Curveball has finally admitted that he made the entire thing up. If you recall, we went to war in Iraq based on the claim that Saddam Hussein had developed biological weapons. That account was based on the statements of Rafid Ahmed Alwan al-Janabi, who our foreign allies warned was unreliable and clearly lying. However, President Bush and his aides were set upon invading Iraqi and relied on Curveball before the United Nations. He has now come out publicly to admit he fabricated the entire thing and could not believe the Americans relied upon his stories to launch a major war.
The interview was published on the eighth anniversary of Colin Powell’s speech to the United Nations
He says that foreign intelligence officials were so keen on confirming biological weapons that they gave him a copy of Perry’s Chemical Engineering Handbook to help communicate. He still has the book, which he used to fabricate the stories. However, he admitted to making up the stories in mid-2000.
Of course, President Obama has continued to expend treasure and lives in Iraq in the ultimate example of the economic theory of “path dependence.” We continue to fight a war based on a fabricated story because our leaders cannot risk the political repercussions to pulling out from that country. There is also no known punishment for the officials, including high-ranking CIA and Administration officials, who perpetuated this lie. At best this was an act of willful blindness and at worst knowing falsification to justify going to war.
Our intelligence officials appear to continue to accept a good fabricated story over bad facts. Recently, they paid an enormous amount of money to an imposter who pretended to be the head of Taliban in Afghanistan, here. American officials even flew the imposter to meet with Karzai before finding out that he was lying.
Source: Guardian
Tootie-
Go to hell. No particular reason this time. Just go to hell.
Next time we invade an oil-rich country, let’s use doctored photographs as evidence, not cartoons. Much more believable. Maybe we won’t look so damned stupid next time. Just evil.
Bob,Esq.:
Visited that link-8880,My mother in law has been under the weather for awhile has not been able to go out and practice her religion so I printed some articles from that site to give to her so she can keep that brain active.Thanks!
S.M.
Dear leader is none other than Obama! I can’t take functionaries seriously!!!
Great article by Taibbi.
Jill,
Taibbi is going to be speaking to Cenk Uygur on MSNBC in a few minutes.
Jill,
I love Matt Taibbi. I’m reading his book “Griftopia: Bubble Machines, Vampire Squids, and the Long Con That Is Breaking America.” The second chapter about Alan Greenspan is titled The Biggest Asshole in the Universe. You’ve got to read it!
Jill, Which leader is “dear leader” other than kim jong il?
Bob,
I prefer 333.
The Mark of the Semi-Christ.
Jill
You might not want to count your revolutionary chick-a-dees before they hatch.I don’t believe one has occurred. There is merely a changing of the guard.
Half of Egyptians support Hamas and (1 in 5) support al Qaeda according to Pew research. Most support Sharia and so forth. 84 percent support executing Muslims who convert to Christianity.
Nevertheless, it’s their country! But it is the same ole despotism. I cannot imagine a Muslim being interested in freedom. I’m afraid this was just a fiction the media drummed up.
I’m thinking about this:
http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/43827/cia_chief_saddam_wasnt_imminent_threat/
Gosh, it has been that many years ago.
pardon me,
This is correct. Curveball was a known liar but the govt. wanted “evidence” to present to the public for a war they had planned long ago. An elaborate scheme was cooked up so that the “intelligence” would be confirmed by one country on behalf of the US. That country was the U.K.
The first Gulf war was also based on lies. Now we are in multiple wars thanks to dear leader who has decided we need to kill even more Muslims than ever before. We are also busy in Central and South America on behalf of drug money and oil. All based on lies.
The Egyptians did the right thing. We should follow them. Their peaceful revolution took incredible knowledge, courage and strength. They know it’s not over yet, but they have begun to take on their corrupt govt. Americans should not allow such a corrupt govt. to run our nation. Here is an article which outlines more corruption, this time, the utter lack of prosecution for deliberate acts of financial malfeasance.
“Why Isn’t Wall Street in Jail?
Financial crooks brought down the world’s economy — but the feds are doing more to protect them than to prosecute them” (Matt Taibbi in Rolling Stone)http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/why-isnt-wall-street-in-jail-20110216
Oh. Now I remember. It was Tenent. The slam-dunk guy. But I think many in the CIA thought it was a bad idea.
Osama bin Stamford:
May God richly bless you in all things. And if there is ever anything I am able do for you, please let me know. I realize we are in virtual space and its easy to say that, but I could a read a book you suggest or check out a website.
Or yell at someone for you.
That sort of thing.
pardon:
You could be correct about that.. And from what I remember, didn’t the CIA advise against going into Iraq? Who was the lead guy, a Clinton hold-over.
I forget.
Bob Esq:
LOL
I think I’m lost already. (not LOST lost, but confused)
🙂
Tootie,
If you read it from a C.G. Jung/Joesph Campbell perspective, it’s quite nifty.
If you read it as a fanatical Christian, you might go insane.
But destined to take the place of the beast in your eschatology, when the raised Jesus (8880) becomes the living Jesus (888) that’s when the world as we know it comes to an end.
“Biblical proportions?”
Bill Murray: “Dogs and cats living together; mass hysteria.”
Bill Murray singing: “So you better be good for goodness sake … whoa oh… somebody’s coming…”
methinks curveball is a scapegoat. In “The Price of Loyalty”, Ron Suskind writes about ex-treasury secretary Paul O’Neill’s first meeting with Bush and co. and that maps of Iraq were brought in and spread out. This was months before 9/11.
Taliban Tootie:
Have you ever thought about taking your act on the road? I hear that a lot of churches are now sponsoring “Open Mike” nights specifically for budding comedians.
Ah, never mistake my telling you “too bad” for crankiness. I would recommend against assuming if I were you, too.
And I say this with all the happiness and joy I could possibly muster for such a fine, upstanding woman like you, Taliban – hugs and kisses 😀
Bob Esq:
Well darn it. My MOM (666) called and I was talking with her right when you asked your question.
I wouldn’t have had the right answer anyway!
Okay, I went to your link. GEEZE! What’s that about?
I’m going to give it a thorough going over. Looks fascinating.
I’m terrible at math. Is is then a bad idea to try to understand it?