Comments on: IS THE IRAN NIE BUSH’S “DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE?” http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/ Politics served up with a smile... And a stilletto. Sat, 25 Apr 2026 08:16:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-1181239 Anonymous Tue, 01 Jan 2008 03:53:18 +0000 http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/#comment-1181239 <strong>ppier999...</strong> ppier999... ppier999…

ppier999…

]]> By: Ranier http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-1121344 Ranier Mon, 10 Dec 2007 02:38:18 +0000 http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/#comment-1121344 How many of you here have served? (SFX: crickets) Thought so. How many of you here have served?

(SFX: crickets)

Thought so.

]]> By: B.Poster http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-1118446 B.Poster Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:11:51 +0000 http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/#comment-1118446 If Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in the fall of 2003, it would interesting to ask how the invasion of Iraq factored into their decision. Also, if it assumed Iran has not restarted the program, how has a large contingent of American troops in the neighboring country of Iraq affected their decisions and how will the Iranian nuclear weapons program be affected when American forces are withdrawn from Iraq? To the best I can tell, no major media sources are asking these questions. For the record, I don't think the war in Iraq was a good idea. I think it has severly undermined our national security and the security of our most important ally, Israel but it would be a prudent question to ask how teh invasion of Iraq affected Iranian policy and how it will be affected by the coming departure of American troops. I think the NIE report is likely bogus. I find it difficult to put any trust in American intellegence agencies who have a long track record of getting so many things wrong. Frankly the news that Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and has not restarted it sounds to good to be true. I learned long ago that if something sounds to good to be true that it probably is not true. It is my understanding that the Israelis are disputing these findings. The Israelis are probably correct. Their survival depends upon accurate intellegence on their enemies. I would trust the Israelis before I would trust the American intellegence community. If Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in the fall of 2003, it would interesting to ask how the invasion of Iraq factored into their decision. Also, if it assumed Iran has not restarted the program, how has a large contingent of American troops in the neighboring country of Iraq affected their decisions and how will the Iranian nuclear weapons program be affected when American forces are withdrawn from Iraq? To the best I can tell, no major media sources are asking these questions.

For the record, I don’t think the war in Iraq was a good idea. I think it has severly undermined our national security and the security of our most important ally, Israel but it would be a prudent question to ask how teh invasion of Iraq affected Iranian policy and how it will be affected by the coming departure of American troops.

I think the NIE report is likely bogus. I find it difficult to put any trust in American intellegence agencies who have a long track record of getting so many things wrong. Frankly the news that Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and has not restarted it sounds to good to be true. I learned long ago that if something sounds to good to be true that it probably is not true.

It is my understanding that the Israelis are disputing these findings. The Israelis are probably correct. Their survival depends upon accurate intellegence on their enemies. I would trust the Israelis before I would trust the American intellegence community.

]]> By: Andy http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-1112850 Andy Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:07:34 +0000 http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/#comment-1112850 Steve, Cheney is obviously out to get you - the delay in posting your comment was obviously politically motivated. ;) Steve,

Cheney is obviously out to get you - the delay in posting your comment was obviously politically motivated.
;)

]]> By: Eno http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-1112546 Eno Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:22:43 +0000 http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/#comment-1112546 Steve Sturm's point is well taken. Israeli Intelligence claims the program was briefly halted in 2003, but since has been restarted. (Hat tip to captainsquarters.com) Steve Sturm’s point is well taken. Israeli Intelligence claims the program was briefly halted in 2003, but since has been restarted. (Hat tip to captainsquarters.com)

]]> By: steve sturm http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-1112236 steve sturm Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:41:19 +0000 http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/#comment-1112236 geez, my comment from last night doesn't show up in spite of numerous refreshes, I post my dig and then it shows up! stupid browser. geez, my comment from last night doesn’t show up in spite of numerous refreshes, I post my dig and then it shows up! stupid browser.

]]> By: steve sturm http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-1112234 steve sturm Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:40:04 +0000 http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/#comment-1112234 deleting comments? what happened to mine from last night? deleting comments? what happened to mine from last night?

]]> By: Dale http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-1112006 Dale Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:56:50 +0000 http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/#comment-1112006 "You lefties criticize Bush ..." Do you read this blog? I know Rick can speak for himself, but I would assume most of the left considers him persona-non-grata. As to the substance of the report, I would caution against triumphalism. WSJ and Newsmax cover the background of the people responsible for the report. Just so we're clear, ths sourcing leaves me curious at the least. “You lefties criticize Bush …”

Do you read this blog? I know Rick can speak for himself, but I would assume most of the left considers him persona-non-grata.

As to the substance of the report, I would caution against triumphalism. WSJ and Newsmax cover the background of the people responsible for the report. Just so we’re clear, ths sourcing leaves me curious at the least.

]]> By: Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-1111577 Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator Thu, 06 Dec 2007 09:05:57 +0000 http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/#comment-1111577 <strong>Bush Says Report Doesn't Alter His Views on Iran...</strong> At a White House news conference Tuesday, President Bush faced questions about a new national intell... Bush Says Report Doesn’t Alter His Views on Iran…

At a White House news conference Tuesday, President Bush faced questions about a new national intell…

]]> By: steve sturm http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-1110569 steve sturm Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:39:17 +0000 http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2007/12/05/is-the-iran-nie-bushs-declaration-of-independence/#comment-1110569 For you to be right, Bush would have to be smarter and more calculating than one ought to conclude based on the first six plus years of his presidency. The guy who has gotten so little right for so long, the guy who can't see one step ahead of himself is Machiavelli all of a sudden? Me thinks not. FWIW, Bush didn't get rid of Rumsfeld because Bush had soured of the so-called neo-cons, he did so because he (mistakenly) thought the Democrats would play nice if he did. And Bush's altering his approach to world problems is what happens when one is clueless; lacking a rudder, one easily shifts direction depending on who is whispering in the ear. And I'll agree that bombing Iran is off the table, but it shouldn't be. Those who argue otherwise, in other words, those who place more than minimal reliance on the NIE are letting ideology trump common sense (yes, you Rick). Think about it. The intelligence community has a long record of getting things wrong. Why believe anything coming from someone who, by their own admission, was wrong on the very same subject just a couple of years ago? Why place the safety of our friends and family in the hands of people who just don't know if they're right? The reason you believe this new report is because it supports your view that taking on Iran is unwise. The fact remains that we really don't know what Iran is doing. We don't know how close they are to nuclear weapons. We don't know if they really intend to back up their rhetoric. And it's because we don't know and, due to the ineptitude of the intelligence community, we won't know - and the unbelievable damage if we don't respect the threat - that we ought not back away from doing everything possible - including using our military - to find out, with 100% clarity, what they're doing. We need to pressure them, with sanctions if possible, military force if needed, to open up to American inspection each and every facility we've identified as being involved in their nuclear program. If the Iranians truly are not up to no good, they can easily show us. Their failure ought to be taken as a sign that they do have something to hide. For you to be right, Bush would have to be smarter and more calculating than one ought to conclude based on the first six plus years of his presidency. The guy who has gotten so little right for so long, the guy who can’t see one step ahead of himself is Machiavelli all of a sudden? Me thinks not. FWIW, Bush didn’t get rid of Rumsfeld because Bush had soured of the so-called neo-cons, he did so because he (mistakenly) thought the Democrats would play nice if he did. And Bush’s altering his approach to world problems is what happens when one is clueless; lacking a rudder, one easily shifts direction depending on who is whispering in the ear.

And I’ll agree that bombing Iran is off the table, but it shouldn’t be. Those who argue otherwise, in other words, those who place more than minimal reliance on the NIE are letting ideology trump common sense (yes, you Rick).

Think about it. The intelligence community has a long record of getting things wrong. Why believe anything coming from someone who, by their own admission, was wrong on the very same subject just a couple of years ago? Why place the safety of our friends and family in the hands of people who just don’t know if they’re right? The reason you believe this new report is because it supports your view that taking on Iran is unwise.

The fact remains that we really don’t know what Iran is doing. We don’t know how close they are to nuclear weapons. We don’t know if they really intend to back up their rhetoric. And it’s because we don’t know and, due to the ineptitude of the intelligence community, we won’t know - and the unbelievable damage if we don’t respect the threat - that we ought not back away from doing everything possible - including using our military - to find out, with 100% clarity, what they’re doing. We need to pressure them, with sanctions if possible, military force if needed, to open up to American inspection each and every facility we’ve identified as being involved in their nuclear program. If the Iranians truly are not up to no good, they can easily show us. Their failure ought to be taken as a sign that they do have something to hide.

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