Here's what is going to happen with the WMD scandal

[ShaneGR]

Ok, Tenet just tried to pull a fast one by taking responsibility for the error and falling on his sword.

Oh no you don't. Exactly when did the CIA know this intelligence was fake? Exactly when did the CIA pass this information along to the Bush Administration? Was it the next day after the SOTU because Rumsfeld repeated that information the next day? Was it before Powell went to the UN? Because he didn't use that information during his speech. Why didn't you bother to release a statement debunking the Niger story when you learned it was a mistake?

And while I'm at it, was there other evidence you had that now turns out to be either false or probably untrue? Where are the 1000's of tons of WMD? What does this say for intelligence overall? Doesn't this destroy the whole idea of pre-emptive warfare? Did the Bush Administration ever question anything you said? When? Who?

OK, HERE'S THE DEAL. THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC INVESTIGATION AND TENET WON'T BE THE ONLY ONE TESTIFYING FROM THE CIA. AND ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS, AND MORE, WILL BE ASKED.

DRIP, DRIP, DRIP, DRIP

[opiate69]

1. Damn skippy!

"OK, HERE'S THE DEAL. THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC INVESTIGATION AND TENET WON'T BE THE ONLY ONE TESTIFYING FROM THE CIA. AND ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS, AND MORE, WILL BE ASKED."



All I can really say is, these questions damned well better be asked.

[Nashyra]

2. I think the reason they let this out is that when the 9-11 report

comes out and it will be explosive, they can blame it on Tenet and the CIA and point fingers at the Clinton administration because he appointed Tenet. This has been a set up for the 9-11 report. They can claim they tried to hold on to a Clinton appointee and he failed them. I can hear the * now "I should have never trusted him, first 9-11 and then the uranium" Wait and see.

[ewagner]

4. hope this isn't the case.......

...but it did cross my mind.....

[comradebillyboy]

10. they need tennant and the cia boys & girls to play ball

the leaks are about to turn into a flood. i think we'll see a big pissing contest between dirty dick, rummy and the professional spooks.

gonna have a hot time in the old town tonight

[Walt Starr]

3. Look, what's that over there

Oh, another Democratic tutu getting pinker.

No questions will ever be asked. Tenet copped to the blame. It's over.

[Melsky]

5. Yep

It's not enough for tenet to go "oops, my bad" and then business as usual. Questions need to be asked and answered, and the guilty parties need to resign or be impeached.

[Imajika]

6. The problem is..

..that unless a scandal is constantly fed they tend to die off simply because current events sweep them away.

Remember Gary Condit for example. All Condit all the time.....until 9-11 and then we never heard about the story again.

Another example is ENRON. Without any damning provable evidence implicating the Bush administration, the story just fades away.

This story seems so big now, but what if an embassy somewhere gets blown up next week? What some ex-President dies (like, oh say Reagan)? What is a big earthquake hits Cali? Anything can and does happen to create media excitement. The Uranium-Niger story can only hold the press's attention for just so long.

"THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC INVESTIGATION AND TENET WON'T BE THE ONLY ONE TESTIFYING FROM THE CIA."

Wrong. The very nature of the issue, national security, dictates that it will likely NOT be a public investigation.

So what happens is eventually it is agreed that some sort of catch-all WMD investigation takes place which in reality is the beginning of the stonewalling process. You know once these things go to a commission they usually just fall into a black hole somewhere and are typically obstructed so badly that nothing ever gets resolved.

This does damage Bush, but it is not going to bring him down. It is just one of a thousand cuts. Democrats should not overplay it, if they do we will suffer a backlash. Just feed the story, keep it going by asking seemingly bipartisan questions and let the press do the work. Don't be dissappointed when this alone doesn't kill off the Bush administration. If it turns out that there really is no WMD's in Iraq, and the situation in that country remains as volitile as it is, the American public will quickly sour on the entire adventure. As that happens we then start asking other questions? What about some of the other intelligence the Bush administration had been touting? Aluminum tubes, Mobile bio-labs? And oh yeah, how about that 6.4% unemployment rate? And don't forget to mix in questions about the sky rocketing deficit....

This issue is one of many that will create an evironment for the Democrats to have a good chance to beat Bush in 04'. It is going to be tough, don't underestimate them. Bush has a lot of money and about 45% of the country solidly behind him. We just need to motivate our 45% and convince the other 10% that a change is needed.

Imajika

[msanger]

7. remember what the scandal is

Imajika wrote "..that unless a scandal is constantly fed they tend to die off simply because current events sweep them away."

The real scandal is that we invaded Iraq to protect Americans from the weapons of mass destruction, that no weapons have been found, and that Amercian solders are dying every day while we pay 1 billion dollars a week to keep them there.

The scandal is that "bush lied, solders died."

The current "flap" about the SOTU speech is just a tiny thread of it. There are all the other lies and deceptions, PLUS the cost in lives and wealth.

This isn't going away as long as we don't find WMD and as long as American's keep dying.

[lanlady]

8. more likely--

--is that Tenet has been calling his managers all day ordering them to plug up the leaks or else.... suddenly all that drip drip drip we've been hearing will be gone because someone tightened up the faucet real good. I hope that doesn't happen, but unfortunately it's how the game is played.

If the leaks don't stop, it's a sign the CIA is too pissed off to take the blame. And they could take down Bush easily.

[Pallas180]

9. How about the CIA is going down and taking junior with them? cause

misery loves company and he got them into this mess.