J.A. Terranson (2004-04-03 22:22Z) wrote:
On Sat, 3 Apr 2004, Justin wrote:
The intelligence, even if it was originally true, may have been leaked and then the mobile (and other) weapons factories and storage destroyed. The intended result would have been the current situation, with the Bush administration and intel community looking like idiots and the "soft on terror" Democrats having a foreign policy advantage in Nov 2004.
Has it not occurred to you that having Powell make the first statement may be designed to avoid having Bush make the [obvious and needed] statement? [...CIA manufactured intel under Bush's orders...]
Of course that's a possibility. I don't think the CIA is that corrupt. I think the failure to consider the three options I set out (and undoubtedly others I haven't) is a more likely reason for finding believable intel than orders from above to manufacture intel. Didn't they even name a source or two for their mobile weapons lab information? While that's no guarantee the claimed source(s) exist, it lends credibility to alternatives that don't require such a vast conspiracy, alternatives that wouldn't create such a political nightmare. I prefer to believe that the CIA is incompetent rather than dishonest. The fact that they're using Jennifer Garner to try to recruit people seems to bolster my theory. -- "You took my gun. It's just your word against mine!" "Not necessarily." -Bernie vs Tom, Miller's Crossing