[BREAK] The Conga line for beginning a new war, with Iran, was short of dancing Americans. The Bushies believe the drumbeat of fear was lacking, so they've had their supplicants in Congress press for more money for the intell services. Only difference is, this won't be money the intell services can use as they deem necessary for their mission of collecting info from areas that their best judgment tells them represents the greatest and most immediate threat to the US. Oh, no! This will be strictly directed funding, forcing the agencies to produce a constant drumbeat of info on a single target: Iraq. Even if we had as much good sourcing as, say the CIA, believes it needs, it will now have to spend funds on less reliable sources, thereby garnering less reliable but possibly more sensational/fanciful reports on the threat posed by the Iranians. With luck, the Bushies will find a source like Curveball, whose drum solo can be so good that it can have frightened Americans dancing to the fearful tune well through both the 2006 and 2008 elections. By then, through war spending and constant tax cuts to the wealthy, our government will be totally bankrupt, forcing a default on all Social Security and pensions guaranteed through government funded insurance, and will end all social safety net programs. Then, our great and generous mega-Corporations will be able to ride to the rescue with employment for everyone, from 6 to 96 years of age. China and the 3rd world nations will no longer be the first choice for employees of the international corps. Our wages, safety regulations and health care in America will, at best, equal that of ANY of these sweat shop nations. The poor will have little time to think about politics, and election days will be celebrated as every other day, with 16 hours of work followed by stumbling into bed. For light reading, Dickens will be the choice. In the 4th Bush White House, a whistler can be heard "Wouldn't it be loverly . . . loverly?" JB ===== [/BREAK]

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | 'Significant gaps' in American intelligence on Iran 'Significant gaps' in American intelligence on Iran Julian Borger in Washington Thursday August 24, 2006 The Guardian A congressional report yesterday warned that the US was facing "significant gaps" in its intelligence on Iran that could be as serious as the shortcomings in its prewar knowledge about Iraq, leaving Washington ill-prepared to assess Tehran's military capabilities. The warning came as the Bush administration struggled to hold together an international coalition to force Iran to give up its nuclear programme. On Tuesday, Iran rejected a UN security council ultimatum to give up uranium enrichment by the end of this month, responding instead with a 21-page proposal for "serious talks". US diplomats said yesterday they were consulting their European allies on how to treat the proposal, in the face of Russian and Chinese reluctance to impose strong sanctions.