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Spies Like Us

By Joel Bleifuss

In its drive to sell the world on its plans for war with Iraq, the Bush administration has deployed its intelligence agencies to spy on friendly governments and to doctor evidence to prove Iraqi wrongdoing. On January 31, Frank Koza, a National Security Agency official, sent a “Top Secret” memo to NSA agents and British intelligence, informing them that the… return to article

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    Page 1 of 1 pages

    i am so sorry to know that so many iraqs people will die,from lies and oil. i pray every day there is no war.

    United States Posted by emelda redmon on Mar 15, 2003 at 1:24 PM

    Became highly incensed when top gov. officials kept putting out false info. My comments below were printed in letters section of Kansas City Star Feb 2, 03. Looks as though we share a common view.

    Truth or consequences

    President Bush, VP Cheney, and Ms Rice, all with free access to prime time TV and newspaper front pages, repeatedly told us that Iraq had procured aluminum tubing to enable that country to make nuclear bombs. Over a period of many months this was regularly used to bolster the case for going to war by the so-called experts we see on the screen each day.

    When word filters out that the allegations made by the Administration were wrong, the truth gets relatively brief coverage per back page Section A, KC Star, Jan 24. This does little to nullify the massive brainwashing to which the public has already been subjected. When top government officials stoop to the use of unverified intelligence to sway public opinion, surely they deserve to pay a greater penalty by having their inexcusable behavior boldly revealed across the front page. Otherwise they will do it again.

    United States Posted by Keith on Mar 15, 2003 at 1:32 PM

    I would hope someone would discover which senators and congressmen and conservative radio and tv commentators have their children and grandchildren on the front lines in this coming war.  My guess is not very many.

    United States Posted by Richard on Mar 15, 2003 at 11:25 PM

    The answer to Richrad’s question about public right-wingers having kids/grand kids in the service is zero.  None.  The only member of the Senate with a kid in uniform is Senator Johnson, Democrat of South Dakota.

    United States Posted by Cal on Mar 16, 2003 at 12:12 PM

    Another point of niew and a few ‘forgotten ‘ facts

    Australia Posted by sujata on Mar 17, 2003 at 7:14 AM

    have just watched a program on the bbc about israels illegal weapons of mass distruction and the treatment of people who try an expose it like mordaci vanunu who after an interview with a uk paper was kidnapped, tried in secret and has been in prison since the mid eighties. when the pentagon were asked for an interview about israel and weapons of mass destruction the program reporter was told that they would not answer questions about israel only about the threat of iraq.. open society?

    United Kingdom Posted by brownlie on Mar 17, 2003 at 6:42 PM

    The Bushies have lied so often that they actually have begun to believe
    their own lies! Very sad, indeed. God help us in our hour of desperate need!

    United States Posted by Ethel Steadman on Mar 17, 2003 at 7:04 PM

    crack heads

    United States Posted by rogue on Mar 18, 2003 at 3:52 PM

    yall are pathetic hippies
    you should be ashamed

    United States Posted by rogue on Mar 18, 2003 at 3:53 PM

    Thank you inthesetimes. This was a pretty good article. I am going to miss this web site when the Bush administration declars code red and shuts down all indi news sties as a potental terrest thret. Well, I am only being half sarcastic.

    United States Posted by Matthew Wickham on Mar 19, 2003 at 5:13 AM

    Dear Mr. Bleifuss:

    It seems, judging from your tone in this article, that it is put-up-or-shut-up time for you, too, is it not?  With the war in Iraq already ongoing, its conclusion is probably only days away.  My question to you is:

    What will you say (in the form of apologies, I mean) if the UK/US military uncovers overwhelming proof of WMD?  After all, your entire attitude seems predicated on the seeming belief that Iraq is essentially innocent of the WMD charges.

    Canada Posted by Gareth Llewellyn on Mar 19, 2003 at 1:11 PM

    A terrific piece, but there is a lingering question: Why, if Kamel had ordered all WMD destroyed, did UNSCOM find, identify, and destroy operational anthrax incubators and several tons of growth of medium based on information Kamel provided AFTER his defection? This discovery came several years into the initial inspection regime, meaning that a major production facility had escaped detection for nearly 4 years.
    Perhaps Kamel did give an order to destroy WMD. Perhaps he thought the inspectors made progress. Such confidence on his part, however, may have been misplaced, as was his confidence in the regime; he was assasinated shortly after returning to Baghdad.

    It’s unfortunate that Mr. Bleifuss didn’t address this incident in his otherwise insightful piece.

    United States Posted by Shawn on Mar 21, 2003 at 7:04 PM

    Rogue,
    What should we be ashamed of? Knowing the truth? Being sensible? Not being naaive enough to believe Bush? Hippie? What century are you from?

    United States Posted by neil on Mar 27, 2003 at 10:41 PM

    Hate to break it to you, but America has lied for years and years. They have always made up stuff when it suited them. I know justice will never be served here on earth, but remember we are all going to meet our maker in the end and bush and his cronies will burn in hell along with all the zionists who have caused such suffering and misery in the middle east

    Australia Posted by Lina on Apr 5, 2003 at 5:38 AM

    I have said and sent letters to the editor of our tally paper of these very facts.  I am increasingly upset and confused that more american people do not run out in the streets yelling for Bush’s impeachment and/neck!  And I no longer think he is confused.  He’s smart like the weasel that he is.  Read “The Second Coming” by John Yeats.  That’s Bush - he’s the one who is truly evil and we should be very scared!

    United States Posted by pat carrico-kitchens on Apr 28, 2003 at 1:22 PM

    I realy believe what you are saying and I have always taken heed on the fact that this world is run by a certain rich few. At this time oil is the major factor and these few rich have complete control. Mr Bush as well as his ancestors are all members of the skull and bones secret organization along with Kerrney. It doesnt really make any difference who wins the presidential vote This secret society will run the country and we peons will have to sit back and take it. The one satisfaction is they have to answer to God one day.

    United States Posted by Peter Muserelli on Apr 28, 2004 at 11:38 PM
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