Reply
Sat 3 Apr, 2004 09:25 am
Published on Saturday, April 3, 2004 by the New York Times
Powell Blames C.I.A. for Error on Iraq Mobile Labs
by Christopher Marquis
WASHINGTON ?- Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said Friday that he had had assurances from the intelligence community that one of the principal charges he made in a speech to the United Nations last year ?- that Iraq had mobile weapons laboratories ?- had been multisourced and was solid at the time.
Mr. Powell urged a presidential commission examining intelligence problems in Iraq to look into what he said was a failure by the Central Intelligence Agency.
Speaking to reporters on a flight home from Europe, Mr. Powell said he had sought to highlight the laboratory charge in his presentation to the United Nations in February 2003 because it was especially "dramatic." But he said he included it only after studying four sources that were used to compile the intelligence.
"I looked at the four elements that they gave me for that one, and they stood behind them," he said of his intelligence briefers. "Now it appears not to be the case that it was that solid."
The remarks were Mr. Powell's broadest acknowledgment yet that his United Nations presentation, which the Bush administration saw as a formal and comprehensive case for the Iraq war, was based at least in part on erroneous information.
"At the time I was preparing the presentation, it was presented to me as being solid," the secretary said.
Mr. Powell has been dogged by questions about his United Nations presentation ?- which included satellite photos and transcripts of radio intercepts ?- since the end of the American-led invasion last year. The skepticism toward his case increased this year after David A. Kay, the chief American weapons inspector, said he did not believe that further searching would turn up any unconventional weapons in Iraq.
The inspectors in Iraq concluded that the mobile units had not been used for making weapons and might have had some benign purpose.
Mr. Powell urged the presidential commission to "see whether the intelligence agency had a basis for the confidence that they placed in the intelligence at the time." The commission, which is headed by Laurence H. Silberman, a federal judge, and former Senator Charles S. Robb of Virginia, will not present its findings until next spring.
"If the sources fall apart, we need to find out how we got ourselves into that position," Mr. Powell said, "and I've had discussions with the C.I.A. about that."
© Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company
Remember the accounts of Powell, prior to his address to the UN, when presented with the intelligence, threw the papers up in the air and said, "I'm not reading this. This is bullshit"?
When was he convinced it wasn't?
What --or who -- convinced him?
George Tenet?
Or George Bush?
Out with the rascals in November. They've had their chance at governing and failed spectacularly at it.
Hi PDiddie:
Yes, I remember it well.
Powell has spent his life carrying water for the GOP and he has the dried blood of the My Lai Massacre under his fingernails to prove it.
Maybe one day, he'll get to sleep in the big house and it will have all been worth it.
This is only an opinion. However, I believe that Powell is much too knowledgeable to have been taken in by the alleged information from the intelligence sources. IMO he was just being a good soldier and following orders. Now comes the disclaimer and the finger pointing. I expect that if Powell ever writes a book about the goings on in this administration. Bush and Cheney will be burned in effigy.
"I expect that if Powell ever writes a book about the goings on in this administration. Bush and Cheney will be burned in effigy." au1929
I agree.
And the Bush White House smear machine will go into action trying to paint Colin Powell as a whacko or insane.
This is how these vile Bushites work.[/color]
Hey Titus:
Have you noticed how ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is the fault of the Bush Administration? It is always SOMEONE ELSE'S mistake!
Thank goodness we have a "responsible" adminstration working for us American
Anon
Anon
Welcome aboard again.
AV, you old dog.
Welcome back, old friend.
Did you know that several of us A2Kers are going to be in the Bay Area next weekend?
Yo Yo Yo Anon:
Good to see ya' you old rascle.
Very true about Bush. He's a 58 year old Peter Pan and he can never be expected to step up to the plate and take responsibility for a damn thing.
He's surrounded by pathological enablers who are always ready and willing to blame President Clinton for Bush's woes.
3 million jobs lost: blame Clinton. 1.7 million Americans added to the ranks of poverty: blame Clinton. An endless guerilla war in war: blame Clinton. Jenna's a lush: blame Clinton.
Like any good tyrant throughout history, they can't remain in power without the loyalists orbiting them grateful for the occassional crumb.
It's sick I tell you, sick!
Stumble It!
Tweet This
Bookmark on Delicious
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace