Bush Recasts Rationale For War After Report

[UpInArms]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20562-2004Oct9.html

In announcing that the United States was poised to invade Iraq 19 months ago, President Bush told the nation: "Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised. . . . The people of the United States and our friends and allies will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder."

Bush's decision to attack Iraq came after urgent warnings by the president and his top aides about the challenge posed by Iraq -- what Bush called "a serious and mounting threat to our country" in his Jan. 28, 2003, State of the Union address before Congress. Few lawmakers questioned these warnings -- Sen. John F. Kerry, now the Democratic presidential nominee, did not -- and many frequently echoed them.

<snip>

This week, Bush said Iraq had been a "unique threat" and the United States was justified in attacking, largely because Hussein "retained the knowledge, the materials, the means, and the intent to produce weapons of mass destruction."

"And he could have passed that knowledge on to our terrorist enemies," the president told reporters.

In the months leading up to the war, however, Bush and other administration officials made serious and specific allegations about Iraqi capabilities in biological, chemical and nuclear warfare:

...more...

Pretty soon, it will be because SH could stand and pee in a toilet.
:crazy:

[Fridays Child]

1. Last night, Hillary Clinton said that Kerry may change his opinion to...

...fit facts but Bush changes facts to fit his opinion. I thought she nailed it, dead on.

[Mojambo]

2. Kerry ABSOLUTELY must use that line. n/t

[catzies]

6. Got a link for that? Chiasmus.com would love it if it's confirmed.

That's the name of that figure of speech. ;)

[Fridays Child]

9. She said it to Chris Matthews, post-debate.

Here's a link to the MSNBC transcripts page (transcripts for Oct. 8 aren't posted yet):

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3719710/

[UCLA Dem]

10. love it!

[crossroads]

11. Good one... lol! n/t

:dem:

[Soup Bean]

3. Are they TRYING to lose this election?

The Bush Administration is flip-flopping all over the place. I can't understand why the American People would even consider electing Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld et al.

It feels kind of like a bad relationship. The American People (or half of them, at least) can't release themselves from a co-dependent relationship. Their brothers and sisters and friends (the rest of us) keep saying "Why do you STAY with that guy? Don't you see what he's doing to you, and all of the rest of us?"

Sheesh. Where's Doctor Joyce Brothers when you need her? Dr. Phil is a poor imitation.

[knowbody0]

5. it is absolutely analagous to battered wife syndrome

hang in there, he didn't mean it, he really loves me and is taking good care of me

[0007]

23. ..and junior is making sure we don't get bad prescription drugs from that

nasty bad ass sneaky Canada.

[jaysunb]

14. Too true !!!

Well said. :toast:

[Amigust]

22. Someone explained to me that

half of the people in the world are put here to drive the other half crazy.

[Steelangel]

4. Uh? * yesterday admitted that Iraq don't have banned weapons

and now this...

he is a biggest joke and flip-flopper.

[greyXstar]

7. WTF??

"And he could have passed that knowledge on to our terrorist enemies," the president told reporters

You've gotta be kidding me...I mean, using that logic, we should be bombing the crap out of everyone who owns a computer.
Bomb-making instructions are all over the internets.

[crossroads]

12. Welcome to DU! n/t

:hi:

[DulceDecorum]

16. Re: Bomb-making instructions on the internets

Remember the ones they found Osama had,
in his safe house in Kabul?

CNN found several documents in the diplomatic quarter of Kabul, including one bound together by a note with the words "the biggest bombs" in Arabic script. The following pages indicated research into nuclear weapons material, including uranium-235, and one heading read "how to make a nuclear bomb."
http://www3.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/central/11/16/ret.al.qaeda.documents/

"Since last week's column, 'Let's Make a Time Machine', was received so well in the new step-by-step format, this month's column will follow the same format," one section begins.
The article first appeared in the Journal of Irreproducible Results, which has been publishing scientific humor and trivia since the 1950s, and Taliban fighters would find this particular parody no more helpful than any of the magazine's other mock science. It advised would-be bomb builders to obtain high-grade plutonium "at your local weapons supplier ... or perhaps the Junior Achievement in your neighborhood ... Wash your hands with soap and warm water after handling the material, and don't allow your children or pets to play in it or eat it."
"Any left over Plutonium dust is excellent as an insect repellant. You may wish to keep the substance in a lead box if you can find one in your local junk yard, but an old coffee can will do nicely."
http://www.alternet.org/story/11935

THOSE WERE ACTUAL PLANS.
AND WE CAN CONNECT THEM (via William F. Buckley Jr.) TO SADDAM HUSSEIN.

There is a way of contriving an optimistic reading of the Kabul Compound Library, with scattered notes on weapon construction. We can say we don't have much to fear from people who need Atom Bombs for Dummies manuals. That's true, but also it is apparently true that not a great deal of sophistication is required, given presumptive knowledge of modern scientists, to piece together a nuclear device.
<snip>
Stretching away from believable commentators on the question, we get to the statement of Osama bin Laden, that in the event the United States used chemical or nuclear weapons, he would retaliate in kind. How far they are (were) from developing a dirty bomb is a fit study for the Rand Corporation in years to come. What is a fit subject for the moment is concern over the critical need to take the loose information we have got from the sorcerers' apprentices loose in Afghanistan and apply it to strategic action elsewhere, specifically Iraq.
http://www.nationalreview.com/buckley/buckley111601.shtml

[LynnTheDem]

8. and bush STILL keeps on LYING

"retained the knowledge, the materials, the means, and the intent to produce weapons of mass destruction."

WHAT about the Dueffler report that says Iraq DID NOT HAVE the knowledge, DID NOT HAVE the material, DID NOT HAVE the means, DID NOT have any fixed intentdoes bush NOT understand???

And WHAT about WAS NOT A THREAT is this total fool unable to understand???

Just coz BUSH is unable to read & comprehend the written word does not mean we are ALL that stupid. Other than, of course, the freeping rightwingnuts who ARE stupid enough to believe someone as stupid as bush.

[crossroads]

13. Bush has rear view mirror vision !

He's taken us back 30 years!
:eyes:

[Amigust]

24. "He's taken us back 30 years" -- and counting.

Rove and Norquist long for the Gilded Age (McKinley) and intend to take us there.

[burrowowl]

15. !#(^&**^%###!))$

The U$ flew over 20,000 + sorties over Iraq since the end of Gulf War I, many sorties involved dropping of bombs. Iraq couldn't import #2 pencils becuse 'they could use the graphite as a moderator for a nuclear reactor'; were not allowed cast iron sewer pipes (could be used for single-fire cannon?), etc. etc. and Bu$h has killed how many unfetus Iraqi (probabaly fetuses too) because of a vague thought in Sadam's mind!?!?!?

[struggle4progress]

17. Well, the Post handles criticizing * with kid gloves!

Bush said:

"So I tried diplomacy, went to the United Nations. But as we learned in the same report I quoted, Saddam Hussein was gaming the oil-for-food program to get rid of sanctions. He was trying to get rid of sanctions for a reason: He wanted to restart his weapons programs."
Oct. 8 presidential debate transcript
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/11029410p-11946341c.html


Pretty spooky! "Saddam was gaming the oil-for-food program" and thinking bad thoughts ...

[Disturbed]

18. Passing on Knowledge of WMD- Pakistan

One word describes the Bush Admin. Hypocrisy!!!!

[gratuitous]

19. Oh sure, I remember all the discussion about the oil-for-food program

Wait, no I don't. Somebody with Lexis-Nexus want to find out if Bush has made public mention of the oil-for-food program at any time during his presidency prior to this month? I'll bet a shiny nickel this is his first mention of it.

And they keep telling these bodacious mendacities because the media chuckleheads haven't called them to account on any of it yet. This crooked administration has killed tens of thousands of people, and nobody in a position to draw public attention to it has said "boo" to them. By this time, they should have been dragged from the White House by their heels by an enraged mob.

But I'll settle for beating their asses November 2.

[Gothic Sponge]

20. Talk about flip-flops!

So, this is like the Minority Report. We will attack a nation because they may have the "intent?" Welcome to Pre-Crime!

[Amigust]

21. Pot calling the kettle black

"will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder" like the rest of the world now has to live with this monster's regime.

[Carla in Ca]

25. I just have one teeny, weeny question

Why haven't Articles of Impeachment been drawn up?

Just asking.