President Bush faces the press and Congress; Update On NIE: “They had the program, they halted the program…and they could restart it;” Update: Bush botches Saudi gang rape question; Update: Press corps plays “Psychology 101″
Scroll down for updates…
President Bush will hold a news conference at 10am to discuss spending battles and other legislative conflicts with the Dems. The Iran nuke NIE will also be a hot topic. Stay tuned for the show. (Update: All the dinosaur networks will be covering.) Meantime, how about this fair and balanced Associated Press wire dispatch on the upcoming news conference:
“Bush Is Expected to Scold Congress Again”
President Bush, entrenched in disputes with Congress over spending and the war in Iraq, wants to intensify pressure on lawmakers when he addresses the media on Tuesday. It will be his first news conference in nearly seven weeks.
The president is expected again to admonish Congress for not sending him spending bills, intelligence legislation and tax-law changes. Bush, taking advantage of his veto power and the largest bully pulpit in town, regularly scolds Congress as a way to stay relevant and frame the debate as his presidency winds down.
Democrats counter that Bush is more interested in making statements than genuinely trying to negotiate some common ground with them.
The news conference is scheduled for 10:01 a.m. EST Tuesday.
How about:
“Democrats regularly obstruct legislation as a way to stay relevant and frame the debate as their approval numbers plummet. Republicans counter that Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are more interested in making statements than genuinely trying to negotiate some common ground with them.”
***
10:02am Eastern. The “scolding” begins…Bush thanks Senate for taking up free trade agreement with Peru today. Presses conference on military funding, intelligence funding, AMT legislation…If the Congress passes an irresponsible spending bill, I will vote it…
10:05am Eastern. First question on NIE. Are you convinced that Iran is still trying to build a nuclear bomb?
GWB: Here’s what we know. We know that they are still trying to learn how to enrich uranium. Enriching uranium is an important step…we know they had a program, we know they halted it…I view this report as a warning signal that they had the program, they halted the program…and they could restart it…rally the international community to keep up pressure…the NIE said that pressure was effective…
Second question: “Are you concerned that the US has lost credibility in the world?” Sounds like a former CAIR intern/YouTuber.
10:10am Eastern. David Gregory accuses Bush of knowing about the NIE months ago. DG: “Can’t you be accused of hyping this threat?”
GWB: “I hate to contradict an august reporter such as yourself, but I was made aware of this NIE last week…Iran was dangerous. Iran is dangerous. And Iran will be dangerous if they have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon.”
10:15am Eastern. “The NIE makes it clear that Iran needs to be taken seriously as a threat to peace. My opinion hasn’t changed.” Material, knowledge, know-how, delivery system. “This is a nation that is testing ballistic missiles. It is a nation that is trying to enrich uranium. The NIE says this is a country that had a covert nuke weapons program that they have failed to disclose. Never admitted it existed in the first place.”
10:17am Eastern. Martha Raddatz: “How can you possibly believe world will rally around you?” Because many people understand the dangers of Iran acquiring a nuke weapon. And because the NIE underscored that diplomatic pressure worked. “One thing is for certain: The NIE talks about how a carrot and stick approach can work.”
10:20am Eastern. A good question about the Saudi gang rape case. Did Bush press the Saudis on the case? What are your first thoughts on hearing about this?
Bush stumbles. “I’d a been emotional, angry, angry at the state that didn’t support the victim. He talked to Abdullah about the peace conference, doesn’t remember if he talked about the rape case.”
Lame.
10:21am Eastern. Question about the mortgage bailout plan. “The basics in the economy are good. Inflation, interest rates, productivity, exports, etc…We are addressing the current issues…home ownership…it’s a headwind…Treas. Sec. Paulson working on a “credit reassurance fund”…We have consistently called on Congress to pass measures that will keep the economy strong…mentions free trade agreement with Peru again…
10:24am Eastern. Another question on housing – “Was the govt too slow to recognize subprime mess?”
GWB: “We shouldn’t bail out lenders.”
Yeah, well, we shouldn’t bail out home owners, either.
10:36am Eastern. Question about presidential race and immigration. “It’s going to be intense…and interesting to watch.” He’s going to miss campaigning and virus-sharing with Candy Crowley.
Eww.
10:40am Eastern. On S-CHIP…Why would you waste time instead of negotiate…and work together…segues to troop funding…We’ve got men and women risking their lives…this congress needs to fund them without telling our military how to conduct this war…Give ‘em the funds they need. Now is the time to do it.
(Bush remembers he’s supposed to “scold”.)
10:42am Eastern. Armchair psychologist asks if Bush is “dispirited.” Bush – “All of a sudden, it’s Psychology 101.” Bush reiterates defense of approach to Iran.
Final word from GWB: “I’m going to use the NIE to continue to rally the international community for peace.”
***
Israel reax:
The threat of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons must not be underestimated, was the message government officials sent out on Tuesday after the release of a US intelligence report claiming that Teheran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 but was continuing to enrich uranium.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that Iran was continuing in its efforts to produce a nuclear bomb despite the report. According to the minister, Iran had indeed stopped its program four years ago but has since renewed it.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at the opening of a meeting with the Italian deputy prime minister that the report only emphasizes and strengthens the need for the international community to tighten sanctions on Iran so that it will not be able to produce nuclear weapons.
Europe reax on the NIE:
Don’t let Iran off the hook quite yet.
That’s the message European and U.N. officials are sending after a U.S. intelligence report concluded Iran is not building nuclear weapons.
Europeans say the U.S. U-turn strengthens their argument for negotiations with Tehran. But they also said that sanctions are still an option to compel Iran to be fully transparent about its nuclear program.
The report, a composite of findings from several U.S. intelligence agencies released Monday, said Iran halted nuclear weapons development in 2003 � a stunning reversal for an administration whose conviction that Iran was seeking nuclear arms has driven two rounds of U.N. sanctions and stoked worldwide proliferation fears.
European officials, eager not to appear thrown off balance by the surprising report, insisted that the international community should not walk away from years of talks with an often defiant Tehran that is openly enriching uranium for uncertain ends. The report said Iran could still build a nuclear bomb by 2010-15.
“We must maintain pressure on Iran,” said French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani, whose country has taken an increasingly tough stance against Iran in recent months.
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Your version reflects more truth than does the MSM.
In my view, they are power hungry politicians who could care less for our country.
(sigh)
Bush forever lost me as a supporter when he tried to hand our country over to the illegal lobby recently. I stood by him through a lot, but he is an incredible disappointment. Yes, he is still POTUS, but I have almost as much contempt for him now as I do this worthless Congress.
Yes, the disAssociated Press does have a way of putting things, don’t they. Since being made aware of media bias I’ve developed a habit of looking at headlines with that in mind. The spin factor is ubiquitous.
Too bad I’m going to miss this (I will be in a dental chair most of the morning) I would really like to see him go for the throat, but know he won’t. Have to play nice in front of the cameras and useless members of the MSM.
Congress has some explaining to do to the troops that are risking their all and winning on the two major battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. Failing to fund them will only result in hurting the troops in garrison taking funding from them to fill the requirements of those in harms way. The Army is already looking at furloughing all civilian employees and contractors (most are veterans) as early as this month.
Good thing for them Lincoln is not President during this current war most of the Democrat leadership would be in prison facing treason charges. After all he threw the entire legislature of Maryland in jail to keep them from succeeding from the Union. If only we could find a leader to show some gumballs with these traitors. Too bad most of the electorate will not vote these people into the private sector.
This Saudi question is interesting…
…and he kinda dodged it.
There, I fixed that the way I’m sure he would have liked to have said it.
I’m part of the problem, I voted for Bush twice, so I guess I can say Bush has made a debacle of most things he touches. What happened to our budget surplus, how huge will our trade deficient get, how low will the dollar go, how many times must the double wide fence on the southern border be paid for before it is built, how many more illegals will be allowed to invade our country before Bush even says hum, but most mysterious of all, how many trillions of dollars does it take to keep 130,000 troops in the field. I don’t believe the Bush Administration has ever made an accounting of where all that money went and he still wants more.
Hope I don’t have to listen to any more of his baby talk about the war on terror.
So did I, but let’s be honest. Even considering how disappointing he has proven to be, he is a much better POTUS than Kerry or Gore could have ever been.
What is the deal with these reporters? The act like they’re from somewhere else besides the United States. Like they’re above it all and are so superior that they get to criticize without responsibility for what they say.
They aren’t held responsible for what they say…that is why they are so obstinate.
Sorry Republicans, but Bush just gives me too many reasons not to be Republican. I assert he is not a conservative, but a globalist, who believes that the American people need to pay to support the globalist ideals. That is why nationalism means nothing to him. He has continually supported devaluing the dollar, open borders, “no child left behind” – which should be called – “keep American children mediocre. He has greatly increased the cost of medicaid, putting the money into the hands or the globalistic drug industry. Just look around and you will see that the American family is poorer than in the 1950s. Then one wage earner could earn enough to support a large family. Now we need two wage earners to support a family of 4. I believe both the Democrats and Republicans have lead this country down a cliff towards being a third world nation.
He said no that he didn’t bring it up.
I think he was embarrassed and caught off guard.
Not an excuse, just an observation.
President Bush said: GWB:
What famous Bush incompetence. Iran is so dangerous yet he waits six months to get the latest intelligence report.
Tango Foxtrot
I agree that he seemed flustered by the question, but like MM said above, his answer was “lame”.
Agreed.
Finally, mentioned the funding for our troops. I’d have like his response more had he slammed Congress for their cowardice but I’ll accept his retort.
That press conference was…uninspiring.
It really was. I would like to have the last fourty or so minutes of my life back.
forty
Someone Forgot To Tell The Kurds That Saddaam didn’t have WMDs
So Iran shut down their bomb program, uh? Then why not throw open the doors to U.S, inspectors all over their country — especially those on-going mega-bunkers and underground factories. Nukes for juice while floating on an ocean of oil? Hey, Brooklyn Bridge time! I pray we’re not THAT naive!
James Greenidge
Queens New York
Uranium
Centrifuge
Enrichment
Surrogate
Kite-Flying Contest begins in 4…3…2…
[sigh]
Jimmy Carter has been the WORST president in the last 150 years. If Bush isn’t careful, HE will pass Carter before he leaves office.
Appeasement is always so appealing, just ask Neville Chamberlain and his cronies prior to WW-II. Less we forget, Churchill, who turned out to be right, was vilified for years before that war started. Bush is being vilified for many things, and rightfully so, but his war policies have been consistently appropriate in a world that has averaged something like 4 to 5 Islamic terrorist incidents per day since 9/11.
The National Intelligence Estimate is like every other estimate – a best guess snapshot at a point in time. The intelligence community has a less than perfect record in gaining and analyzing intelligence from around the world, and that is to be expected because of the shadowy nature of the world of intelligence. Frankly, nobody should put much stake in one estimate. It is just as likely that the Israeli estimate that Iran is again pursuing nuclear weapons is more correct.
Way to go 30 pieces…. snap-to-it on that alert.
Well, I was a bit disappointed in the press conference as well. I really don’t want to bail out people who bought in over their heads for mortgages, as I said yesterday I believe those of us who do the right thing and have our taxes helping these fools need to use their homes as a “time share”. I wish the lame brained Congress would pass the funding for our troops, I’m sick and tired of their playing politics with people’s lives. Like many of you he lost me at amnesty for illegals. Sigh
JRL,
I do what I am told.
President Bush botching? Nah, get outta here!
We have to be the laughing stock of the world. With all of our power and might we handcuff our military in the middle of a war by cutting off funding. While we are winning!!!
We handcuff our intelligence gatherers and then complain about faulty or insufficient intelligence when it is presented. We can’t drill off of our own coast because of the EPA. Third world dictators have got our number.
ACLU, CAIR, Move-On.org, etc., etc., are special interests groups who help foster our inability to protect ourselves from within. The news is all so depressing when compiled.
I should become a Dem and let the party and Al Sharpton do my thinking for me. Ignorance is bliss.
MANCHESTER, N.H. – The campaigns of the leading Democratic candidates seized Monday on an intelligence report showing that Iran had halted its development of nuclear weapons, saying the findings justified their more cautious approach to Tehran.
Translation:
“See Children?…All you have to do is talk, and everything is all better.”
Snap Poll:
All those, who think Iran can be trusted to safeguard any amount of Plutonium, raise your hand.
Yo, pboilermaker #9, I’ve said the same many times. In fact I had a link from one of my webs to the SwiftBoaters…warriors all.
P, your comments are right on. I also wonder why we had to lose 3.5 million manufacturing jobs during the Bush shift. These were manufacturing jobs that provided middle class incomes, retirement, and health benefits. They should have had first shot at the American market but their place in line was given to international corporations with goods from cheap labor countries. That need not have been other than Bush’s trade agreements that gave our market to so called free trade (rather than fair trade).
With the many RINOs in Congress and Senate I too see nothing to hang a Republican hat on but I’ll still vote (for what the Democrats don’t steal).
To bit-boy &lgm,this little Iraq war is just the start,maybe you will be around to slam the next 3 or 4 presidents that will be dealing with Islam.The muslims are not going to stop.
It’s nice to hear from a non-biased, non-agenda driven opinion on this.
#8,
It went to buy bullets, fuel, and armor. It went to fund Provincial Recontruction Teams. It went to dig wells and build schools. It went to the ongoing wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan. And it all was accounted for, at least while it was in American hands. Your post makes it sound like President Bush used the money to line his pockets. Believe me, the money is well spent, and more IS needed.
AP article in today’s newspaper:
So, we failed to detect them stop their weapons program, until over three years later? Three years? Let me put that in to perspective…how about if we now fail to notice that they reinstituted their program for three years. The “experts” have said repeatedly, that Iran is six months to two years away from having an atomic weapon.
Since Iran is such a “notortiously closed society,” how do we know whether or not they have a secret weapons program continuing?
Their leaders, especially Imanutcase, have spoken defiantly about how Iran WILL NOT give up their rights to develop nuclear capabilities. Yes, it might be bluster, but lacking any concrete evidence to the contrary, shouldn’t we err on the side of caution?
Something that no one has seemed to wonder about, is why Iran has anti-aircraft batteries set up all around their “peaceful” nuclear sites? Why also dig reinforced facilities deep underground, if your intentions are to simply pursue said peaceful nuclear energy? Can anyone name any western country that guards it’s nuclear power plants with AAA?
None of this meet my smell test.
See, I can do that too! (Even if I don’t have all the facts, and even if I believe everything I read in the MSM.)
Imanutcase (thanks right-on!) has made it abundantly clear that he wishes to pursue nuclear weaponry. I recall him saying, (this is not verbatim)that you have them so why shouldn’t we…sanctions and laws be damned.
I know there is a difference between wanting and having; however, one begets the other and it is to our own peril that we don’t heed his own words.
Kind of like the truthers claiming that “9/11 was an inside job” but what of Osama bin hiding and the 19 hijackers? They claimed responsibility, they outright told us of their intent and we deny it. We deny Iran’s intent and ignore nut boy if we have learned nothing at all from the past.
Bingo. How many lives have to be lost at one time for a weapon to be considered a WMD? 20? 200? 2000?
After Desert Storm, we sat back and watched as Saddaam killed thousands of Kurds with armed helicopters. Could they be considered WMD’S? Saddaam killed more Muslims than anybody in the Middle East. Could HE be considered a WMD?
Now, we have liberals who still think Armordinnerjacket is not a threat and we should “talk to him”. Id10t’s
I just found this quote from Michael Ledeen, at Right Wing Nut House:
I have to believe our national intelligence people also hold this belief, at least in private.
30 pcs of silver please don’t go to the side of mindless obedience. I find a woman who can think and reason for herself intellectually stimulating that is one of the reason I fell hard for Mrs. Boomer. The major reason I find conservative women more appealing then liberal women, plus the conservatives always seem to bath regularly.
Back on topic it appears it was time well spent in the dental chair. I think it would have been more painful to watch the news conference. Too bad dueling is outlawed under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ applies to retired GIs too) I would love to demand satisfaction from those trying to get our troops killed through lack of funding. I seriously doubt the leaders of “the most ethical Congress in history” would fail to show on the field of honor because they have none. Needless to say I continue to be more and more disappointed in the President Bush’s failure to grow a spine. I still feel betrayed by the illegal invader amnesty bill he sponsored too.
Bush stumbles. “I’d a been emotional, angry, angry at the state that didn’t support the victim. He talked to Abdullah about the peace conference, doesn’t remember if he talked about the rape case.”
Lame.
Given that Bush family is in Abduallah’s the back-pocket, what can one expect? Americans still cannot connect the obvious dots:
- escorting Bin Ladens to safety.
- “Aid” to Saudi Arabia (!?)
- Increased stuents visas (after 9/11!?).
- Increased arms to wahhabbis.
In the mean time, America is paying a heavy price for this corrupt, timid man. And no, am not a democrat or a Clinton fan.
Boomer,
Just me spilling me guts. I would never abandon my fellow comrades in arms. Besides, I like thinking for myself.
If only we could apply this today:
I guess the first people I would arrest and imprison would be Code Pink, Move-notatall-org, and the traitors of Congress (Pelosi, Reid, Kennedy, etc.)
The quote above was spoken by Abraham Lincoln, btw, after he imprisoned John Merryman for treason.
He said some very profound things during those times, concerning loyalty and treason.
Here are a couple good papers if anyone is interested. You could substitute names and dates and find it would fit today’s political battles.
The links are there but didn’t show up for some reason. (oohhhh, invisible links, that’s creepy!)
Here they are again.
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=612
http://www.heritage.org/Research/NationalSecurity/hl834.cfm
Also, it’s probably not surprising to anyone here, but John Merryman and Clement Laird Vallandigham, who Lincoln imprisoned for being traitors and Enemy Combatants, were also Democrats.
Not too long ago the Libbs and the MSM were crying and throwing peas about the fact that the Bush administration had not engaged madmood. Now, that we learned Iran stopped their Nuke program in 2003, (because of Bush) do you think the MSM will point out how President Bush was right and they were wrong?
“right_on” has it exactly right.
A four year gap, in “intelligence” (yes, those are sneer quotes,) in a world where Nuclear Blasts are measured in milliseconds.
Houston, we have a problem.
Of course Iran “welcomes” the new NIE report. It means their likely active deception program over weapons is once again fooling our intelligence community.
And I really wish people would starting understanding the difference between an “estimate” and a “report”. Estimates estimate the future; reports are what they are. Estimates neither confirm nor deny a report.
A trillion here, a trillion there…pretty soon it adds up to real money.
National Intelligence Estimate! Did we believe it before 2003? If not, why do we believe it now?
I was at Vint Hill Farms in Manassass, Va. when I was with the ASA, which is the army branch of the NSA, and I saw a lot of pompousness, and “cover your butt” activity but not too much “intelligence”.
OK! I just read above the brief outline of the press conference, the reaction from Israel and from Europe and I don’t see what the big deal is.
We invaded Iraq and Iran stopped their nuke program. The Democraps in congress then started to show what abunch of wimps we have for “leaders” and Iran has probably restarted the program.
President Bush AND the Europeans and Israelis all agree that Iran is still a threat. Looks like we are back where we started!
First, Michelle Malkin for National Security Director. She has more common sense than those who went before, plus, she would be breathing down the necks of the intel agencies holding their feet to the fire until they found out something.
David Gregory: only thing I can say about him is you can’t make a silk purse out of a sows ear