Intelligence lies

Georgie and Dickie just love to accuse Democratic lawmakers of “pure politics” if they dare to disagree with their divinely inspired decrees regarding the war in Iraq. Justified charges that the Bushies misled the nation and hyped intelligence always result in their favorite bromide: "Some of the most irresponsible comments - about manipulating intelligence - have come from politicians who saw the same intelligence I saw and then voted to authorize the use of force against Saddam Hussein....These charges are pure politics."

The problem is that this statement is patently false.

Bush and top administration officials have access to a much broader ranger of intelligence reports than members of Congress do. According to a report by The Congressional Research Service: "The president, and a small number of presidentially designated Cabinet-level officials, including the vice president have access to a far greater overall volume of intelligence and to more sensitive intelligence information, including information regarding intelligence sources and methods.....As a result, the president and his most senior advisers arguably are better positioned to assess the quality of the intelligence more accurately than is Congress." Unlike members of Congress, the president and his top officials also have the authority to ask U.S. intelligence agencies more extensively for follow-up information.

Due to this difference in intelligence dissemination, the Congress has to “trust” the President to tell them the truth. Why would a member of Congress believe the President of the United States would knowingly lie to them and knowingly send American citizens to their deaths? Surely our President would not be so callous and act so criminally.

Well, we know better now.
Posted on The Human Stain