President Bush Was Lying, Is Lying, And Will Lie About Iranian Nukes

Knowledge has been the president's enemy ever since his skull failed to completely fuse, leaving him with a spongy head and a brain that's susceptible to bruising. His other lifelong enemy, by the way, is a fork without a protective wine cork pressed onto its dangerous, eye-poking tines. I'm joking about the skull thing.

But now it appears as if having the knowledge to be able to build a nuclear bomb is enough to let slip the neocon jagoffs of war -- whether or not a nuclear weapon is actually being constructed. President Bush during Tuesday's press conference:

"Look, Iran was dangerous, Iran is dangerous and Iran will be dangerous if they have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon."

Knowledge. That's the cause now. So let's say, just for argument's sake, that this new policy of smoking out knowledge is for real and not just the administration's political escape pod after the NIE proved the hawks to be full of hawky shit. The foreign policy of the United States, therefore, will be to threaten war against any nation that has the knowledge to build a nuclear bomb regardless of intent, materials or an actual, you know, nuclear weapons program.

The problem with this policy is... this.

Don't click that goddamn link! It takes you to an evildoer website called The Google where you'll find search results for the phrase "how to build an atomic bomb." When you click on those links, you'll learn about how to build a nuclear weapon from the knowledge supplied by such subversive organizations as UC Berkley, Cosmos Magazine and Amazon.com.

It doesn't matter, ultimately, how much knowledge you attain via The Google. Realistically, you'd need tens of millions of dollars; centrifuges; radioactive elements like uranium and plutonium; delicious yellow cake; various important-looking scientists (I recommend Germans -- they're really sciency); missile launching gadgets; rocket fuel; helmets; radiation suits; protective eyewear; and all varieties of other fancy-shmancy resources in order to build an actual bomb.

In addition, you'd also need to be savvy and sneaky enough to engage in this Herculean task without being detected by the United Nations' IAEA inspectors who are very smart and tenacious. If you manage to dodge them, you'll still be in plain view of dozens of spy satellites aimed at every square inch of your crappy square of desert. Or you could be stymied by an array of undercover nonproliferation intelligence operatives like, for instance, Valerie Plame-Wilson (before she was deliberately outted by Karl Rove and the Bush White House).

Altogether, building a nuclear weapon seems like a massive pain in the ass, which is probably why there are only nine countries in the entire history of the world that have successfully constructed one, and it's probably why Iran -- with its pathetic economy and spazzy, bearded-Jamie-Farr president -- shut down its weapons program four years ago.

In stark contrast to actually building a weapon, attaining the knowledge to build one is the easiest part and therefore the most common.

Why else would President Bush cite knowledge as the qualifier? Knowledge is also the simplest justification to lie about due to the fact that it's so insanely difficult to disprove. Oh, and it's a perfect fit for rallying the president's dingus base -- they hate anything that has to do with knownin' shit.

As such, it appears to be a policy that's been brewing in the White House for much longer than a week, which begs the question: what did the president know about Iran suspending its weapons program and when did he know it?

During Tuesday's news conference, the president said that he was first briefed on the NIE last Wednesday, November 28. This was a gigantic lie. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley inadvertently and preemptively debunked it on Monday when he said that the president was briefed much earlier -- perhaps as early as August or September -- about the content of the NIE. Then we have this from the president:

"In August, I think it was John Mike McConnell came in and said, we have some new information. He didn't tell me what the information was."

Uhh... Huh?

JOHN MIKE: Yo Bushie! I have some new information but I'm not telling. Bye!

THE PRESIDENT: Joke's on you, John Mike. I didn't wanna know anyway. Eh-eh-eh.

Obviously, Mike McConnell briefed the president and told him that Iran very likely ended its program in 2003. But the president thinks we're as spongy-skulled as he is so most of us will buy this raft of shitola. The cynical politics of Karl Rove lives on and on.

Furthermore, Seymour Hersh told CNN on Tuesday that the president mentioned the NIE findings to Israeli Prime Minister Olmert on November 26.

And flash back to a little more than a year ago when Hersh wrote in the New Yorker (via TPM) that the administration was aware of and resistant to a top secret CIA report which corresponded precisely with the findings of this new NIE. Yet the White House continued to push for war in Iran for an entire year anyway. Hersh:

"They're not looking for a smoking gun," the [senior intelligence] official added, referring to specific intelligence about Iranian nuclear planning. "They're looking for the degree of comfort level they think they need to accomplish the mission."

"The knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon" qualifies as both "comfortable" as and "less than a smoking gun," so it was added to the list of justifications -- justifications which included various other abandoned or debunked reasons for attacking Iran.

Back in October, the president remarked with a big smirky grin stretched diagonally across his spongy skull about the possibility of World War III if Iran attained the knowledge to build a weapon. The obnoxious, grinning hyperbole of the phrase "World War III" nearly eclipsed the fact that the president officially announced knowledge as the policy that day. Tuesday he reaffirmed it, and lied all the way through.

In the case of Iraq lies, the Bush Republicans reached the bottom of the bogus justification slag heap when Rick Santorum announced that he found the Iraqi WMD -- WMD that were chemically expired because they predated the first Gulf War -- but he found the WMD anyway. And then he was laughed out of office.

The administration has reached a similar point of desperation with this ridiculous knowledge argument, especially now that it's an on-the-record fact that Iran isn't developing a nuclear weapon. Then again, much like he did with Iraq, President Bush was lying, President Bush is lying, and President Bush will lie again about his approach to Iran. At least, after seven years, you and I have the knowledge to catch him doing it.

--
Bob Cesca's Goddamn Awesome Blog! Go! BobCesca.com

Comments

[MrCoffeeCup]

Something is Rotten and it's not in Denmark! This finding(de­claration) pops up out of nowhere an bam, the deal is off! Right?

Sounds a little like the "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Shuffle" to me! There is something behind the fog of timing and content of these findings that don't add up. Is there a second shooter? Was this a scheme of John and Vallarie? Is George Tennet getting his revenge? OR, Did George need A WAY OUT A WAY TO SAVE FACE because something else is far more disturbing?

Let's play what if! What if Vladimir(The Impaler) Putin drew a line in the sand. What if he said: "George if you attack Iran(Our Allies) we will strike you back" "No more giving into you in the Carribean like Khrushchev, We(Russia) will fight! Are you Ready Mr. Bush?" Thermonuclear War! Regardless of the outcome, Mr. President, Russia will be forever more a HERO IN THE EYES OF ISLAM. You on the other-hand will be a target for ever!" Hmmmmmm....... Need a way out? Try stating the Intel is faulty. You back off, everyone calms down, nobody gets hurt, we restrain Iran screwing with Iraq, you SAVE FACE!! DEAL OR NO DEAL MR. PRESIDENT?

Deal......and walks off with his legacy in tatters but hey, anyone can spin a legacy!

[Garvagh]

Russia is far more exposed to militant Islam and to any nuclear-armed Iran, so it is striking that Bush wants to keep the Russians out of the equation when logic would suggest encouraging the Russians to deal with the matter.

The neocon militarists want to help Israel to keep the illegal settlements in the West Bank, even if that means repressing the Palestinians for another generation. The Iranians want justice for the Palestinians. Americans should joint them in that desire.

[WASanford]

Despite Bush’s apparent buffoonery, we cannot afford to sell him short. Take a closer look at the Valerie Plame affair, as an example.
Everyone believes Bush’s administration outted Valerie to get even with her husband for his opt-ed piece, but it’s likely more sinister than that.
Remember that Valerie was engaged in the collection of intelligence on Iran’s nuclear energy program. There was a chance that the truth about that program would get out to the American public. They wanted to stop her without exposing their real intent. Ambassador Wilson, her husband, was sent to Niger to check the allegation, based on a clumsily forged document, that Saddam had tried to buy uranium ore. When that allegation was included in the State of The Union speech, after Wilson had returned and reported his findings, he responded by telling the truth. Now they had cover to out Valerie’s enterprise and could continue to lie with impunity about the intent of Iran’s nuclear energy program, building a consensus for a war with Iran!
Their response to the recently released NIE makes it very clear that the lying was carefully planned.

[Interested01]

Yes, Bush lied and will lie again. That doesn't mean the Iranian leaders are telling the truth. Check out David Kay's comments on CNN.

To attack Iran would be insane. To assume that Bush's lies cancel out Iranian rhetoric wouldn't be very smart, however. We need to pursue real diplomacy (not the standard Bush-Cheney death threats), keeping in mind that although the Iranian people tend to love us, they will unite against us in asymmetrical warfare if we attack their country in the future.

[rboylern]

It's quite amazing to me that The Decider's pants don't burst into flames every time he opens his mouth.

[hellboundtrain]

Micktick: If what you say is true about clicking on the link about building atomic bombs, then EVERYONE must click on that link. Let EVERYONE have the knowledge!

NO MORE DYNASTYS! Not Clinton, not anyone. Print this bumper sticker: NO MORE DYNASTYS! Knowledge is freedom! Always be a seeker.

It appears in the photos of Bush that he has the facial fat added by way too much alcohol consumption. When he speaks it sounds as if he may have destroyed too many brain cells in the pursuit of escape from his truth. What he and his cronies has done to our magnificent country is a crime. It is a crime against humanity, integrity, honesty, and future generations around the world. A crime against the people of the United States. NOBODY LIKES TO BE LIED TO! NOBODY LIKES TO BE DECEIVED, CHEATED, ROBBED OR MISLED! BUT THAT IS ALL THAT WE GET! The demon war is consuming our innocent citizens and eating up the governments $ into perpetuity.

[seawolf77]

GW Bush is lying! Stop the freakin presses. It's snowing in Phoenix. It's raining in the Sahara. Islamic women in mini skirts. Bill O'Reilly speaking intelligently. OK that last one got away from me. This administration has never told the truth about anything. What is the origin of your surprise? Answer that and maybe collectively we'll never elect another puppet moron again.

[Seath]

No one on the television will use the "L" word when dealing with Bush and Cheney. Why is that? Everyone can see the lies. Everyone can hear the lies. I guess the press and other politicians are all so in bed with each other that we will never get a straight answer out of any of them. Once we get used to hearing the "L" word on tv then maybe they will get up the guts to use the "I" word - IMPEACH NOW! No, that will never happen - maybe after the election and about 5 days before the new president is sworn in they will get gutsy and really start pushing impeachment.

[rulerragingmain]

Hawk’s excuse: “Everyone thought Sadaam had weapons of mass destruction”
Not me, I didn’t think it. There was no real proof .

Since when should an administration start a preemptive war because they “think” someone has weapons of mass destruction? Since Bush got appointed… that’s when.
If Bush had been truthful and simply said we needed and wanted Iraq’s oil then at least he would not have been lying to the American People. All his goals were wrong and he has not succeeded in a single one. What has the “Surge” gained? While Bush brags about the decline of violence, the intended final result of the “Surge,” a cohesive political policy in Iraq, is still a distant fantasy. He is an abject failure who blames his failures on others.

Now he has lied to us about Iran. He continues to use scare tactics such as “World War III” to try to intimidate us into going along with his next maniacal move when he had known for many months that Iran had ceased work on their nuclear weapons program in 2003. This is according to sixteen U.S. intelligence agencies. Bush is a congenital liar.

Director McConnell went to Bush in August and told him he had “new information” regarding Iran’s nuclear weapons program but did not tell him what that “new information” was? Bush was not interested enough to ask what that “new information” was? He is either hittin’ the sauce again or just plain lying again… maybe both.

This is truly the “Don’t believe your lying eyes” administration. I am sick of having my intelligence insulted by an ignorant, illiterate, draft dodging frat boy who never in a million years would have been appointed President except for the legacy factor.

Bush should be impeached. He should also be tried for war crimes along with Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Rice, Rove, et al.

This is still The United States of America and not fascist Germany where fear mongering and propaganda once turned the people into Nazi collaborators.

[realpolitic]

Bush lied yesterday, lies today, and undoutedly will lie tomorrow.

Our democracy has deteriorated to the point where we get incessant public relations ploys from the White House instead of honest policy debate and a president who insists his lies prove he was right in the first place.

When did we become this surreal America where our own administration is less trustworthy than almost all those we refer to as enemies? When Bush and Cheney finally leave the White House, I will breathe a huge sigh of relief. Please Mr. President and Mr. Vice-President give us back our democracy. You have returned it to us much more damaged and divided than you found it.

[larmarch5]

Consider this scenario: Cheney's guys send Bush out to appear lying or delusional, a la Colin Powell, then declare him incompetent and Cheney ascends. Scary? Impeach Cheney first.

[arcaneirishholm]

Good article. I do have a question for the centrist / leftist types, at least the ones who continue to say they are "worried" about Iran or really any other country's potential weapons technology.

Why is it a forgone conclusion that other countries having nuclear weapons is bad? Even if Iran had nukes right now, they couldn't possibly use them, it would mean their own annihilation. Nuclear weapons are a deterrent, and frankly all this world police bullsh*t is what makes people think they need them in the first place, to keep countries like America from acting with impunity. What gives America the right to decide who get nukes and who doesn't? It's not as if America is beyond using it's own superior technology against "enemies" who are basically defenseless. Honestly, it's just more hypocrisy.

[mamacat]

Hey, at least we can't accuse Bush of flip-flopping. The only thing he has stopped doing is cocaine.

[mikeeforthetruth]

This Administration- the R’s (and I don’t mean Republicans) are trying to destroy our (human) way of life.

The time to fight for freedom is the time when freedom is threatened, not the time freedom is destroyed, and for that later time is too late. Freedom is threatened now. The destruction of freedom is not far off. Now is the time to fight.
John Whiteside Parsons

MWiz of- truthseeke­rforum.com

[micktick]

Great article. And with H.R. 1955, the "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act" (what imbeciles coined that title ) which passed the House with a whopping 400-6 vote (and which is pending a vote in the Senate), the thought police will find you and send you off on an indefinite stay at the sunny Gitmo camp or some unnoticed Eastern European backwoods hole if you did click on that google link of yours.

Bush's rebounding tack of going after Iran now because they have "knowledge" reinforces the fact that the aforementioned bill was extremely dangerous to our Constitution, especially given the track record of the tyrants who occupy the Executive branch. My NC District 4 Representative, David Price, was rationalizing his vote in support of the bill by pointing to the overwhelming support it had, and tried to convince me (and himself) that the bill doesn't authorize Bush to launch into aggressive and preemptive actions against anyone without "checks and balances". Ha! Those disappeared around the time of 9/11.

But watch blogs like this one lead to a raft of missing persons if, and once the bill passes in the Senate to become law. "1984" was the only textbook Bush and team paid attention to (or rather, the movie version since they didn't want to be bothered by having to exercise any grey matter. Better to just let that atrophy.