Lying to Congress

[ProSense]

(It's ironic that this graphic appears at the top of the WH page)

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 16, 2002

Statement by the President

Today I have signed into law H.J. Res. 114, a resolution "To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq." By passing H.J. Res. 114, the Congress has demonstrated that the United States speaks with one voice on the threat to international peace and security posed by Iraq. It has also clearly communicated to the international community, to the United Nations Security Council, and, above all, to Iraq's tyrannical regime a powerful and important message: the days of Iraq flouting the will of the world, brutalizing its own people, and terrorizing its neighbors must -- and will -- end. Iraq will either comply with all U.N. resolutions, rid itself of weapons of mass destruction, and in its support for terrorists, or it will be compelled to do so. I hope that Iraq will choose compliance and peace, and I believe passage of this resolution makes that choice more likely.

The debate over this resolution in the Congress was in the finest traditions of American democracy. There is no social or political force greater than a free people united in a common and compelling objective. It is for that reason that I sought an additional resolution of support from the Congress to use force against Iraq, should force become necessary. While I appreciate receiving that support, my request for it did not, and my signing this resolution does not, constitute any change in the long-standing positions of the executive branch on either the President's constitutional authority to use force to deter, prevent, or respond to aggression or other threats to U.S. interests or on the constitutionality of the War Powers Resolution. On the important question of the threat posed by Iraq, however, the views and goals of the Congress, as expressed in H.J. Res. 114 and previous congressional resolutions and enactments, and those of the President are the same.

Throughout the past months, I have had extensive consultations with the Congress, and I look forward to con-tinuing close consultation in the months ahead. In addition, in accordance with section 4 of H.J. Res. 114, I intend to submit written reports to the Congress on matters relevant to this resolution every 60 days. To the extent possible, I intend to consolidate information in these reports with the information concerning Iraq submitted to the Congress pursuant to previous, related resolutions.

The United States is committed to a world in which the people of all nations can live in freedom, peace, and security. Enactment of H.J. Res. 114 is an important step on the road toward such a world.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 16, 2002.

Presidential Letter

Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate


March 18, 2003

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President: )

Consistent with section 3(b) of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243), and based on information available to me, including that in the enclosed document, I determine that:

(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic and other peaceful means alone will neither (A) adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq nor (B) likely lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq; and

(2) acting pursuant to the Constitution and Public Law 107-243 is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

Sincerely,

GEORGE W. BUSH

16 Words

"The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa."

-- From Bush's 2003 State of the Union Address

Rice: 16 words dispute 'enormously overblown'




Another Open Letter to George Tenet:

<...>

Mr. Tenet, if you had one iota of integrity you would donate the $4 million to charity and give the trinket, the "Medal of Freedom," that President George W. Bush delicately clasped around your neck, to one of the 20,000 severely wounded Iraq war veterans. Better yet, you could give the $4 million and any other royalties from the book to the families of the nearly 3,500 American troops who have died in a bloodbath that you helped create.

Mr. Tenet you are playing what the Republicans call "the blame game." You absolve yourself of any wrongdoing, as if you were an innocent bystander during the run up to the Iraq War. And although you were the DCI when several high-profile terrorists slipped into the United States to demolish the World Trade Center on your watch, you are blameless for being asleep at the switch.

Mr. Tenet, you argue that Bob Woodward took your "Slam Dunk" comment "out of context," and you claim that you were offering a more cautious interpretation of the pre-war intelligence than others in the administration were serving up, most notably the neo-cons in the Pentagon and the vice president's office.

But if that is true, Mr. Tenet, then what the hell were you doing on February 5, 2003 sitting like a potted plant right behind Secretary of State Colin Powell during his now infamous dog-and-pony show about Saddam's "weapons of mass destruction" before the United Nations? Your presence seated over Powell's right shoulder like the good angel during his lengthy presentation gave the world the impression that the CIA, which you headed, had given its imprimatur to all of the lies that had poured forth from his mouth that day. If "Slam Dunk" did not encapsulate your views of the WMD intelligence, then maybe you should have refused to sit behind Powell.

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Edited title.