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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: pompsander who wrote (736539)	4/12/2006 2:49:34 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Respond to of 769670

Re: A) Should The U.S. back the Sunni demand for a new PM in Iraq in order to get a coalition government? Would that do it? IMO, No. Backing the Sunnis ain't gonna solve Iraq's problems, (or turn it into a Middle Eastern version of Switzerland or anything. :) It would likely only piss off the Shiites --- who would then say "What'sa matter? Democracy is only good when it comes up with someone YOU want?". And, they would have a point. No, the more the US tries to 'manage' the politics in Iraq, the more we will get blamed for everything that goes wrong. Re: B) If Iran actually weeks away from a nuclear weapon, or is it years? Today there are reports going to both extremes. Years. Even if they had the weapons designs and technology, they don't yet have anywhere near enough weapons grade uranium (unlike North Korea, who is maybe turning out up to 10 to 12 bombs a year now). The Iranians will have to build THOUSANDS of centrifuges, and run 'em for some time... before they will have enough weapons grade uranium (unless they bought or stole some from the former Soviet Union, or Pakistan, or N.K. If they have done that, then all time estimates are off....) Re: C) Former Secretary of State Powell is quoted today as saying the State Department and Energy Departments (especially State) never bought the Niger Uranium Story. Is this true? Yep. (The State Department folks already knew that 1) FRANCE controlled 100% of Niger's yellow cake production --- NOT the Niger government. And, all of Niger's production was pre-sold for several years into the future. 2) Iraq already had 500 tons of yellow cake back in Baghdad (bought in the late 'seventies and 'eighties) that Saddam hadn't been able to do anything with since Israel blew up his reactor. So, why would you want to spend scarce cash to buy more, when you already had plenty... but nothing to do with it? Plus, when State got a look at the 'documents' they were quickly sure about the forgery.... Re: If so, why didn't Powell resign when his department's analysis was ignored or misused, leading to where we are today? Powell has always been a team player... stories started circulating though that he was mighty steamed about some of the stuff that went into the UN speech he gave --- (even after he toned a lot of it down before giving the speech). He is saying things now to the effect that 'that was the biggest mistake he made' in his job.... Have to ask him, I guess.