Questioning intelligence

Journal Star: LaHood stands by vote to invade Iraq

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood said Monday that he and other members of the House Intelligence Committee will have some questions for the CIA and other intelligence gathering agencies in light of the departing U.S. weapons inspector’s assertion that Iraq didn’t have weapons of mass destruction.

“I’m not prepared to say at this point where the blame lies. As a member of this committee, I think it’s incumbent on me to try and find out,” LaHood said Monday.

Maybe the committee also can investigate its own members who reveal
upcoming clandestine operations to a room full of reporters and editors.

But seriously folks:

David Kay, the outgoing chief U.S. weapons inspector, has been quoted in interviews as saying Iraq didn’t stockpile forbidden weapons after the 1991 Gulf War as the Bush and Clinton administrations had contended.

In interviews with the New York Times and National Public Radio, Kay said there were major problems with pre-war intelligence indicating
Iraq possessed such weapons. He called for an overhaul of U.S.
intelligence agencies.

Responding to Kay’s statements, U.S. Rep. Jane Harman, senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said “It’s increasingly clear that there has been a massive intelligence failure.” She said President Bush owes an explanation to the American public and the world.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., called for a nonpartisan independent commission to investigate the issue.

LaHood said Kay’s reputation gives weight to his assertions, but he
stopped short of blaming intelligence agencies.

The Journal Star ran this article on the top of page one, with a banner headline across the entire page.

Perhaps the editors are in shock that LaHood doesn’t ascribe to the
JS’s stated editorial opinion that the United States had no right to invade Iraq.

They forget that the *possibility* of WMD — not the *proven existence* of them — was one of the reasons given by Bush and Congress for approving the war. Iraq did once have WMD and violated both treaty and United Nations resolutions to prove they dismantled them.

The fact that Iraq is free and safe is of no concern to Bush detractors. Rhe fact that the United States is safer — notice the lack of terrorism in U.S. soil and the decision by Libya to allow inspections — is of no concern either.

Taking Saddam out of the picture proved to the world that the United
States it serious about the Bush Doctrine, that nations that harbor and support terrorism will be treated exactly like we should treat
terrorists themselves, as a cancer to be removed. No more lobbing
missiles at aspirin factories or suspected terrorism camps. Supporting terrorism against the United States risks the death penalty.

If the Iraq War II war was fought for no other reason, it was reason
enough.

Case closed.