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Study: False statements preceded war(Barf Alert!)(Soros funded)
AP via Yahoo News ^ | 1/22/08 | AP via Yahoo News

Posted on 01/22/2008 7:16:38 PM PST by Santa Fe_Conservative

WASHINGTON - 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 said he could not comment on the study because he had not seen it.

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."

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: agitprop; aidandcomfort; ap; associatedpress; barfalert; bs; bush; conspiracytheory; enemedia; enemypropaganda; georgesoros; iraq; liberalagenda; liberalmedia; notjournalism; orwelliannightmare; propaganda; propagandamedia; soros; stalinisttactics; stuckonstupid; treason; vlwc; yellowjournalism; zogbyism
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To: tobyhill
Funny you should mention that.

I knew all the "weapons of mass destruction" spin was complete bullsh!t the first time those words ever emanated from the mouth of that dysfunctional loser and predatory sexual deviant.

I've pretty much been a supporter of George W. Bush throughout his term, but to be honest with you nothing his administration said ever changed my mind about that.

21 posted on 01/22/2008 7:45:04 PM PST by Alberta's Child (I'm out on the outskirts of nowhere . . . with ghosts on my trail, chasing me there.)
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To: Santa Fe_Conservative
1999 VIDEO: ABC News Report Linking Saddam Hussein And Osama Bin Laden
22 posted on 01/22/2008 7:45:09 PM PST by DJ MacWoW (Jesus loves you, Allah wants you dead)
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To: Santa Fe_Conservative

Public opinion must have topped 50% for the war and now the “Independent Journalist” have to try and drive it back down.


23 posted on 01/22/2008 7:46:00 PM PST by tobyhill (The media lies so much the truth is the exception)
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To: Alberta's Child
There was never any dispute in the 90s that Saddam had WMD and ties to terrorism but as soon as President Bush came into office the media considered him illegitimate and changed all rules of credibility standards. There was never any real unity after 911, the Rats and MSM were just playing a game while scheming to undercut the inevitable wars.
24 posted on 01/22/2008 7:53:41 PM PST by tobyhill (The media lies so much the truth is the exception)
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To: tobyhill
If I remember right the WMD angle wasn’t played up at first, the regime change objective was, but legal questions were raised about using war to accomplish that. So the Bush administration dropped that objective publicly and amped up the WMD worries. Either reason I don't really care. America is better off with Iraq's socialist dictator problem fixed.

As Monica was testifying about Clinton's lies to a grand jury, BJ sent a billion dollars worth of cruise missiles into Osama bin Laden's compound. It didn't serve a military purpose, only stirred up a hornets nest. This led to 9/11 which was a revenge cruise missile attack. Why doesn't the media ever bring up Clinton's string of lies and misuse of power?

25 posted on 01/22/2008 7:57:22 PM PST by Reeses (Leftism is powered by the evil force of envy.)
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To: counterpunch

What Saddam had were sent to Syria for safe keeping. He was sure that he could bluff the UN inspectors.


26 posted on 01/22/2008 7:59:27 PM PST by ANGGAPO (LayteGulfBeachClub)
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To: Santa Fe_Conservative

Of course when you check your mail on Yahoo this is one of their main headlines.


27 posted on 01/22/2008 8:00:22 PM PST by willk
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To: Reeses
That is correct, the regime change wasn’t brought up, that was on Clinton’s watch and that was my point but there was more than just 2 reasons congress gave President Bush authority to go to war.
28 posted on 01/22/2008 8:03:07 PM PST by tobyhill (The media lies so much the truth is the exception)
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To: Santa Fe_Conservative

ATTACKS ON THE UNITED STATES WHILE WM. J. CLINTON WAS PRESIDENT

Followed by the Attack on September 11 – May 2003

1993 Feb. 26, New York City: bomb exploded in basement garage of World Trade Center, killing 6 and injuring at least 1,040 others. In 1995, militant Islamist Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman and 9 others were convicted of conspiracy charges, and in 1998, Ramzi Yousef, believed to have been the mastermind, was convicted of the bombing. Al-Qaeda involvement is suspected.

1995 Nov. 13, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: car bomb exploded at U.S. military headquarters, killing 5 U.S. military servicemen.

1996 June 25, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia: truck bomb exploded outside Khobar Towers military complex, killing 19 American servicemen and injuring hundreds of others. 13 Saudis and a Lebanese, all alleged members of Islamic militant group Hezbollah, were indicted on charges relating to the attack in June 2001.

1998 Aug. 7, Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: truck bombs exploded almost simultaneously near 2 U.S. embassies, killing 224 (213 in Kenya and 11 in Tanzania) and injuring about 4,500. 4 men connected with al-Qaeda 2 of whom had received training at al-Qaeda camps inside Afghanistan, were convicted of the killings in May 2001 and later sentenced to life in prison. A federal grand jury had indicted 22 men in connection with the attacks, including Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, who remained at large.

2000 Oct. 12, Aden, Yemen: U.S. Navy destroyer USS Cole heavily damaged when a small boat loaded with explosives blew up alongside it. 17 sailors killed. Linked to Osama bin Laden, or members of al-Qaeda terrorist network.


29 posted on 01/22/2008 8:07:30 PM PST by malia ( Fred Thompson, you stay in there. I know you can do it!!! Prayers are said for your mother.)
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To: malia

If The Bush Administration Lied About WMD, So Did These People — by John Hawkins

“The community of nations may see more and more of the very kind of threat Iraq poses now: a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction, ready to use them or provide them to terrorists. If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow.” — Bill Clinton in 1998

Since we haven’t found WMD in Iraq, a lot of the anti-war/anti-Bush crowd is saying that the Bush administration lied about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. Well, if they’re going to claim that the Bush administration lied, then there sure are a lot of other people, including quite a few prominent Democrats, who have told the same “lies” since the inspectors pulled out of Iraq in 1998. Here are just a few examples that prove that the Bush administration didn’t lie about weapons of mass destruction...

“[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.” — From a letter signed by Joe Lieberman, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara A. Milulski, Tom Daschle, & John Kerry among others on October 9, 1998

“As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am keenly aware that the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons is an issue of grave importance to all nations. 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.” — Nancy Pelosi, December 16, 1998

“Even today, Iraq is not nearly disarmed. Based on highly credible intelligence, UNSCOM [the U.N. weapons inspectors] suspects that Iraq still has biological agents like anthrax, botulinum toxin, and clostridium perfringens in sufficient quantity to fill several dozen bombs and ballistic missile warheads, as well as the means to continue manufacturing these deadly agents. Iraq probably retains several tons of the highly toxic VX substance, as well as sarin nerve gas and mustard gas. This agent is stored in artillery shells, bombs, and ballistic missile warheads. And Iraq retains significant dual-use industrial infrastructure that can be used to rapidly reconstitute large-scale chemical weapons production.” — Ex-Un Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter in 1998

“Saddam’s goal ... is to achieve the lifting of U.N. sanctions while retaining and enhancing Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction programs. We cannot, we must not and we will not let him succeed.” — Madeline Albright, 1998
“(Saddam) will rebuild his arsenal of weapons of mass destruction and some day, some way, I am certain he will use that arsenal again, as he has 10 times since 1983” — National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, Feb 18, 1998
“Iraq is not the only nation in the world to possess weapons of mass destruction, but it is the only nation with a leader who has used them against his own people.” — Tom Daschle in 1998

“This December will mark three years since United Nations inspectors last visited Iraq. There is no doubt that since that time, 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 refine 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.” — From a December 6, 2001 letter signed by Bob Graham, Joe Lieberman, Harold Ford, & Tom Lantos among others

“Whereas Iraq has consistently breached its cease-fire agreement between Iraq and the United States, entered into on March 3, 1991, by failing to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction program, and refusing to permit monitoring and verification by United Nations inspections; Whereas Iraq has developed weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological capabilities, and has made positive progress toward developing nuclear weapons capabilities” — From a joint resolution submitted by Tom Harkin and Arlen Specter on July 18, 2002

“Iraq made commitments after the Gulf War to completely dismantle all weapons of mass destruction, and unfortunately, Iraq has not lived up to its agreement.” — Barbara Boxer, November 8, 2002

“The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retained 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 capability. Intelligence reports also indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons, but has not yet achieved nuclear capability.” — Robert Byrd, October 2002

“There’s no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat... Yes, he has chemical and biological weapons. He’s had those for a long time. But the United States right now is on a very much different defensive posture than we were before September 11th of 2001... He is, as far as we know, actively pursuing nuclear capabilities, though he doesn’t have nuclear warheads yet. If he were to acquire nuclear weapons, I think our friends in the region would face greatly increased risks as would we.” — Wesley Clark on September 26, 2002

“What is at stake is how to answer the potential threat Iraq represents with the risk of proliferation of WMD. Baghdad’s regime did use such weapons in the past. Today, a number of evidences may lead to think that, over the past four years, in the absence of international inspectors, this country has continued armament programs.” — Jacques Chirac, October 16, 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, though there is apparently no evidence of his involvement in the terrible events of September 11, 2001. 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. Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well affects American security.” — Hillary Clinton, October 10, 2002

“I am absolutely convinced that there are weapons...I saw evidence back in 1998 when we would see the inspectors being barred from gaining entry into a warehouse for three hours with trucks rolling up and then moving those trucks out.” — Clinton’s Secretary of Defense William Cohen in April of 2003

“Saddam Hussein’s regime represents a grave threat to America and our allies, including our vital ally, Israel. For more than two decades, Saddam Hussein has sought weapons of mass destruction through every available means. We know that he has chemical and biological weapons. He has already used them against his neighbors and his own people, and is trying to build more. We know that he is doing everything he can to build nuclear weapons, and we know that each day he gets closer to achieving that goal.” — John Edwards, Oct 10, 2002

“The debate over Iraq is not about politics. It is about national security. It should be clear that our national security requires Congress to send a clear message to Iraq and the world: America is united in its determination to eliminate forever the threat of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.” — John Edwards, Oct 10, 2002

“I share the administration’s goals in dealing with Iraq and its weapons of mass destruction.” — Dick Gephardt in September of 2002

“Iraq does pose a serious threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf and we should organize an international coalition to eliminate his access to weapons of mass destruction. Iraq’s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to completely deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power.” — Al Gore, 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.” — Bob Graham, December 2002

“Saddam Hussein is not the only deranged dictator who is willing to deprive his people in order to acquire weapons of mass destruction.” — Jim Jeffords, October 8, 2002
“We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.” — Ted Kennedy, September 27, 2002

“There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein’s regime is a serious danger, that he is a tyrant, and that his pursuit of lethal weapons of mass destruction cannot be tolerated. He must be disarmed.” — Ted Kennedy, Sept 27, 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.” — John F. Kerry, Oct 2002

“The threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real, but as I said, it is not new. It has been with us since the end of that war, and particularly in the last 4 years we know after Operation Desert Fox failed to force him to reaccept them, that he has continued to build those weapons. He has had a free hand for 4 years to reconstitute these weapons, allowing the world, during the interval, to lose the focus we had on weapons of mass destruction and the issue of proliferation.” — John Kerry, October 9, 2002

“(W)e need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime. We all know the litany of his offenses. 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. That is why the world, through the United Nations Security Council, has spoken with one voice, demanding that Iraq disclose its weapons programs and disarm. So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real, but it is not new. It has been with us since the end of the Persian Gulf War.” — John Kerry, Jan 23, 2003

“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 mandates of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them.” — Carl Levin, Sept 19, 2002

“Every day Saddam remains in power with chemical weapons, biological weapons, and the development of nuclear weapons is a day of danger for the United States.” — Joe Lieberman, August, 2002

“Over the years, Iraq has worked to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. During 1991 - 1994, despite Iraq’s denials, U.N. inspectors discovered and dismantled a large network of nuclear facilities that Iraq was using to develop nuclear weapons. Various reports indicate that Iraq is still actively pursuing nuclear weapons capability. There is no reason to think otherwise. Beyond nuclear weapons, Iraq has actively pursued biological and chemical weapons. U.N. inspectors have said that Iraq’s claims about biological weapons is neither credible nor verifiable. In 1986, Iraq used chemical weapons against Iran, and later, against its own Kurdish population. While weapons inspections have been successful in the past, there have been no inspections since the end of 1998. There can be no doubt that Iraq has continued to pursue its goal of obtaining weapons of mass destruction.” — Patty Murray, October 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. And that may happen sooner if he can obtain access to enriched uranium from foreign sources — something that is not that difficult in the current world. We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction.” — John Rockefeller, Oct 10, 2002

“Saddam’s existing biological and chemical weapons capabilities pose a very real threat to America, now. Saddam has used chemical weapons before, both against Iraq’s enemies and against his own people. He is working to develop delivery systems like missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles that could bring these deadly weapons against U.S. forces and U.S. facilities in the Middle East.” — John Rockefeller, Oct 10, 2002

“Whether one agrees or disagrees with the Administration’s policy towards Iraq, I don’t think there can be any question about Saddam’s conduct. 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. He lies and cheats; he snubs the mandate and authority of international weapons inspectors; and he games the system to keep buying time against enforcement of the just and legitimate demands of the United Nations, the Security Council, the United States and our allies. Those are simply the facts.” — Henry Waxman, Oct 10, 2002


30 posted on 01/22/2008 8:16:31 PM PST by malia ( Fred Thompson, you stay in there. I know you can do it!!! Prayers are said for your mother.)
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To: Enchante

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.”

I just read “Shaddow warriors, and I t shows how the French and the Leftist American Media and the Democrats set this whole thing up...Doccumented the whole way through...these to Morons are just shills for the Left, and deliberate Liars.


31 posted on 01/22/2008 8:18:39 PM PST by LtKerst (Lt Kerst)
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To: ANGGAPO
Unfortunately, that portion of Saddam's WMDs was buried at Deir al Zour, the same site as the Syrian "reactor" building destroyed by the IAF. My guess is the Syrians were going to use the facility as a dirty-bomb factory to fashion warheads using the buried HEU and other goodies nearby.

There are foreign intelligence agencies from every major nation that witnessed the ten-week, Russian-assisted transfer of WMDs into Syria immediately before the invasion. Those guys must be shaking their heads over how clueless the American public is.
32 posted on 01/22/2008 8:22:25 PM PST by Thrownatbirth (.....Iraq Invasion fan since '91.)
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To: Santa Fe_Conservative

Did this study also track the false statements by Bill Clinton, UN delegates and intelligence reports dating back to the mid nineties?


33 posted on 01/22/2008 8:22:50 PM PST by ilgipper
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To: Thrownatbirth

Is there any evidence of this. I feel it is accurate, but hate to use this point in arguments w/o a source.


34 posted on 01/22/2008 8:24:20 PM PST by ilgipper
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To: malia
***November 16, 1997 Cohen made a widely reported appearance on ABC’s This Week in which he placed a five-pound bag of sugar on the table and stated that that amount of anthrax “would destroy at least half the population” of Washington, D.C. Cohen explained how fast a person could die once exposed to anthrax. “One of the things we found with anthrax is that one breath and you are likely to face death within five days. One small particle of anthrax would produce death within five days.” And he noted that Iraq “has had enormous amounts” of anthrax. Cohen also spoke on the extreme lethality of VX nerve agent: “One drop [of VX] from this particular thimble as such — one single drop will kill you within a few minutes.” And he reminded the world that Saddam may have enough VX to kill “millions, millions, if it were properly dispersed and through aerosol mechanisms.”***

http://www.newamericancentury.org/iraq-20040623.htm

http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9609/03/iraq.clinton/transcript.html

35 posted on 01/22/2008 8:28:10 PM PST by tobyhill (The media lies so much the truth is the exception)
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To: ilgipper

Sure. Hit the PreWarDocs link and read the first post by John Loftus.


36 posted on 01/22/2008 8:29:10 PM PST by Thrownatbirth (.....Iraq Invasion fan since '91.)
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To: Santa Fe_Conservative
Then there's this.

Be sure to share this with your liberal friends.

 

37 posted on 01/22/2008 8:30:19 PM PST by MNnice (Da ma Dakota)
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To: malia

Does that mean that those people were telling the truth or that Bush believed the lies?


38 posted on 01/22/2008 8:37:18 PM PST by CJ Wolf (To Join or leave the offical Ron Paul 'let freedom' Ping, Freepmail me.)
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To: Santa Fe_Conservative

Bookmarked. Good thread. Great for references.


39 posted on 01/22/2008 8:42:34 PM PST by zgirl
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To: MNnice

Wow I’ve never seen this before!!!! thanks!!!!


40 posted on 01/22/2008 8:48:59 PM PST by malia ( Fred Thompson, you stay in there. I know you can do it!!! Prayers are said for your mother.)
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