"The entire war effort is based on the public's trust of the CIA's portrayal of the ongoing threat from al Qaeda. If the CIA isn't to be trusted, why should anyone believe that al Qaeda is a threat?"
I am fascinated all right.
Last time I checked with the "public," they weren't basing anything on what the CIA may or may not say. After 9/11, only those on the "Short Yellow Bus" require a threat matrix memo from the spy masters to gauge the danger presented by al Qaeda.
"This is a much more complex war. That increases -- not decreases -- the need for strategic clarity among the public and the troops. The United States is not randomly in Iraq, and it is not there because Hussein was a butcher or because he might have had WMD. Those are good reasons, but not the real reason. The United States is in Iraq to force Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iran to change their behavior toward al Qaeda and other Islamist groups. The United States already has overwhelmed the Saudis and is engaged in threatening Syria and Iran. This is visible to everyone who is watching. That is why the United States is in Iraq. It might or might not be good strategy, but it is a strategy that is much better than no strategy at all.
Admitting this undoubtedly will create a frenzy in the media concerning the change in explanation. But there will be nothing to chew on, and the explanation will be too complex for the media to understand anyway. They will move on to the next juicy murder, leaving foreign policy to the government and the public."
All I can say is that I wish that I could live in an Ivory Tower this tall. ...I'd not only be able to see over the horizon, but I and my heirs would all be independently wealthy when we chopped it up for pool balls and piano keys.
<Hoo><Hoo>
What is this Carl? Some kind of Beltway consulting contractor looking for work? A new political think tank, fishing for pre-election "study" commissions? ...Or is this "piece" just a final "work product" paid for by the Committee to get Former Senator X a job at DOD or CIA? <g>
...Washington is such a lovely place. Not unlike the Roman Senate, if you can win a guerilla war there, you've got a fighting chance of winning one anywhere. <Hoo><Haa>
Anyway this "analysis" reminds me of what happened to Alcibiades' "plan" for Syracuse.
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