tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14598933.post2160923944467461207..comments2024-03-28T00:49:30.768-06:00Comments on Pondering Penguin: The Intelligence Community and IranKaren Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12692791436106987353noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14598933.post-67427095617982942132007-12-05T22:26:00.000-06:002007-12-05T22:26:00.000-06:00It was unfortunate that the only way to block Iran...It was unfortunate that the only way to block Iran's expansionist goals in the Mid East was to prop up Saddam. But please don't pretend that that was a policy only practiced by republicans. All the presidents since Roosevelt did that. It was a simple way to influence foreign governments without sending our troops. But since the Iranians were the only Mid East country that HAD attacked America at the time (can you say Jimmah Cahtuh and his FAILED foreign policies?) It was probably prudent to support Iran's enemies. Just like it was prudent to suppor the Afghan freedom fighters against the Soviets. You know those same people that turned around and murdered over 3000 Americans on Sept 11? Some times foreign policy is like a demented Rubik's cube. You have to work long and hard, with the occasional failure, before you get it right. <BR/>And you must always remember. The other side is working just as hard to keep us from winning as we are to make them lose. So I guess the analogy would be working a Rubik's cube while being shot at.Ron Simpsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05401859974073059650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14598933.post-58365479835702542122007-12-05T21:06:00.000-06:002007-12-05T21:06:00.000-06:00R. Simpson's "We know this becuase he USED THEM!" ...R. Simpson's "We know this becuase he USED THEM!" no doubt refers to 1983, when Iraq had the full support of the Reagan administration in their long conflict with Iran. We all recall Rumsfeld's friendly visit to Saddam at the time. As an ex-Army Chemical officer, I had reason to be very skeptical of US intelligence prior to the 2003 Iraq invasion (the stuff requires<BR/>significant infrastructure with a high profile signature: didn't see it) The crude WMD weapons on hand were destroyed after our Desert Storm operation under Schartzkopf.<BR/>Whatever the rationale, Saddam's demise was good for Iraq and good for us...and we were finished and should have left.BB-Idahohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01168862935045755393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14598933.post-22473597601798775402007-12-05T14:49:00.000-06:002007-12-05T14:49:00.000-06:00Missed the conference.. so thanks for writing abou...Missed the conference.. so thanks for writing about it.. <BR/><BR/>and I agree with Deb.. something is amiss.Incognitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09692949516037191969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14598933.post-48082620302344641712007-12-05T14:05:00.000-06:002007-12-05T14:05:00.000-06:00Its amazing isn't it...if an 8 year old yells, I'm...Its amazing isn't it...if an 8 year old yells, I'm Gonna Get You!! on the playground, all hell breaks loose, the parents are called in, the kid is expelled for making "terrorist threats". <BR/><BR/>YET, when Ahmadinejad states publicly that Israel must be destroyed and denies the Holocaust, who stands in front of a banner that reads "Death to America" and says stuff like <BR/><BR/><I>"There is no doubt that the new wave of attacks in Palestine will wipe off this stigma (Israel) from the face of the Islamic world. Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury..."</I><BR/><BR/>then HE is to be considered No Threat. What is wrong with this picture?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14598933.post-72707516514329454742007-12-05T11:07:00.000-06:002007-12-05T11:07:00.000-06:00Anonymous = CowardIf you want to state an opinion,...Anonymous = Coward<BR/>If you want to state an opinion, try being tough enough to put a name to it. <BR/>Saddam had WMD. We know this becuase he USED THEM! Morons who argue that because we have not found them relegates Saddam to the "innocent victim" column need to get in touch with reality. <BR/>Bush Derangement Syndrome is no excuse for wholesale stupidity.<BR/><BR/>Enriched uranium can be used for more than nuclear explosive devices. Imagine if it was introduced to our food or water supplies. Or even worse, if it were introduced into a pharmacuetical manufactuing process. Then there is the whole dirty bomb thing that we KNOW Al Queda wants to make. <BR/><BR/>Grow up and join the real world.Ron Simpsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05401859974073059650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14598933.post-12391348409501466532007-12-05T02:11:00.000-06:002007-12-05T02:11:00.000-06:00anon,Thanks for the picked cherry.There were many ...anon,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the picked cherry.<BR/><BR/>There were many things "said" by many individuals of varying levels of credibility, prior to the war. Even worse, are those armchair commander-in-chiefs with their 20/20 hindsight rose-colored lenses on who can't see past the end of their partisanship bush derangement syndrome noses.<BR/><BR/>Within 12 years of constant violations, Saddam had 16 UN Security Council Resolutions which he snubbed his nose at. <BR/><BR/>The Duelfer Report reveals how informants working within UNSCOM and UNMOVIC kept Iraqi Intell informed on which sites would be inspected. In some of the translated Saddam documents, they discuss how to go about hiding their weapons from UN inspectors.<BR/><BR/>The Duelfer Report also reveals that there were multiple counts of bribery involving officials of various countries.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.floppingaces.net/2007/11/14/intel-reports-saddam-could-hav/" REL="nofollow">Saddam was a danger</A>, and now he's bitten the dust, and the world is much better off for it.The WordSmith from Nantuckethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15937868119894243815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14598933.post-33027808099193451632007-12-04T22:13:00.000-06:002007-12-04T22:13:00.000-06:00How terribly sad for our "War Hero" President, his...How terribly sad for our "War Hero" President, his "Five Deferment" VP and the Republicans this holiday season... for you, no WAR for oil this year!<BR/><BR/>This was from JUST before our invasion into Iraq, 3/17/2003:<BR/><BR/>Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said, <BR/><BR/>"I should note that in recent weeks, possibly as a result of increasing pressure by the international community, Iraq has been more forthcoming in its cooperation with the IAEA," he said, adding that inspectors still have found no evidence that Saddam Hussein has revived his nuclear program." <BR/><BR/>http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-17-inspectors-iraq_x.htmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14598933.post-29400555832362864162007-12-04T15:27:00.000-06:002007-12-04T15:27:00.000-06:00"What planet are these 'intelligence professionals..."What planet are these 'intelligence professionals' on anyway?"<BR/><BR/>I'm still trying to figure this thing out. Something stinks.<BR/><BR/>I love your take on the press conference. It's like entering the lion's den.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Debbie<BR/>Right Truth<BR/>http://www.righttruth.typepad.comRight Truthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18274108313586611205noreply@blogger.com