CIA will soon buy into the lie about Saddam

Friday, Oct. 18, 2002 | 9:27 a.m.

In spite of unrelenting pressure from the Bush administration, the CIA keeps telling the truth about Iraq. Al-Qaida is not tied to Saddam Hussein. Saddam has no atomic weapons and will have none soon. Saddam will use what weapons he has only if he is attacked.

The Bush lies and the Dick Gephardt-led congressional cave-in have kept the post-Sept. 11 country supportive of the Bush war and have deflected attention from the bad economy and the inability of the government to do anything about the threat of terrorism at home.

The problem with our containment policy against Iraq is that it prevents the development and control of the Iraqi oil resources by United States oil companies. Saddam hates us and has given the development contracts to Russia, China and European countries. These countries will never support the Bush war unless he cuts them in on the booty.

The truth is embarrassing though, so I expect the CIA will soon come up with a made-to-order report that Osama bin Laden has been seen hiding in Baghdad.

JERRY BITTS