Senate Panel and Rockefeller: The Bush Administration Lied to Start War

This is how the Senate panel and Sen. Rockefeller's report reads to many of us. (How did the LA Times scoop the Charleston Gazette or Daily Mail on this, from our own Senator?) Now it's official, the truth has emerged.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller of the Intelligence Committee made it clear it was not "faulty intelligence" that led to the war (as is the excuse on talk radio), but laid fault and an accusing finger forthrightly with little uncertainty. While he did not use the words in our headline the bolder paraphrase is justified by his own words.

...the administration repeatedly presented intelligence as fact when in reality it was unsubstantiated, contradicted, or even nonexistent

Not much ambiguity in that. Then there is this one too:

There is a fundamental difference between relying on incorrect intelligence and deliberately painting a picture to the American people that you know is not fully accurate.

And especially this one:

...the Bush administration led the nation into war under false pretenses.

But note this:

The report amounts to the most direct rebuke to date of the Bush administration s use of intelligence to build support for the Iraq war. But the DOCUMENT, which catalogs hundreds of statements by administration officials, stops short of calling for any further inquiry or punishment.

Is not this grounds for impeachment--misleading a nation, and Congress, to go to war? What! All this misleading and lying, but no accountability? This is solid grounds for action, albeit late.

Sen. Robert C. Byrd was right, and much earlier than Rockefeller, and stood alone in his famous speech "The Truth Will Emerge". It has now officially emerged indeed, just as the elder Senator foretold:

And mark my words, the calculated intimidation which we see so often of late by the "powers that be" will only keep the loyal opposition quiet for just so long. Because eventually, like it always does, the truth will emerge. And when it does, this house of cards, built of deceit, will fall.

clipped from www.latimes.com Senate panel rebukes Bush, Cheney on prewar Iraq claims Email Picture Matthew Cavanaugh / Getty Images "There is a fundamental difference between relying on incorrect intelligence and deliberately painting a picture to the American people that you know is not fully accurate," said Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The report, which was supported by some Republicans but criticized by many others, accuses the president and other members of his administration of repeatedly exaggerating the evidence of an Al Qaeda connection to take advantage of the charged climate after the Sept. 11 attacks. "In making the case for war, the administration repeatedly presented intelligence as fact when in reality it was unsubstantiated, contradicted, or even nonexistent," said Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. "Sadly, the Bush administration led the nation into war under false pretenses."