps there will be less emphasis on punitive actions against our traditional allies.

In the confirmation hearings yesterday, Barbara Boxer leveled some shots squarely at Condi’s veracity and hit the target dead center. In one part of the exchange, Rice continued with the refrain that Saddam did not account for his weapons.

That was the context that frankly made us awfully suspicious when he refused to account for his weapons-of-mass-destruction programs despite repeated Security Council resolutions and despite the fact that he was given one last chance to comply with Resolution 1441.

However, before the war, Iraq had produced a 12,000 page report that has never, as far as I know, seen the light of day. In fact, 8000 pages were redacted by the White House. So, we only have their word for it that Saddam did not provide a credible declaration.

From CNN Article:

A top Iraqi official has challenged the United States and Britain to refute Baghdad's declaration of its weapons programs, saying the report is accurate "as they have asked for."

The declaration was issued to U.N. inspectors in Baghdad Saturday. A complete copy of the nearly 12,000-page report was packed in two black suitcases and sent to the United Nations in New York along with a partial copy for UNMOVIC. A second, partial report was packed in a green suitcase and sent to the IAEA in Vienna.

U.S. and British officials say Iraq is violating U.N. resolutions requiring it to give up weapons of mass destruction. Iraq has denied the allegations.
"If they have anything to the contrary, let them forthwith come up with it. Give it to the IAEA, give it to UNMOVIC," said Gen. Amer al-Saadi, the Iraqi government's science adviser, referring to the U.N. agencies conducting weapons inspections.

But U.S. intelligence officials expressed deep skepticism about the Iraqi weapons declaration, saying the United States has its own "clear evidence" that Iraq has an extensive weapons program.

A Bush administration official said Saturday the United States will provide some intelligence information to U.N. inspection teams following Iraq's submission. If so, al-Saadi said, "They should come up with it forthwith. The sooner they do it, the better it is for all concerned."

The Bush administration has threatened to use force to disarm Iraq if it does not comply with U.N. weapons inspectors. If Baghdad's declaration is found to include false information or omit pertinent information, it may constitute a "material breach" of the U.N. resolution sending inspectors back to Iraq.

Circle Jerk

So let me get this straight. We had faulty intelligence about Iraq’s WMD capability. We use the faulty intelligence to challenge the credibility and completeness of the Iraqi Weapons Declaration. We then claim Saddam has failed to account for the WMD after redacting 2/3 of information and is therefore not in compliance with the UN Resolutions. Off to war we go.

Now Rice stands before the Senate and says Saddam did not account for his weapons.

Transcript of Testimony

CNN Article