Bush Administration made 935 false statements on Iraq

[Linzyhop]

Study: False statements preceded war

By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL, Associated Press Writer2 hours, 43 minutes ago

A study by two nonprofit journalism organizations found that President Bush and top administration officials issued hundreds of false statements about the national security threat from Iraq in the two years following the 2001 terrorist attacks.
The study concluded that the statements "were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanized public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses."
The study was posted Tuesday on the Web site of the Center for Public Integrity, which worked with the Fund for Independence in Journalism.
White House spokesman Scott Stanzel did not comment on the merits of the study Tuesday night but reiterated the administration's position that the world community viewed Iraq's leader, Saddam Hussein, as a threat.
"The actions taken in 2003 were based on the collective judgment of intelligence agencies around the world," Stanzel said.
The study counted 935 false statements in the two-year period. It found that in speeches, briefings, interviews and other venues, Bush and administration officials stated unequivocally on at least 532 occasions that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction or was trying to produce or obtain them or had links to al-Qaida or both.
"It is now beyond dispute that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction or have meaningful ties to al-Qaida," according to Charles Lewis and Mark Reading-Smith of the Fund for Independence in Journalism staff members, writing an overview of the study. "In short, the Bush administration led the nation to war on the basis of erroneous information that it methodically propagated and that culminated in military action against Iraq on March 19, 2003."
Named in the study along with Bush were top officials of the administration during the period studied: Vice President Dick Cheney, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and White House press secretaries Ari Fleischer and Scott McClellan.
Bush led with 259 false statements, 231 about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and 28 about Iraq's links to al-Qaida, the study found. That was second only to Powell's 244 false statements about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and 10 about Iraq and al-Qaida.
The center said the study was based on a database created with public statements over the two years beginning on Sept. 11, 2001, and information from more than 25 government reports, books, articles, speeches and interviews.
"The cumulative effect of these false statements — amplified by thousands of news stories and broadcasts — was massive, with the media coverage creating an almost impenetrable din for several critical months in the run-up to war," the study concluded.
"Some journalists — indeed, even some entire news organizations — have since acknowledged that their coverage during those prewar months was far too deferential and uncritical. These mea culpas notwithstanding, much of the wall-to-wall media coverage provided additional, 'independent' validation of the Bush administration's false statements about Iraq," it said.
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On the Net:
Center For Public Integrity: The Center For Public Integrity
Fund For Independence in Journalism: The Fund for Independence in Journalism

not that this is surprising at all, and not that we didn't know this already, but I find it surprising that people are still surprised by it!

[IminWonderland]

If I had believed any of that crap they were saying when they first said it, I would feel so duped and used right now.

[7960]

I find it surprising that he says he can know anything "unequivocally."

[Donkey®]

Good thing I never believed that shit.

[Stylerod]

I wonder if they studied the democrats and the previous administration as well?

"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line." --President Bill Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998

"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program." --President Bill Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998

"Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face." --Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998

"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983." --Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998

"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs." Letter to President Clinton, signed by: -- Democratic Senators Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others, Oct. 9, 1998

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process." -Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998

"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies." -- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999

"There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies." Letter to President Bush, Signed by: -- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), and others, Dec 5, 2001

"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and th! e means of delivering them." -- Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." -- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." -- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." -- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002

"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..." -- Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002

"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force -- if necessary -- to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security." -- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002

"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years ... We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction." -- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002

"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do" -- Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons." -- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002

"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction." -- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002

"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real..." -- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003

Urban Legends Reference Pages: Weapons of Mass Destruction Quotes

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by Stylerod

I wonder if they studied the democrats and the previous administration as well?




Urban Legends Reference Pages: Weapons of Mass Destruction Quotes

At least they were smart enough to know what a cluster fuck it would be to invade Iraq. So did Cheney, but he went anyway.

[7960]

Originally Posted by Scrum

At least they were smart enough to know what a cluster fuck it would be to invade Iraq........

that's why they all voted no.


;ohwait:

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by 7960

that's why they all voted no.


;ohwait:

And the Bush administration didn't misrepresent the threat or the risks at all...


;ohwait:

[tbone]

Sorry the "but, but the democrats did it too" argument is not going to work this time as prior to the year 2000, intelligence thought he did have WMD's (and some confirmations of this exist), it wasn't until 2001 and 2002 that reports stated otherwise. Bush saw those reports and made the false statements anyway. The quotes from 2001 and 2002 were based off of screened intelligence that the Bush administration fed Congress.

Good try though!

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by tbone

Sorry the "but, but the democrats did it too" argument is not going to work this time as prior to the year 2000, intelligence thought he did have WMD's (and some confirmations of this exist), it wasn't until 2001 and 2002 that reports stated otherwise. Bush saw those reports and made the false statements anyway. The quotes from 2001 and 2002 were based off of screened intelligence that the Bush administration fed Congress.

Good try though!

A-fucking-Men x100

After 9/11 Senators weren't being expected to be fed lies by Bush, while the White House was getting all the info...the rest were getting whatever the White House felt like giving them...there was actual bipartisanship after 9/11 if you can remember, Daschle hugged the President, everyone was behind beating the Taliban and Al Qaeda in 2002...why would someone think there was a neoconservative conspiracy to invade iraq for non-terrorist reasons?

[Stylerod]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

why would someone think there was a neoconservative conspiracy to invade iraq for non-terrorist reasons?

Because there wasn't.

And what is a neoconservative again?

[Stylerod]

Originally Posted by tbone

Sorry the "but, but the democrats did it too" argument is not going to work this time as prior to the year 2000, intelligence thought he did have WMD's (and some confirmations of this exist), it wasn't until 2001 and 2002 that reports stated otherwise. Bush saw those reports and made the false statements anyway. The quotes from 2001 and 2002 were based off of screened intelligence that the Bush administration fed Congress.

Good try though!

Which reports were those? Hell, other countries were still saying they were trying to get WMD's.

[7960]

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Because there wasn't.

they make this shit up as they go.

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Which reports were those? Hell, other countries were still saying they were trying to get WMD's.

Other countries intelligence programs are a joke compared to ours

[Stylerod]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

Other countries intelligence programs are a joke compared to ours

Well hell. Ours didn't seem to be that great either did it?

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Well hell. Ours didn't seem to be that great either did it?

Just because a 2007 corvette loses a race doesn't make a 1960s volkeswagon beetle anything worth racing

[Stylerod]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

Just because a 2007 corvette loses a race doesn't make a 1960s volkeswagon beetle anything worth racing

wat

[motivez]

Originally Posted by 7960

they make this shit up as they go.

Yeah, there's no such thing as PNAC.. and they never advocated invading Iraq prior to 2001.

And since there's no such organization, it's a good thing none of those people had prominent (and policy shaping) positions in the current Administration

Whew, that was a close one.

[motivez]

Originally Posted by 7960

that's why they all voted no.

;ohwait:

Many of them were misled and not privy to the shaping of the intelligence that went on behind the scenes, and of course, many of them voted yes because they were afraid of being called soft on terrorism, unpatriotic, and a whole host of other names that were risky to their political careers at the time..

So, I'm not sure what your point is (or if you have one that's even tangentially relevant). They were wrong, and they've admitted it.