It has been confirmed by Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) that Iran is indeed in the final stages of planning to launch a terrorist attack on the United States.
On "Meet the Press" Weldon was not only providing a wake up call concerning the serious threat posed by Iran, he was also able to "hawk" his latest literary endeavor entitled: "Countdown to Terror: The Top-Secret Information that Could Prevent the Next Terrorist Attack on America . . . and How the CIA Has Ignored It". This is in itself is a feat considering Weldon has in the past had extreme difficulty being a member of the House of Representatives and thinking for himself at the same time. Not an unusual malady for modern day members of his party.
Host Tim Russert delved onto Weldon's assertions (non-obligatory snicker may be inserted here), while Weldon backed up his source named "Ali" as being credible. Viewers were left with the impression that Iran is another Axis of Evil nation for which nothing short of regime change will suffice in protecting us. As could be expected, Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) said little to allay such fears when asked to comment on Weldon's claims.
Here is the unofficial transcript of the segment:
RUSSERT: Representative Weldon, we are here today to discuss your new book titled "Countdown to Terror".
WELDON: Thank you, Tim. I appreciate this national forum to promote a must read look into the inner workings of how terrorist minds work. They believe by keeping us (America) in a state of constant fear they can end the existence of our freedom that they so enviously hate. And you must know, Tim, that if we give into their every demand they will ultimately win which would mean that we would ultimately lose.
RUSSERT: Much of your case is based on a source known only as "Ali". What can you tell us about the credibility of this informant?
WELDON: Well Tim, as far as sources go, this guy, uh, er, person has been extremely accurate in previous predictions. Not to give away too much so as to reveal Ali's true identity, but it was this source that predicted a certain pugilist, also operating under a different name at the time, would beat Sonny Liston for the heavyweight title. I dare not go farther so as not to jeopardize this individual's cover. Let me just add, though, that with the help of Ali we will float like a butterfly and sting like a bee when we rope-a-dope Iran into a war.
RUSSERT: Not to cast any doubt on the veracity of your source, but was it not it an un-named source, known only at the time as "Curveball", who was a key provider of data that convinced members of the Bush administration that Iraq was a serious threat to our national security in the run up to that war?
WELDON: Please Tim, don't let past history cloud our judgment going forward. You may hear from some in the liberal media that our source's code name began as "Eight Ball" but had to be changed because of the implications this moniker may have to the modern drug culture. Further, that left leaning crowd of seditious blabbermouths could never stand in the way of freedom's march through Iran, Syria, or wherever the F-train must chug through. Let me unequivocally state in front of any story that might break, that there is no evidence that Eight Ball was plied by any amount of Afghanistan opiate, and if they have any evidence of such, let's have them bring it forward here and now.
RUSSERT: Last week in the Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/08/AR2005060802341_pf.html) it was reported that the CIA looked into your source and didn't find it to be particularly credible. Has that at all made you question your theories?
WELDON: First of all Tim, let me assure you that we are not dealing in mere theory here. We are talking about the lives of every single American, anywhere in the world, being under serious risk of attack from Iran. Just as Hulk Hogan defeated the Iron Sheik to catapult him to the top of the WWF, our defeat of the Islamo-fascist regime in Iran will win us the world belt in democracy spreading, if you will.
RUSSERT: Let me turn to Senator Biden. As the minority chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, what credibility do you give to this source, and the threat posed to us by Iran.
BIDEN: Well Tim, let me start by saying that I have not officially thrown my hat into the 2008 presidential ring just yet. Now Tim, I have concerns about any single sourcing, but with that said, Iran poses such a serious threat that we have to consider all streams of intelligence which will lead to a regime change in that nation, a policy I might add I wholeheartedly supported prior to informing you that I am not officially running for the presidency.
RUSSERT: So Senator, then you do feel that Representative Weldon's book supports the case for action against Iran?
BIDEN: Let me say this, Tim. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue. Put aside the fact that the book's entire premise is based on a single source of questionable reliability known as "Ali" or "Eight Ball", or any other fictitious name for that matter, has no bearing on my position of being strong on defense at all costs. As far as my good friend from the House, we affectionately refer to him as "Nut Ball", but in this particular case, I think he may be onto something that should not be summarily dismissed here and now.
And let me add, Tim, that we all know that the Iron Sheik was afraid to get into the ring one on one with Sergeant Slaughter. This tells us all we need to know to be certain that the outcome of a conflict with Iran would end up favorable to our standing. After all, Tim, the mountains of money we have authorized for the Pentagon of late has lifted us out of the Bob Backlund status and moved us into a position of strength not previously matched by any wrestling superstar, past or present.
I think that you will find Tim, just as in Iraq, when we sign on the British Bulldog and Outback Jack the coalition will be able to out tag team all Ayatollahs, or Mullahs for that matter. In fact Tim, we are currently holding secret negotiations with the Road Warriors - Legion of Doom to get them on board. I also have it on good word that the Bushwhackers just might come out of retirement for this one. Each day we get more and more excited at the prospects of coming out victorious when the big showdown occurs.
RUSSET: So then, you are confident that we can take down Iran even though it may appear that we have not yet pinned Iraq?
BIDEN: Oh, most certainly Tim. Let me say for the record here in now that action against Iran is a must, and with that said, I will take the position that the current President will go about it all wrong. It is too early to tell where things will go wrong, but I know in my gut that it will take a strong Democrat from a tiny Atlantic state to get things under control. So rest assured Tim that over time things will be made right in the Middle East.
RUSSERT: We are out of time for now, but I am sure that we will return to the Iran threat before long. Thank you Representative Weldon, and Senator Biden. We'll return after this message to our panel discussion on the threats posed by Syria based on this week's revelations from more un-named sources.
