First, October 2002 was 6 months before the war, and three months before the State of the Union Address, in which Bush claimed that Saddam had attempted to purchase uranium in Niger.
Second, none of the analysis hinges on Joe Wilson. The most important pieces of evidence, which I've already posted, were from the State Department's own intelligence department, INR, and early reports from other intelligence agencies.
Third, the sources I've cited, including the President's own commission and the Senate Select Intelligence Committee state, without reservation, that the evidence, much of which remains classified (note massive redactions) did not support the President's case at the time it was made, not 20-20 hindsight.
Fourth, you really don't want to go there on the aluminum tubes -- every single agency and analyst, be it CIA or DOE, and others, said the claims on the aluminum tubes were bunk LONG before they were made. The one analyst, a low level munchkin at DIA, who that said they could be used for centrifuges was, surprise, surprise, the one the administration went with.
Cheney's baby. So was the yellowcake. Curve Ball was the brainchild of the Iraqi National Congress, Chalabi's baby, and thus can also be laid at Cheney's feet, since he was the one vetting Chalabi.
I gather you haven't read any of the many documents I've linked. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
So there's no point continuing this. We can pick it up again in the future if you ever want to get serious. |
