Fred Thompson's Physics Masterclass

[realthog]

"I hope that they are accurate with this assessment [the NIE re Iran's nuclear program], but right now, I don't have the confidence in our own intelligence capabilities to make that assessment[.] . . . Nowadays they can have a peaceful nuclear program and it's very, very easy once they get to that level to turn a screw or two and make it into a weapons program. It's a thin line," Thompson said.

In full at: http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071204/APP/712040854&template=apart

Comments

[hutch0.livejournal.com]

Actually, considering the intelligence community's record in the past few years, I'm tempted to be on Fred's side as far as their capabilities to make the assessment. We all said they were wrong about the WMD in Iraq; why should we suddenly believe them about Iran? But you're right, Fred does need a better grounding in nuclear weapons-production.
I'd still like to see him as President, though. With Bruce Willis as Secretary of Defence and Denis Franz as Secretary of State.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"I'd still like to see him as President, though. With Bruce Willis as Secretary of Defence and Denis Franz as Secretary of State."

Sort of the last thing we'd all ever see, ain't it?

Now, Martin Sheen, on the other hand . . .

[hutch0.livejournal.com]

But still with Bruce Willis as Secretary of Defence.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"But still with Bruce Willis as Secretary of Defence."

Well, dang. Couldn't we have a Secretary of Defense who could win at Jeopardy against a cactus?

[hutch0.livejournal.com]

Bruce would just shoot the cactus.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"Bruce would just shoot the cactus."

And miss.

[hutch0.livejournal.com]

Not with the kind of guns Bruce uses. Yippeekayay!!

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Ah, Hollywood guns, you mean? As in Last Action Hero?

[hutch0.livejournal.com]

Bruce wasn't in Last Action Hero. That was Arnie. On the other hand...Arnie for Secretary of Defence!

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"considering the intelligence community's record in the past few years, I'm tempted to be on Fred's side as far as their capabilities to make the assessment"

According to ex-intelligence community wallahs, the difference this time is that we're finally hearing what the intelligence community actually thinks, rather than the version "processed" by Darth Cheney and his Deathstar cohorts. One might think this was a case of special pleading except that the current Administration has a long, long, long, long track record of adjusting -- before they're released to the public and indeed to Senate and Congress -- the supposedly neutral reports delivered by its various agencies. You'll recall, for example, the EPA's annual environmental report from which all references to climate change had been excised?

[hutch0.livejournal.com]

Well, the Bush administration isn't unusual in doing that. Alastair Campbell did it too.
(Allegedly! Allegedly! Dammit, I have to keep remembering to say that.)

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"Well, the Bush administration isn't unusual in doing that"

It is unusual in the extent to which it's done it and continues to do it, and also there's a qualitative difference, I think: where Campbell might (allegedly) spin something so that the original information was barely recognizable, that original information was still there, somewhere. There was still enough of it left that there could always be the desperate defence of: "No, I'm not lying -- technically I'm not lying. See here . . ."

With Il Buce and his fuckwit fascist crew, though, not the slightest thought has been spared for the truth. The CIA reports that there's nothing in the Niger yellowcake story? We keep telling it and we smear the people involved to the length of committing treason by outing a person whose job is, oops, trying to keep track of and curtail the spread of WMDs. Oh, the intelligence services say those aluminum tubes are inoccuous? We'll say their sole use must be in the making of nuclear missiles. Scientists are essentially united about humanity's contribution to global warming? We'll call Michael Crichton a climatologist and say there's still widespread debate. And on and on and on and fucking on . . .

One of the big tasks, whatever Administration takes over from this one, will be sorting through all the officially instituted lies, big and little, to re-establish the reality on which politicians and public can start basing sensible decisions.

Mercury poisoning? Not that much of a worry, really. We don't need NASA's atmosphere studying satellite program. It's good for the National Parks and their wildlife if we open them up for oil drilling and other development. Add more at will.

[hutch0.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the yellowcake thing and its fallout (if you will) was a national disgrace. I was disgusted with the Valerie Plame business; rule one of running a country: you do not out serving intelligence officers to discredit their husbands.

You're right about Campbell. Love him or hate him, he was a properly, fully-evolved political animal. Compared to him, Bush and Cheney and their lackeys are Little-Leaguers. We may not see his like again.

And I don't think there's anyone who takes Michael Crichton seriously as a climatologist. Oh, please god tell me there isn't...

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"And I don't think there's anyone who takes Michael Crichton seriously as a climatologist."

(1) Il Buce himself, Our Glorious Leader, who called him to the White House to consult him on global warming.

(2) Therefore, the (then) GOP-dominated Houses of Congress, including Environmental Issues Senate Chairman James Inhofe, a man whose rear you cannot kick without risk of breaking his neck.

(3) Therefore, your distinguished journalistic colleagues at FOX News.

(4) Therefore, large sections of the US public.

Did I remember to post your journalistic colleague Michael Savage's supposedly science-based description of the Nobel Committee (which one?) as "90% socialist perverts". I must go and check . . .

[hutch0.livejournal.com]

1) Oh no, please God tell me it's not true.
3) They are not my colleagues except in the loosest possible sense and I wish you'd stop spreading the entirely spurious rumour that I work for Big Rupe.

I'm a journalist, I'm not responsible for these people...

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"(1) Oh no, please God tell me it's not true."

Sorry, but, er . . .

[hutch0.livejournal.com]

*puts head in hands*