The "we saw the same intel" argument put to rest

[Andrew Fletcher]

I think that M, Nut, and BCP are saying that if Bush says the sky is blue, you'd better get your ass outside and doublecheck.

That's what you guys are saying, right? You're not blaming the Democrats for invading Iraq?

[ QUOTE ]
I think that M, Nut, and BCP are saying that if Bush says the sky is blue, you'd better get your ass outside and doublecheck.

That's what you guys are saying, right? You're not blaming the Democrats for invading Iraq?

[/ QUOTE ]

Speaking only for myself, you're close.

If you want to believe the sky is blue, or you think he's probably right, take his word and stay inside. If you think there's a possibility it might be gray, go outside.

If you learn he was right, you're happy.

If you learn he wasn't, who's to blame?

[MMMMMM]

[ QUOTE ]

The vibe from M, Nut, and BCP is that the administration pulled on a sleight of hand in slightly distorting the true intelligence picture, but if the democrats in Congress had investigated adequately then then would have seen through it? The fact the dems were sucessfully mislead because they were too lazy or incompetent still leaves the administration dishonest. How can you guys miss this?

[/ QUOTE ]

I've said for a long time that I think the administration employed a bit of "spin" in the selling of the war. However, that is not the same thing as outright lying. Also, the administration genuinely believed that Saddam had WMDs, or at least ongoing WMD programs--as did other major first-world intelligence governments. So it wasn't lying, or just duping the country into war--it was just a bit of spin to help sell something.

What's more, there were plenty of other good reasons for going to war. So I think the chronic brouhaha over this one aspect is, in a way, a bit like making a mountain out of a molehill.