Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007 | 2:24 a.m.
The National Intelligence Estimate, released Monday, says Iran stopped its nuclear weapons program in 2003 because of international pressure. President Bush, who was invoking visions of World War III, said he had learned about the report only a week ago.
The Washington Post, however, says both Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney knew about the estimate in August or September. It is clear the administration is again telling lies about its lies in an effort to take us to another unnecessary war. What is most disturbing is the Puritan fundamentalism that motivates the president.
On Tuesday Mr. Bush defended his aggressive policies by saying Iran was, is, and always will be a threat as long as it has even the knowledge of how to make nuclear weapons. Translation: Iran is evil - part of an Axis of Evil. There is no negotiation with Evil. One can only strike at the heart of the Evil through war and regime change.
The president believes himself to be the predestined elect of God to carry out His purpose. I hear echoes of Melville's Ahab on the deck of the Pequod muttering about his compulsion to strike beneath the surface of Moby Dick to pierce the Evil that lies beneath. You know how that ended.
Most believe that a war with Iran would be a bigger disaster than the Iraq war has become. Yet the Democrats have declared that such mutiny as impeachment is off the table, so what is there to stop Bush and Cheney from bombing Iran before their term of office ends?
Jerry Bitts, Las Vegas
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