Epstein Secrets

he good influence of America on the world," said President Bush. So much for accountability. Then, of course, th

ory of the United States. That was the day George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and a team of others -- along

keeping in mind as we approach March 20, the 10th anniversary of one of the biggest disasters in the history of the United States. That was the day George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and a team of others -- along with much of Washington and a very complicit mainstream media -- took the nation to war against Iraq. Th

d here. But here are just a few of the classics. There's George Tenet, who, according to Bob Woodward's book Plan of Attack, was asked by President Bush, "George, how confident are you?" Tenet's answer? "Don't worry, it's a slam-dunk." And what were the personal consequences of that colossal misjudgm

But here are just a few of the classics. There's George Tenet, who, according to Bob Woodward's book Plan of Attack, was asked by President Bush, "George, how confident are you?" Tenet's answer? "Don't worry, it's a slam-dunk." And what were the personal consequences of that colossal misjudgment? He w

irmation votes. And what of Iraq today? As it turns out, it's one of the closest allies of Iran. Just last week, it was reported that Iraqi Premier Nouri al-Maliki has turned down the U.S. demand for sanctions against Iran Page 14 of S EFTA00615166 for its nuclear program. Iraq also just approved the buildin

el actually wanted.. sure he also remembers that President Bush (along with a series of presidents before him) f

er Iraq war — when the administration of George H.W. Bush demonstrating its commitment to Saudi Arabi

iddle East. In reference to a "contained" Iran, I would only note that Iran in 2009 was moving steadily toward nuclearization, and nothing that the Bush administration, in which Elliott served, had done seemed to be slowing Iran down. Flash forward to today—the Obama administration (with huge help

cause they are so galled to hear people like Dick Cheney and Bill Kristol lecturing anyone on Iraq. That's a mistake. While far less egregious than George W. Bush's errors, Obama's have been egregious enough. By ignoring Iraq, and refusing to defend democratic principles there, he has helped spawn the disaster

er or later, honest liberals will have to admit that Obama's Iraq policy has been a disaster. Since the president took office, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has grown ever more tyrannical and ever more sectarian, driving his country's Sunnis toward revolt. Since Obama took office, Iraq watchers—includin

Iraqis, of course, paid dearly as well. One reason the costs were so high is because the project was so difficult. Another was the incompetence of George W. Bush's team in prosecuting the war. The other reason, though, was the nature of the enemy. Iran, the Arab dictators and, most of all, Al Qaeda did not wa

cular political bloc supported by most Sunnis, told the Reuters news agency Tuesday. The U.S. withdrawal was forced in part by a deal struck by the Bush administration, as well as domestic pressure on Mr. Maliki from Iran's proxies. But White House aides who argued that no stay-on force was necessa

difficult. Another was the incompetence of George W. Bush's team in prosecuting the war. The other re

e Washington Post In Iraq, a return to old enmities Editorial December 21 -- PRESIDENT OBAMA struck a "mission accomplished" tone when he greeted Nouri al-Maliki at the White House last week, heaping praise on the Iraqi prime minister and declaring that he "leads Iraq's most inclusive government yet." It di

to statements, made by both Obama and George W. Bush, that military strikes against Iran remain an opt

ence to statements, made by both Obama and George W. Bush, that military strikes against Iran remain

something done by the public versus something by the President of the United States," Zarif said, a reference to statements, made by both Obama and George W. Bush, that military strikes against Iran remain an option. "The people of Iran respond to intimidation and pressure negatively; almost they are allergic

- On May 19, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) released the results of Iraq's April 30 national elections, and Shiite prime minister Nouri al-Maliki scored strongly on two fronts. First, his State of Law Alliance held its ground, winning 92 seats in the new 328-seat parliament compared to 89 in

ush and Cheney=92s war," said Becky Bond, the political director for an activist group =ailed Credo. "But if the president decides to double down on George W. Bush's disastrous decision to invade Iraq by=launching a new round of bombing strikes, Iraq will become Barack Obama'= war." That would be the l=st thin

"That is=not a role for the United States," she said of military force. Liberal activists w=re more vehement. "For the last 12 years, Iraq has been Bush and Cheney=92s war," said Becky Bond, the political director for an activist group =ailed Credo. "But if the president decides to double down on Geo

imetable o=iginally agreed to by President George W. Bush, and Iraqi leaders at the time would not ag

http://topics.wsj.com/person/O/Obama/4328> administration. The U.S. is weighing more direct military assis=ance to the government of Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki, the White House said Thursday, and officials hinted that =id might include airstrikes on militants who have edged to within a half-h=ur's drive of

n Hadley, national security adviser to George W. Bush; and Richard Haass, president of the Council on

phen Hadley, national security adviser to George W. Bush; and Richard Haass, president of the Counci

ruption and their own dwindling perks. Only in Iraq, untouched by the Arab Spring, does the strongman of yesteryear in the person of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki seem to live on, though in a much more constrained form. So what are the consequences of an Arab world bereft of powerful authoritarians? Four sta

liam Howard Taft, Herbert Hoover and George H.W. Bush. Six others tried and lost: James Cox, Adlai Ste

William Howard Taft, Herbert Hoover and George H.W. Bush. Six others tried and lost: James Cox, Adla

ir less experienced allies, who are now decamping for home. Since late December, Shia militiamen have returned to Iraq to defend the government of Nouri al-Maliki against the ISIS-led insurgency in the country's west. Given the lightening-speed advance of ISIS this month, threats to destroy Shia holy sites, a

alem be recorded as Israel. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama have both ignored this requirem

rusalem be recorded as Israel. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama have both ignored this req

bal barbecuing by congressional committees on national television; and endless, painstaking parleys with prickly, unpredictable characters such as Nouri al-Maliki and Hamid Karzai. He's 62; he tried to retire once, after Iraq, but was coaxed back into service by Obama and Petraeus after U.S. relations with Ka

return to bloodshed Kimberly Kagan and Frederick W. Kagan Article 8. The American Spectator Islam

e flow of oil to the global market. While tensions have risen over the past two years, the triggers for recent eruptions are clear. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, had the bodyguards of Finance Minister Rafie al-Issawi, who is Sunni, arrested for alleged terrorist activities on Dec. 20 — almost ex