Posted on 07/02/2003 11:01:15 PM PDT by JohnHuang2
Edited on 07/12/2004 4:05:00 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
In order to depoliticize any claim that any U.S. president would ever take military action — especially one involving tactical nuclear weapons — based on politically predetermined intelligence, Congress needs to legislate and fund with a small budget what I'm calling the Contrarian Threat Assessment Directorate.
(Excerpt) Read more at dynamic.washtimes.com ...
DCI: Mr. President, it is our conclusion that the North Korea nuclear program has advanced to the point at which it has constructed several fusion warhead-tipped MRBMs.
Contrarian: And it is our conclusion that it hasn't.
DCI: Satellite IMINT shows the beginnings of a major missile base --
Contrarian: No it doesn't.
DCI: -- complete with command structures and independent electrical generation capability.
Contrarian: Those are natural features.
DCI: Last week, several new roads were constructed, possibly indicating a planned expansion to the base.
Contrarian: Might as well have Richard Hoagland doing your IMINT analysis.
DCI: Furthermore, agents within the DPRK Ministry of Defense have passed us a great deal of material relating to methods of detonation and the rocket control systems.
Contrarian: These "agents" are all employees of a foreign government, giving us things for money, are they not? How convenient that these "documents" they are "passing" you only confirm what you are saying.
DCI: Yes ... well. Anyway, our COBRA arrays picked up a launch at 0100 this morning --
Contrarian: No they didn't.
DCI: -- fitting the profile of previous DPRK ballistic missile tests.
Contrarian: Those were peaceful applications of space technology.
DCI: Which North Korea does not have, Doug. On the proliferation front, we suspect a guns-for-drugs deal to be going down soon between the North Koreans and Ansar al-Sunnaah. North Korea has placed --
Contrarian: I'm sorry, Mr. President, but this is just preposterous. Everybody knows juchei communism is atheist. It's diametrically opposed to expansionist Islam! There's no way the two would work together!
DCI: Ideologically or theologically opposed groups have shown a willingness to unite against a common enemy, as far back as the Templars and the Assassins during the Crusades--
Contrarian: Liar.
DCI: Doug, would you show me your press pass?
[Contrarian automatically whips out a small pass
DCI: Just as I thought! New York Times!
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