National Intelligence Estimate = "just guessing"     G. Bush     21 September 2004

You've not doubt heard about the July NIE that looked into the future prospects of Iraq.

The acute difficulties in Iraq are highlighted in the National Intelligence Estimate, drawn up in July and representing the distilled wisdom of the entire US intelligence community.

It sketches out three scenarios for Iraq. The grimmest is a descent into civil war; the second is understood to be a continuation of the current disorder. Even the most favourable of the three holds out no better prospect than a precarious stability, under constant threat.

On Tuesday, in a session with the Iraq prime minister, there was this exchange with a reporter: (emp add)

Q Why do you think the CIA's assessment of conditions in Iraq are so much at odds with the optimism that you and Prime Minister Allawi are expressing at the moment?

PRESIDENT BUSH: The CIA laid out a -- several scenarios that said, life could be lousy, like [sic] could be okay, life could be better. And they were just guessing as to what the conditions might be like.

Which is typical Bush. Why pay attention to the experts? Same with global warming. Same with economic policy. This is an ideological administration that ignores reality.

FILE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE:

Here is how Bush characterizes things:

• descent into civil war = "lousy"
  
  
• a continuation of the current disorder = "okay"
  
  
• a precarious stability, under constant threat = "better"

With that in mind, let's review what Bush said to the United Nations on Tuesday:

Our great purpose is to build a better world ...

The longsuffering Palestinian people deserve better.

In other words,:

Our great purpose is to build a world under constant threat.

The longsuffering Palestinian people deserve a precarious stability (under constant threat from you-know-who).

Sounds about right.

posted by Quiddity at 9/22/2004 03:28:00 AM