Good list of doubts about Iraq intelligence that Bush kept hidden . . . .

[Ex Lion Tamer]

"For future reference, here's a list of five key dissents about administration claims, all of which were circulated before the war but kept under wraps until after the war:


The Claim: Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi, an al-Qaeda prisoner captured in 2001, was the source of intelligence that Saddam Hussein had trained al-Qaeda members to use biological and chemical weapons. This information was used extensively by Colin Powell in his February 2003 speech to the UN.

What We Know Now: Al-Libi's information was obtained under torture. Link. As early as February 2002, the Defense Intelligence Agency circulated a report, labeled DITSUM No. 044-02, saying that it was "likely this individual is intentionally misleading the debriefers." Link. This assessment was hidden from the public until after the war."

. . . .

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[babylonsister]

1. Thanks for this, Ex Lion Tamer; I've bookmarked for

future reference. And welcome to DU! :hi:

[Ex Lion Tamer]

2. Thank you.

I've read DU for years. I finally had to start posting to preserve my sanity: I live in the land of delusional Hoosiers who still support Bush and needed an outlet!

[Orrex]

3. Yes indeed

I work with a dozen or so who still love Bush, hate Clinton, and think that Liberals are spreading lies about our humane treatment of prisoners.

Thanks for the link, and welcome!

[Village Idiot]

4. Here's another piece that makes sense:

http://yglesias.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/11/11/131029/55

On October 1, 2002, Tenet produced a declassified NIE. But Graham and Durbin were outraged to find that it omitted the qualifications and countervailing evidence that had characterized the classified version and played up the claims that strengthened the administration's case for war. For instance, the intelligence report cited the much-disputed aluminum tubes as evidence that Saddam "remains intent on acquiring" nuclear weapons. And it claimed, "All intelligence experts agree that Iraq is seeking nuclear weapons and that these tubes could be used in a centrifuge enrichment program"--a blatant mischaracterization.

This is important to mention to Reich Wingers when they assert that "Dems had access to the same intel that the WH used in the run up to war" - That is, that the original NIE was classified and only EIGHT senators were allowed to see it - and those eight senators were bound not to repeat ANY OF THE CLASSIFIED MATERIAL to anyone.

sigh. sighsighsigh.