The New York Times points out -- just a couple of days late -- that Bush's speech on Abu Zubaydah was a crock of shit, though naturally they put it a bit more gently.
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Better Late Than Never
09 Sep 2006 06:09 pm
Comments (8)
Okay, what is the scoop with this Abu Zubaydah character? Is he the "wily adversary" with "key information" about an "imminent attack", according to "officials...closely tied to intelligence agencies" that the linked article by David Johnston?
Or is he this guy?:
Abu Zubaydah, his captors discovered, turned out to be mentally ill and nothing like the pivotal figure they supposed him to be. CIA and FBI analysts, poring over a diary he kept for more than a decade, found entries "in the voice of three people: Hani 1, Hani 2, and Hani 3" -- a boy, a young man and a middle-aged alter ego. All three recorded in numbing detail "what people ate, or wore, or trifling things they said." Dan Coleman, then the FBI's top al-Qaeda analyst, told a senior bureau official, "This guy is insane, certifiable, split personality."
Abu Zubaydah also appeared to know nothing about terrorist operations; rather, he was al-Qaeda's go-to guy for minor logistics -- travel for wives and children and the like. "
If you follow the link, the story there is that they tortured the guy and he created all sorts of "imminent threats". Except they were all horseshit, figments of a tortured and deluded mind.
So which is it? It can't be both!
Try this: Bush doesn't have to actually capture Bin Laden to salvage the '06 midterms. He just has to have it announced he's been captured, oh, say 72 hours before polling. Long enough in advance for a positive wave of voter euphoria and celebration to swing some close races. Not so far ahead though tough questions and a "put up or shut up" movement develops. The administration never really makes the official announcement. A willing (bribed) party with sufficient credibility does the deed, stating Binny is in custody and being transported to a Pakistani prison for questioning and charges. The election takes place, Republicans hold both houses in a squeaker, and only later does someone sheepishly apologize they got it all wrong. Mistaken identity, miscommunication. During the election lead up Bush cautions all to wait on more sure info ("wink, wink, yeah we got him!") and post election Tony Snow points out no U.S. government spokesman ever said Binny was caught and "Hey, Bush told you all not to count your chickens, remember?". What the hell is anybody going to say after the non-capture comes to light? Point fingers at the administration and whine they're a bunch of lying, calculating bastards? Well duh! The public knows that already. They would get what they wanted and the news cycle rolls over just like it always does and we move on to some kidnapped white girl or debating whether Michael Moore is really the devil incarnate. Tin foil? With this crew there is no tin foil, the most cynical scenario is entirely possible. Desperate times, desperate measures.....
It's sad that you're too smart/blunt to work for the time for any significant length of time.
So, the President of the United States, while attempting to justify a policy supporting torture, tells easily disproved lies -- and the latter fact is only a minor news story? Astounding.
Catching one terrorist leader and declaring victory is as reduculous as catching one ant and declaring the ant hill captured. They're like ants in that every time one is killed two more show up. Their leader is Allah so Allah will have to be captured before any victory is really such. The Bush administration is not qualified for that task because faith is unquestionable with them. Is it any different with the other party? Don't think so and therefore the war on terror like the one on drugs more closely resembles a tattoo than spilled milk.
Terrorism is here to stay until we the people recognize it's source. It's been going on for at least 5,000 years so don't hold your breath waiting for a solution. Understanding is the first step but that requires a reexamination of all those absolute truths we are so fond of beginning with, "the Bible is the word of God." It's also the word of Allah. The Bible is a proved hoax, (http://www.hoax-buster.org). Until the terrorist among us are recognized as such look for terrorism to continue as a way of life for most of the people of earth.
What's the reaction been in Thailand and among Buddhist religous leaders in general?
Allah is not a different entity from God. 'Allah' is the Arabic word for 'God', and was used as such by Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians before Muhammad was born.
The God of the Muslims is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Moses and Jesus, the same God as that of Jews and Christians.
Comments closed September 23, 2006.
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Heads in the Sand
Actually, the original article about Bush's speech was accompanied by this article questioning his claim about Zubaydah:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/08/washington/08intel.html
This story appeared in the back pages, but a brief summary appeared in a box adjacent to the front page story about Bush's speech.
Posted by Beale | September 9, 2006 6:51 PM