A FBI agent spoke on 60 Minutes about Saddam Hussein's risk assessment prior to the U.S. invasion. The agent released confindential information obtained while the Iraqi dictator was in U.S. hands. My summary of the just released report is as follows:
1) Saddam lied about his weapons of mass destruction to hoodwink those marauding Iranians. He never thought the U.S. would actually invade. Hussein supposedly worried about Iranians invading.
Translation (with caveat): Therefore, the public should be relieved the U.S. acted to beat those crazy Iranians to the punch. (One should not believe George W. Bush to be as pathological as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, even though Bush ordered the actual invasion, the first pre-emptive war in modern history.)
2) Hussein had the ability to restart his weapons program and wanted to do just that.
Translation: For today's world, one only need change one letter in the country's name, the Q to an N. Iran has the ability to restart its nuclear weapons program and wants to do just that! They wanted to invade Iraq, but Georgie's cavalry beat them to the punch. I can picture Bush saying, "Now, they want Israel wiped off the map! C'mon Olmerty, it's time for the world sheriff's to ride into Tehran. This time you be the Lone Ranger and I'll be Tonto. Bring it on Mahmoud, we double dog dare you!"
3) Saddam was crafty enough to hide from U.S. forces for 9 months. This is how he outsmarted the U.S. in the end.
Translation: Start scoping out your manhole, Mahmoud. Your final craftiness will be a very small victory, like Saddam's.
The CBS report came out the day before Bush's State of the Division speech. This morning I bet the U.S. stock market would end on a positive note. George W. likes to see things positively, as he's an optimistic guy.
And I'm positive the FBI agent's report contributes nicely to the themes Bush will address this evening in his address to the country. We were right on invading Iraq, and given the same setup in Iran, we must do likewise. Only this time, I think it be more like what Saddam expected, a month long bombing, similar to Israel's dress rehearsal in Southern Lebanon. The question is who blows back after Israel attacks Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities? Uncle Sam will stand strong and firm to contain Iran's retaliatory impulse, but will anyone else feel compelled to jump in the fray?
1) Saddam lied about his weapons of mass destruction to hoodwink those marauding Iranians. He never thought the U.S. would actually invade. Hussein supposedly worried about Iranians invading.
Translation (with caveat): Therefore, the public should be relieved the U.S. acted to beat those crazy Iranians to the punch. (One should not believe George W. Bush to be as pathological as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, even though Bush ordered the actual invasion, the first pre-emptive war in modern history.)
2) Hussein had the ability to restart his weapons program and wanted to do just that.
Translation: For today's world, one only need change one letter in the country's name, the Q to an N. Iran has the ability to restart its nuclear weapons program and wants to do just that! They wanted to invade Iraq, but Georgie's cavalry beat them to the punch. I can picture Bush saying, "Now, they want Israel wiped off the map! C'mon Olmerty, it's time for the world sheriff's to ride into Tehran. This time you be the Lone Ranger and I'll be Tonto. Bring it on Mahmoud, we double dog dare you!"
3) Saddam was crafty enough to hide from U.S. forces for 9 months. This is how he outsmarted the U.S. in the end.
Translation: Start scoping out your manhole, Mahmoud. Your final craftiness will be a very small victory, like Saddam's.
The CBS report came out the day before Bush's State of the Division speech. This morning I bet the U.S. stock market would end on a positive note. George W. likes to see things positively, as he's an optimistic guy.
And I'm positive the FBI agent's report contributes nicely to the themes Bush will address this evening in his address to the country. We were right on invading Iraq, and given the same setup in Iran, we must do likewise. Only this time, I think it be more like what Saddam expected, a month long bombing, similar to Israel's dress rehearsal in Southern Lebanon. The question is who blows back after Israel attacks Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities? Uncle Sam will stand strong and firm to contain Iran's retaliatory impulse, but will anyone else feel compelled to jump in the fray?
