Snow Slams Gore’s Book, Says It Should Be ‘Reprinted’ Because It Calls Out Bush’s ‘Deception’
Snow Slams Gore’s Book, Says It Should Be ‘Reprinted’ Because It Calls Out Bush’s ‘Deception’
In his new book The Assault on Reason, Al Gore wrote that Bush’s efforts to connect Iraq to 9/11 were an example of the administration’s willful “deception” of the public:
When the administration is told specifically and repeatedly by the most authoritative sources that there is no linkage, but then in spite of the best evidence continues to make bold and confident assertions to the American people that leave the impression with 70 percent of the country that Saddam Hussein was linked to al-Qaeda and was primarily responsible for the 9/11 attack, this can only be labeled deception. [p.108]
This afternoon, White House press secretary Tony Snow took issue with this passage. “[Bush] has never tried to make” the connection between Iraq and 9/11, Snow said. “And what [Gore] is doing, it’s been tried by a lot of other people, which is to take something the president hasn’t said, expose it as a, quote, lie, and then beat him up for it. … The president’s been straight about the intel.”
Snow attacked Gore’s book, saying, “I don’t know if they’re going to do a reprinting of the book to try to get the facts straight. The fact-checkers may have to take a look at it.” He added, “These are highly complex publishing issues and I can’t be an expert on them.” Watch it:
To justify the war, Bush informed Congress on March 19, 2003 that acting against Iraq was consistent with “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.”
As ThinkProgress has repeatedly documented, Vice President Cheney cited “evidence” cooked up by Douglas Feith and others to claim it was “pretty well confirmed” that Iraq had contacts with 9/11 hijackers.
More generally, in the lead-up to the war in Iraq, the administration encouraged the false impression that Saddam had a role in 9/11. Bush never stated then, as he does now, that Iraq had “nothing” to do with 9/11. Only after the Iraq war began did Bush candidly acknowledge that Iraq was not operationally linked to 9/11.
UPDATE: In a conference call this afternoon, Vice President Gore responded to Snow’s attack, saying: “Unlike the President’s State of the Union address, this book was actually fact checked.”
Transcript:
QUESTION: Could I have one more Al Gore book quote?
The president deceived the public by suggesting that Iraq was involved in 9/11. He says when the administration continued to, quote, make bold and confident assertions that leave the impression with 70 percent of the country that Saddam Hussein was linked to Al Qaida and was primarily responsible for the 9/11 attack, this can only be labeled deception.
SNOW: Unfortunately, the vice president probably has been listening to people who have deliberately misled him.
The president has made it clear over and over and over that there was no relationship between Saddam Hussein and September 11th. And, again, from my own personal experience, when we would go in the day of the State of the Union address, the State of the Union address in 2002, I guess, or 2003, the question arose, Do you think that Saddam’s linked to September 11th? The president said, No, we have no intelligence to link Saddam directly to September 11th.
So he has never tried to make that tie.
And what the vice president is doing, it’s been tried by a lot of other people, which is to take something the president hasn’t said, expose it as a, quote, lie, and then beat him up for it.
The president told the truth. So I don’t know. Perhaps — I don’t know if they’re going to do a reprinting of the book to try to get the facts straight. The fact-checkers may have to take a look at it. These are highly complex publishing issues and I can’t be an expert on them.
QUESTION: Tony, you also realize Mr. Cheney had talked about an operational link perhaps between Al Qaida and Saddam, talked about Mohammed Atta having a meeting.
SNOW: Right. But that’s an entirely separate issue from the quote that was read.
QUESTION: Some people don’t view it as a separate issue if it contributes to a view in the general public that there was some Iraq tie to 9/11.
SNOW: Well, yes, you had Abu Musab al-Zarqawi on Iraqi soil. You had reports that there were, in fact, Al Qaida members on Iraqi soil before the war began. That’s in the intel that you saw before the war.
Again, I think what happens is the people are trying to, you know — if at first you don’t succeed, try to figure out another angle by which you can go after the president, where everybody saw the same intel and at least in those early days after September 11th, they all basically agreed to what they had seen. The president’s been straight about the intel.
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“These are highly complex publishing issues and I can’t be an expert on them.â€
Here, let me fix that typo:
“These are highly complex truth and honesty issues and I can’t be an expert on them.â€
There. That’s better.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:02 pmWow, I took the headline to mean that Snow wanted more books printed because it pointed out Bush’s deception. Not that he wanted re-prints with that passage ‘corrected’.
Also:
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:04 pmCaption Contest
“I Am Not A Crook”
Been sayin’ this long before we attacked. Also, predicted he would launch us into a war in the middle-east before he even got the first nomination. Heck, even my peanuts knew it.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:05 pmBush did not make the connection..!! But how many times Bush said that the people we are fighting in Iraq are the same people who attacked us on 9/11.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:05 pmBush repeatdly said..If we don’t fight them there(in Iraq)..we will fight them overhere…Is there any surprise why still a large percentage of the people think Saddam was behind 9/11.
Impeach!
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:05 pmAnyone get the sense that the WH (and the GOP in general) are extremely fearful of a Gore candidacy?
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:05 pmIs Phoney Snow channeling Nixon? Or is he just effing crazy? or both?
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:07 pm‘Snow attacked Gore’s book, saying, “I don’t know if they’re going to do a reprinting of the book to try to get the facts straight. The fact-checkers may have to take a look at it.‒
Then we should have a recall of every book by those propagandists Coultergeist, BillO, and Hannity if there should be a “reprinting of the book to try to get the facts straight” cause we all KNOW how diligent they are with getting facts straight. The book by that fascist DeLay too.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:08 pmThat was funny, Squeg - -
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:09 pmsorry, I just had to do the Jimmy Carter thing.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:09 pmI really would like some of whatever drug Tony Snow is on. It must be fun living in what every fantasy land he is living in these days.
I was a little worried about Snow when he returned to work because stress is really bad for any illness. But, I realize now he has no stress because he has no heart, he has no conscience and he has no soul. So, he can lie with impunity and still sleep at night. It’s a nice trick but not one I would want to try. I value my integrity and soul to highly.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:11 pmTony is not a fooling us. He’s ill.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:14 pmtrueblue
That was funny, Squeg - -
Thanks, but you should know better than to encourage me. Don’t feed the trolls and the such.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:14 pmAl should call Tony and thank him for the publicity - for as well all know, the neocons want the stuff they are told that they can’t have, or is bad for them…
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:14 pmHow many ‘fact-checkers’ will it take to disabuse ourselves of the mountains of deception this admin has created?
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:15 pmFour years ago today, bush fell off his bike and bruised his nise.. lets all have a moment of silence and pray god gets it right this time
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:16 pm“Then we should have a recall of every book by those propagandists Coultergeist, BillO”
Actually, I learned something interesting about the publishing world the other day. Do you know how Billo and Coultergeist get on the “best sellers list”? That list is based on how many books are sold. Now, it doesn’t discriminate between the pallets of books bought by Borders or the individual books purchased by you at the book store. Now, if Borders returns pallets of books, those are deducted from the amount sold. Well, what happens with authors like these is that Republican groups buy pallets of their books through a wholesaler (thereby getting the wholesale price) and that helps put the authors in the “best seller” category. Then, they either sell the books for pennies on the dollar, give them away or, finally, they destroy pallets of books. I know about this because I talked to a guy who worked at a company that shreds books for major publishers and others. When the books come in from the publisher (having been returned), those are books that didn’t count as “sold”. But when the shred the pallets of books that come in from second parties (like Republican groups), those are books that are still out there as being “sold”. It’s a scam pure and simple.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:17 pmBush talk late 2001 to early 2003:
911 blah blah blah Saddam blah blah blah 911 blah blah blah Saddam 911 blah blah blah Saddam blah blah blah 911 blah blah blah Saddam 911 blah blah blah Saddam blah blah blah 911 blah blah blah Saddam 911 blah blah blah Saddam blah blah blah 911 blah blah blah Saddam
Only a complete moron would think Bush was trying to assoicate 911 with Saddam Hussein…
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:18 pmSqueg -
You are a semi-troll.
Sometimes I feel you don’t believe half of what you say.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:18 pmYou just like to get us riled up.
Everyone seems to miss the incredibly precise parsing of words in the Iraq war power resolution. The key word in all this is: “including”. If you interpret the passage taken directly from the resolution you understand that the administration was given authority to “…take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations…” This means Iraq, and possibly Iran and Syria. The rest of that sentence makes it read as if we were only authorizing military action against “those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.†The inclusion of the comma after the word “organizations”, followed by the word “including” makes it clear that in fact military action actually has been authorized against any government that sponsored terorists, whether or not they were themselves directly involved in 9-11.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:20 pmCaption:
“We’re telling you the (finger-quote) truth(end finger-quote).”
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:20 pmGEROGE BUSH SAID
Saddam Hussein protect terrorists including members of Al Queda
Listen to his voice on neil Young , Impeach the president
THATS WHAT HE SAID
http://www.neilyoung.com/lwwtoday/
Listen to him
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:20 pmVerily, the whole right-wing thing is a fraud from start to finish.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:21 pmHow long with The White House continue to try to push this load of bullshit on the American public? Of course Bush tried to connect the Iraq War with 9/11. He did it in many ways and on many occasions. WHAT A BUNCH OF LYING COWARDS.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:21 pmKatie, that is great info on the books. Thanks.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:21 pmThe prophet Gore has spoken!!!
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:24 pmUntil the media starts calling these folks on these lies, they are going to keep repeating them.
Cheney is an absolute master at this. He will appear on Russert and other programs and repeat OLD lies time and time again. Then the moderators will just sit there and smile and nod their heads.
It isn’t as if this is a new allegation with Bush.
When Tony Snow said this, why didn’t the same reporter, or another call him on it?
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:24 pmSaddam Hussein protect terrorists including members of Al Queda
A true statement.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:25 pmgoodnight patrick
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:27 pmThese comments on Gore from a guy who while he was still broadcasting on his FOX radio show said that we HAD found WMD, and that there were ties between Saddam and Al Qaeda. All that was discredited at the time, yet Snow advocated for them as a talk radio personality
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:28 pmMy favorite part…
“Unfortunately, the vice president probably has been listening to people who have deliberately misled him.”
Like you have to rely on others to have personally heard the administration linking Al Queda and Iraq. Unfortunately for Snow and company we have a little thing called video.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:28 pmWow, my copy of the book arrived in the mail this morning. I can’t wait to dive into it now! Finally somebody calling these guys on their lies and manipulations! Now if someone could just light a fire under Congress and get them to do their job (as in serve the people of this nation, and support and defend the Constitution)!
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:30 pmUnfortunately for Snow and company we have a little thing called video.
And it killed the radio star.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:30 pmPatrick1 has his head up his butt and he likes it there.
A true statement.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:31 pmES, tony is capable of snowing the video
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:31 pmSaddam Hussein protect terrorists including members of Al Queda . . . by allowing them to hide in his country and operate within it . . . JUST LIKE BUSH.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:31 pmTony Snow = asshat
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:32 pmHow this paragraph (extracted fromm th 2003 State of the Union Address):
“And this Congress and the American people must recognize another threat. Evidence from intelligence sources, secret communications and statements by people now in custody reveal that Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including members of Al Qaida. Secretly, and without fingerprints, he could provide one of his hidden weapons to terrorists, or help them develop their own.’
fails to link Saddam to Al Qaida, and thus to 911, eludes me. Tony is splitting hairs.
link: http://www.cnn.com/ 2003/ ALLPOLITICS/ 01/ 28/ sotu.transcript.8/ index.html
Search on “Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists”
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:32 pmFurther more. . .
To assert that Iraq had WMD and AL Qaeda ties, Snow used “open soucre” intelligence analysts, and I’m not talking about the prestigious Jane’s World Army’s either. I am talking about people that spout their “findings” on short wave radio shows that also put forward theories about how “giants” secretly rule the world (it’s in the Bible).
I can not believe that this guy is White House press secretary. He barely belongs on AM radio.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:33 pmIn case TP eats my post proving Tony Snow is a liar using the words directly from the mouth of George Bush, here is a link to the source material where Bush links Iraq to Al Queda.
These liars cannot be left to stand unchallenged. Where is the press?
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:33 pmSaddam Hussein protect terrorists including members of Al Queda
A true statement.
Comment by Patrick1
Tell Tony Snow.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:35 pmSaddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists including members of Al queda
Thats what Bush said
WHICH IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:37 pm“I don’t know if they’re going to do a reprinting of the book to try to get the facts straight.” …..wait let’s just pile them up and have a book burning.”
- Tony Snow
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:39 pmFrom George Tenet’s Book “More Than Enough Evidence”.
What was even more worrisome was that by the spring and summer of 2002, more than a dozen al-Qa’ida-affiliated extremists converged on Baghdad, with apparently no harassment on the part of the Iraqi government. They had found a comfortable and secure environment in which they moved people and supplies to support Zarqawi’s operations in northeastern Iraq.
More al-Qa’ida operatives would follow, including Thirwat Shihata and Yussef Dardiri, two Egyptians assessed by a senior al-Qa’ida detainee to be among the Egyptian Islamic Jihad’s best operational planners, who arrived by mid-May of 2002. At times we lost track of them, though their associates continued to operate in Baghdad as of October 2002. Their activity in sending recruits to train in Zarqawi’s camps was compelling enough.
There was also concern that these two might be planning operations outside Iraq. Credible information told us that Shihata was willing to strike U.S., Israeli, and Egyptian targets sometime in the future. Shihata had been linked to terrorist operations in North Africa, and while in Afghanistan he had trained North Africans in the use of truck bombs. Smoke indeed. But how much fire, if any?
Yussef Dardiri is better known by most as one Abu Ayyub al-Masri
Gore should stick to religion.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:41 pmExcellent link there Gorn by any other name - guess the reporter should have had that one printed out for him before he asked the question - then he could just point and quote for old Snowjob there.
Hating the Repukian Mafia daily
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:41 pmPatrick1 Big Prick
sorry NOT True
Bush said - - Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists including members of Al Queda
SIMPLY A LIE TO TRY MAKE A CONNECTION BETWEEN SADDAM HUSSEIN AND 911 - THE PEOPLE FELL FOR IT - CONGRESS KNEW THE TRUTH BUT WHERE COMPLICIT IN TRYING TO STEAL OIL -
Thats the deception
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:42 pmJune 16, 2004: ”At various times Al Qaeda people came through Baghdad and in some cases resided there,” said David Kay, former head of the CIA’s Iraq Survey Group, which searched for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and links to terrorism. ‘‘But we simply did not find any evidence of extensive links with Al Qaeda, or for that matter any real links at all.”
”Cheney’s speech is evidence-free,” Kay said.
http://www.boston.com/ news/ nation/ washington/ articles/ 2004/ 06/ 16/ bush_backs_cheney_on_assertion_linking_hussein_al_qaeda/
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:42 pmRe: #7. I think Phoney Snow is channeling Baghdad Bob.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CXl1GkWWGmA
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:42 pmCheney knew the Niger uranium story was false. True statement.
Dick Cheney used scare tactics two weeks before the last presidential election. True statement.
The Bush administration ignored the military minds calling for larger troops before the invasion of Iraq. True Statement.
Bush wants us to give his “chance a plan to work”. True statement and quote from the dumb one.
We conquered the Nazi’s in less time than it will take to round up a few dead enders. True Statement.
This is fun Patrick1. Thanks for getting back to the truth.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:43 pm“[Bush] has never tried to make†the connection between Iraq and 9/11, Snow said.
“The regime has longstanding and continuing ties to terrorist groups, and there are Al Qaida terrorists inside Iraq.” - George W. Bush Delivers Weekly Radio Address, White House (9/28/2002) - BushOnIraq.com
“We know that Iraq and al Qaeda have had high-level contacts that go back a decade. Some al Qaeda leaders who fled Afghanistan went to Iraq. These include one very senior al Qaeda leader who received medical treatment in Baghdad this year, and who has been associated with planning for chemical and biological attacks. We’ve learned that Iraq has trained al Qaeda members in bomb-making and poisons and deadly gases.” - President Bush Outlines Iraqi Threat; Remarks by the President on Iraq, White House (10/7/2002) - Whitehouse.gov
“I think they’re both equally important, and they’re both dangerous. And as I said in my speech in Cincinnati, we will fight if need be the war on terror on two fronts. We’ve got plenty of capacity to do so. And I also mentioned the fact that there is a connection between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein. The war on terror, Iraq is a part on the war on terror. And he must disarm.” - President Condems Attack in Bali, White House (10/14/2002) - Whitehouse.gov
“This is a man who has got connections with Al Qaida. Imagine a terrorist network with Iraq as an arsenal and as a training ground, so that a Saddam Hussein could use this shadowy group of people to attack his enemy and leave no fingerprint behind. He’s a threat.” - Remarks by the President in Texas Welcome, White House (11/4/2002) - Whitehouse.gov
“He’s a threat because he is dealing with Al Qaida. In my Cincinnati speech I reminded the American people, a true threat facing our country is that an Al Qaida-type network trained and armed by Saddam could attack America and leave not one fingerprint.” - President Outlines Priorities, White House (11/7/2002) - BushOnIraq.gov
“He’s had contacts with Al Qaida. Imagine the scenario where an Al Qaida-type organization uses Iraq as an arsenal, a place to get weapons, a place to be trained to use the weapons. Saddam Hussein could use surrogates to come and attack people he hates.” - Remarks by the President at Arkansas Welcome, White House (11/4/2002) - BushOnIraq.com
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:43 pmHonorable American Senators and Congresspeople, Greetings:
You may or may not be aware that a poll was conducted by MSNBC on May 21st 2007, asking all Americans if Bush’s actions warrant Impeachment. Of nearly one half-million responses, fully 89%
of We, The American People answered Yes, Impeachment Is Warranted. By this broad reckoning, somewhere between 85% and 90% of Americans do now fully understand and agree with what many of us realized well before the theft of both our 2000 and 2004 Presidential Elections: that Cheney and Bush do not represent American values or ideals, that Cheney and Bush do not uphold either our American Constitution nor any rule of law which does not redound to what Cheney and Bush percieve to be their own interests and that of the multinational oil, weapons, nuclear, prison, media and other conglomerates to whom Cheney and Bush owe their true allegiance, in direct violation of their solemn Oath, and that neither Cheney or Bush nor their supporters or enablers have, can, intend to, or will do anything other than continue to divide, prey upon and sunder the very fabric of our beloved Nation, a nation which despite many blunders, more than any other has endevoured to advanced the cause of national and human Freedom for over 225 years; our beloved nation which defeated the nazi menace only 65 years ago. You must now act to uphold the most cherished values of all mankind.
While America has not always acted in the highest of interests, we have always at least tried to do so, yet now America has been led by lies into the darkest and most treacherous of directions by Cheney, Bush, and their globalist henchmen. When, exactly, do you intend to put a stop to this? Or do you? Because if you do not only listen, but also take all immediate action to exert and to advance the expressed will of We, The People of the United States of America by actually doing what you also have sworn your solemn Oath to do; namely
to Protect, Defend, Preserve and Uphold our American Constitution, Nation, and Flag against all enemies both foreign and domestic, then you as well can no longer, and indeed should no longer be considered by anyone as anything but directly complicit in these outrageously illegal, immoral, unconscionable and utterly intolerable
depredations of everything which America has always and will always represent.
Our brave American armed forces have been stretched to the limit by these cowardly traitors who themselves repeatedly and deliberately avoided service in a war which they claimed to support, our American economy and jobs have been decimated, our social services, infrastructure and environment have been gutted and
polluted to benefit these amoral criminals, our Constitutional rights have been repeatedly trampled, our courts and legal systems have been directed against us, there is no Justice as our very Department Of Justice itself has been hijacked to advance the political and financial interests of the wealthiest 5%, and not even the wealthiest 5% of Americans per se, although they indeed have profited at the direct expense of everyone else, but rather these policys which you however wittingly have encouraged and allowed to continue most often helped the predatory interests of globalist corporatist thieves, who so far from owing or paying any allegience to our American interests, principles or ideals, rather intend to destroy America,
eliminate our borders, decimate our health, safety and welfare, and are on their way to doing so as they have deviously planned at least since 1750 and now openly boast in their misbegotten arrogance.
These criminals have operated to implant millions of people with heinously illegal radio devices, to perpetrate mind control, directed energy and eugenics crimes against Americans using the resources of our government itself, plotted to arrogate all wealth and resources to themselves according to profoundly unamerican and despicably inhuman “values”, deliberately subverted our Free Press and fraudulently manipulated our Fair Elections to conduct these violations of all moral, ethical and legal bounds. Is this the legacy which you intend to leave? Is this allowable for you because for the moment you have rights, you have money, you have the life and freedom which America still promises to everyone, but now only delivers to those willing to sacrifice their honor and principles in exchange for the trappings of wealth and a power most often excersised to the detriment of their neighbor? Your legislative records and your words do not necessarily indicate that this is the case, but it is now more than six years past time for your deeds, not merely your words, to convey your most sincere answer to these questions.
If you fail us, history will remember you with those who called themselves Americans but whose actions betrayed their true identity. Should you further abrogate your obligations to faithfully execute your solemn sworn Oath of duty to uphold our American Constitution at this critical hour in our beloved nations history by immediately bringing both Articles and Proceeedings of Impeachment against both Cheney and Bush, and by seeing to it that they and their aiders and abbetors are brought to the very same Justice which they so eagerly prescribe for others, yet have not and do not themselves abide by in any measure, then you will have participated in by allowing perhaps the greatest crime ever commited against your own nation and
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:43 pmworld. In that event we neither shall nor can be any countrymen of yours.
“[Bush] has never tried to make†the connection between Iraq and 9/11, Snow said.
“Evidence from intelligence sources, secret communications, and statements by people now in custody reveal that Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including members of al Qaeda. Secretly, and without fingerprints, he could provide one of his hidden weapons to terrorists, or help develop their own.” - President Delivers “State of the Union”, White House (1/28/2003) - Whitehouse.gov
“Before September the 11th, many in the world believed that Saddam Hussein could be contained. But chemical agents, lethal viruses, and shadowy terrorist networks are not easily contained. Imagine those 19 hijackers with other weapons and other planes — this time armed by Saddam Hussein. It would take one vial, one canister, one crate slipped into this country to bring a day of horror like none we have ever known.” - President Delivers “State of the Union”, White House (1/28/2003) - Whitehouse.gov
“Saddam Hussein has longstanding, direct and continuing ties to terrorist networks. Senior members of Iraqi intelligence and al Qaeda have met at least eight times since the early 1990s. Iraq has sent bomb-making and document forgery experts to work with al Qaeda. Iraq has also provided al Qaeda with chemical and biological weapons training. We also know that Iraq is harboring a terrorist network, headed by a senior al Qaeda terrorist planner.” - President Bush: “World Can Rise to This Moment”, White House (2/6/2003) - Whitehouse.gov
Saddam Hussein has longstanding, direct and continuing ties to terrorist networks. Senior members of Iraq intelligence and al Qaeda have met at least eight times since the early 1990s. Iraq has sent bomb-making and document forgery experts to work with al Qaeda. Iraq has also provided al Qaeda with chemical and biological weapons training. And an al Qaeda operative was sent to Iraq several times in the late 1990s for help in aquiring poisons and gases. We also know that Iraq is harboring a terrorist network headed by a senior al Qaeda terrorist planner.” - President’s Radio Address, White House (2/8/2003) - BushOnIraq.com
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:43 pm“Saddam Hussein protect terrorists including members of Al Queda”
Saddam is deceased, Einstein.
“A true statement.
Comment by Patrick1 — May 22, 2007 @ 4:25 pm”
Then you’ll have proof?
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:44 pm“Wow, I took the headline to mean that Snow wanted more books printed because it pointed out Bush’s deception. Not that he wanted re-prints with that passage ‘corrected’.”
Comment by squegeebooo — May 22, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
Yeah, yet another misleading TP headline.
“Al should call Tony and thank him for the publicity - for as well all know, the neocons want the stuff they are told that they can’t have, or is bad for them…”
Comment by unbelievable — May 22, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
Isn’t it mostly lefties that are for drug use and promiscuity?
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:44 pm“[Bush] has never tried to make†the connection between Iraq and 9/11, Snow said.
“He has trained and financed al Qaeda-type organizations before, al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.” - President George Bush Discusses Iraq in National Press Conference, White House (3/6/2003) - BushOnIraq.com
“The regime . . . has aided, trained and harbored terrorists, including operatives of al Qaeda. The danger is clear: using chemical, biological or, one day, nuclear weapons, obtained with the help of Iraq, the terrorists could fulfill their stated ambitions and kill thousands or hundreds of thousands of innocent people in our country, or any other.” President Says Saddam Hussein Must Leave Iraq Within 48 Hours, White House (3/17/2003) -BushOnIraq.com
“The liberation of Iraq is a crucial advance in the campaign against terror. We’ve removed an ally of al Qaeda, and cut off a source of terrorist funding. And this much is certain: No terrorist network will gain weapons of mass destruction from the Iraqi regime, because the regime is no more.” - President Bush Announces Major Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended, White House (5/1/2003) - BushOnIraq.com
“The battle of Iraq is one victory in a war on terror that began on September the 11, 2001 — and still goes on. That terrible morning, 19 evil men — the shock troops of a hateful ideology — gave America and the civilized world a glimpse of their ambitions. They imagined, in the words of one terrorist, that September the 11th would be the ‘beginning of the end of America.’ By seeking to turn our cities into killing fields, terrorists and their allies believed that they could destroy this nation’s resolve, and force our retreat from the world. They have failed.” - President Bush Announces Major Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended, White House (5/1/2003) - BushOnIraq.com
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:44 pm“[Bush] has never tried to make†the connection between Iraq and 9/11, Snow said.
(Campaign speeches only. For period of October 10 - November 04.)
OCT 28 Remarks by the President at New Mexico Welcome
“This is a person who has had contacts with al Qaeda.”
OCT 28 Remarks by the President in Colorado Welcome
“He’s got connections with al Qaeda.”
OCT 31 Remarks by the President at South Dakota Welcome
“This is a guy who has had connections with these shadowy terrorist networks.”
NOV 01 Remarks by the President at New Hampshire Welcome
“We know he’s got ties with al Qaeda.”
NOV 02 Remarks by the President in Florida Welcome
“We know that he’s had connections with al Qaeda.”
NOV 02 Remarks by the President in Atlanta, Georgia Welcome
“He’s had connections with shadowy terrorist networks like al Qaeda.”
NOV 02 Remarks by the President at Tennessee Welcome
“We know that he has had contacts with terrorist networks like al Qaeda.”
NOV 03 Remarks by the President in Minnesota Welcome
“This is a man who has had contacts with al Qaeda.”
NOV 04 Remarks by the President at Missouri Welcome
“This is a man who has had al Qaeda connections.”
NOV 04 Remarks by the President at Arkansas Welcome
“He’s had contacts with al Qaeda.”
NOV 04 Remarks by the President in Texas Welcome
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:45 pm“This is a man who has got connections with al Qaeda.”
Tony Snow is a paid lier,with our tax money.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:45 pmPatrick:
Zarqawi’s operations in northeastern Iraq = REGION NOT CONTROLLED BY SADDAM, dumbass.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:45 pmUnfortunately, the vice president probably has been listening to people who have deliberately misled him.
Which vice president is Gore talking about? Gore or Cheney?
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:45 pmPatrick1. Looks like “gorn by any other name” has sufficiently bitch-slapped you. Bwaahahahaha!
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:47 pmDeception. Lies. TREASON against the USA.
Bush has committed ALL of these and MORE.
See YOU in hell my TREASONOUS followers (cause I’LL be THERE),
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:48 pmMr. Bush
MURDEROUS WAR CRIMINAL
COWARDLY TRAITOR TO THE USA (TM–BushCrimeCo, Inc.)
“Now if someone could just light a fire under Congress and get them to do their job (as in serve the people of this nation, and support and defend the Constitution)!
Comment by JG — May 22, 2007 @ 4:30 pm”
You mean like this:
“WASHINGTON (CNN) — Congressional Democrats plan to send to President Bush a war-spending bill without a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, two Democratic leadership aides tell CNN.
The bill is expected to include benchmarks that the Iraqi government would have to achieve. The bill is also expected to require the president to provide numerous reports to Congress before August 2007 on the Iraqi government’s progress, the aides said.
If the Iraqi government fails to meet the benchmarks, the aides said, reconstruction funds could be cut. The bill may also allow the president to waive the penalties for failing to meet the benchmarks if he feels they are necessary.”
http://www.cnn.com/ POLITICS/ blogs/ politicalticker/ 2007/ 05/ withdrawal-timetable-dropped-from-war.html
I didn’t think you did… it’s digusting…
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:48 pmI guess since Bush doesn’t read he is unaware of the written documented evidence of his (in)direct reference and Cheney’s direct reference to Iraq being involved in the 9/11 attack and its being used as a pretense for invading Iraq.
And, since when will any author rewrite something they documented just because it is not showing the targeted subject in a positive light?
Sounds as if we live in Nazi Germany?
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:49 pmTenet, in a letter to the Senate Intelligence Committee on October 7, 2002, reported that the intelligence community had accumulated “solid reporting of senior-level contacts between Iraq and al Qaeda going back a decade.”
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:51 pm#60
Yep, simply disgusting. Once again, the dictator gets his way. What a lame Congress. And to think I thought there just might be hope for justice and a return to our constitutional democracy when the Democrats gained control of Congress. I think everyone was duped on that one.
LAME DEMOCRATS!!!
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:52 pmBush Said - - Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists including members of Al Queda
IM SICK FED UP POSTING THE PROOF ONCE AGAIN HERE IT IS
listen to Neil young then click on Impeach the president
http://streamos.wbr.com/ download/ wbr/ neilyoung/ 052506/ ny_impeach-doc_v4_700.wmv
LISTEN HALF WAY THOUGH THE SONG ——————-
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:52 pm#62. They why did your boy Bush (aka “The Idiot President”) state that Al Qaeda had no ties to Iraq?
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ news/ releases/ 2003/ 01/ 20030131-23.html
You’re own evidence has been called out as false by Idiot Boy Bush!!
LOL!
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:54 pmRemember the old Eddie Murphy routine where his girl says she saw him coming out of another woman’s apartment at 5am?
He says, “wasn’t me” …
And she says, “but I saw you–you were wearing the jacket I gave you for Christmas,” …
He says, “wasn’t me” …
She screams, “I saw you come out of her apartment at 5am wearing the jacket I gave you for Christmas, get in your car and drive away!” …
And he says, “wasn’t me” …
Then she pauses for a second and says, “well, maybe it wasn’t him…”
I think this what Tony Snow is trying to go for here on behalf of old G.W. …
uh, …. good luck with that, Tony ….
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:55 pmPatrick,
Even if true, who the “F” care about “contacts” - heck Ronald Reagan had “contacts” with Commies and the Iranians in the 80’s! It’s “operational ties” that are what matters, dumbass.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:56 pmThe Bush Administration never said that Iraq or Saddam Hussein were connected to the 9/11 attacks.
The 70% figure is a contrived statistic.
Al Gore is a nut and a liar.
And you folks are dangerously stupid.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:56 pmWhy, the Pope has never been Catholic. And no, bears don’t sh!t in the woods.
Any other questions?
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:57 pmWow Patrick1. 20+ quotes showing Bush was linking Saddam to Al Qiada and 9/11 and you come back with???? The already debunked Tenet. And only one quote at that.
Open your eyes man (?)
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:58 pm“Isn’t it mostly lefties that are for drug use and promiscuity?
Comment by zxz — May 22, 2007 @ 4:44 pm”
There’s a vast difference between use and abuse, and between accepting human sexual desires as natural and pedophelia.
Liberals generally don’t think marijuana is any worse than alcohol in managed quantities, and that sex between consenting adult is their business. It’s why we don’t go overboard from denial, and so many neocons are routinely busted with excessive quantities of hardcore drugs and for perverted sex.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:58 pm#68: You must be a moron. Did you read the multitude of quotes earlier in this thread? Maybe you could have your mommy read you the big words.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:00 pmAnd you, Ringo, are a republican shill.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:01 pm“Sounds as if we live in Nazi Germany?
Comment by Hypocrisy — May 22, 2007 @ 4:49 pm”
The parallels are eerie… If you replace ‘Hitler’ references in the timeline of Nazi take over of Germany with ‘Bush’, it’s the same story… Hitler was just more adept at his take-over.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:02 pmunbelievable,
“…and so many neocons are routinely busted with excessive quantities of hardcore drugs and for perverted sex.”
—————————————-
Which “neocons” would you be referring to?
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:02 pmThinkProgress today: “Only after the Iraq war began did Bush candidly acknowledge that Iraq was not operationally linked to 9/11.”
White House Press Conference January 31 2003:
“Q: One question for you both. Do you believe that there is a link between Saddam Hussein, a direct link, and the men who attacked on September the 11th?
THE PRESIDENT: I can’t make that claim.”
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ news/ releases/ 2003/ 01/ 20030131-23.html
The invasion of Iraq began in March 2003, two months after this statement.
Thinkprogress has gotten its facts wrong. The President has consistently stated — both before and after the invasion of Iraq — there was no evidence of Iraqi complicity in the 9/11 attacks.
I trust Thinkprogress will correct its erroneous assertion.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:03 pm#69
Tony Baloney
You are either telepathic or a really fast typer …
Either way, excellent 1 minute response to “Ringo’s” nonsense.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:03 pm“Tenet (said blah blah blah).†patrick1
Wow, imagine an administration stooge telling the story the administration told them to tell.
(1) Bush, Cheney, et al still propagated with full gusto the idea that there was an Iraq-911 connection, as an excuse to invade.
(2) Tony Snow is a fugging liar for saying otherwise.
(3) Even if Tenet was correct, the mere appearance of an Al Queda linked person in Iraq hardly justifies full scale invasion, overthrow of the government, the killing of hundreds of thousands of people, the destruction of a national infrastructure, the creation of thousands of new militants, and the expenditure of hundreds of billions of dollars.
The Bush regime is morally bankrupt. Tony Snow is morally bankrupt. Patrick1 is morally bankrupt.
Patrick1, do you have anything of actual substance to offer? Because your talking points are stale and impotent.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:04 pmMr. Snow’s drugs must be working. Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney, more so, have never tired of linking al Qaeda and Iraq. It was a fundamental part of their 2004 re-election platform and remains a staple in their canned speeches to carefully controlled supporters.
Mr. Snow might as well say that there are no gaps in Mr. Gonzales’ memory or White House e-mail records, or that the US is disinterested in Iraq’s oil. Mr. Snow’s Newspeak would captivate even Mr. Orwell, who would then excoriate it.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:04 pmRingo, pull your head out of your ass and read the quotes. Quotes are exact words from people. ‘They are used as evidence when one flip flops.
You want to argue something at least come with your brain engaged. Now you just sound stooooopid.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:04 pm“And to think I thought there just might be hope for justice and a return to our constitutional democracy when the Democrats gained control of Congress. I think everyone was duped on that one.
Comment by Hypocrisy — May 22, 2007 @ 4:52 pm”
Heart breaking, because it seemed that they were finally standing up to the mental midget on his golden throne… Ugh.
I’m going to learn to speak Dutch.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:06 pm54 - nice one thanks
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:08 pmhellinabucket,
I don’t have the time to read through this thread. Why don’t you just provide me with an example or two of any member of the Bush Administration saying that Iraq or Saddam Hussein were behind the attacks on 9/11.
Please do….with links, of course.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:08 pm“Which “neocons†would you be referring to?
Comment by Ringo — May 22, 2007 @ 5:02 pm”
Here’s a good start:
http://www.armchairsubversive.org/
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:08 pmIt is nothing but lies and mind games while they rob the treasury.
Will the neocons conveniently let another 9/11 happen for this:
Bush Anoints Himself as the Ensurer of Constitutional Government in Emergency ?
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:08 pmHiB,
In none of those quotes from Bush does he assert Iraqi complicity in the 9/11 attacks. Saying that Iraq had ties to Al Qaeda is not the same thing as saying Iraq had a hand in the 9/11 attacks.
As I show in the post above, Bush was saying even before the invasion of Iraq that he was not saying Iraq was involved in 9/11.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:09 pm“[Bush] has never tried to make†the connection between Iraq and 9/11″
And anyone remember this golden oldie? “We’ve never been ’stay the course’.”
Just unbelievable.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:09 pm81 - I’m going to learn to speak Dutch……not so easy as you might think
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:10 pmExley, saying one can’t make that claim and saying there is no link isn’t the same and you know that. You used to be better than that. tsk, tsk, tsk.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:11 pmWho committed the acts on 9/11?
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:13 pmDont you just love it when Al comes out telling the truth?? It will be so nice having someone honest in the White House again, beginning on January 20, 2009.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:14 pmIn none of those quotes from Bush does he assert Iraqi complicity in the 9/11 attacks. Saying that Iraq had ties to Al Qaeda is not the same thing as saying Iraq had a hand in the 9/11 attacks.
As I show in the post above, Bush was saying even before the invasion of Iraq that he was not saying Iraq was involved in 9/11.
Comment by Exley — May 22, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
You’re absolutely right, Exley. Bush certainly cannot be held to account for the impression his words were crafted to impart, as long as he didn’t say the actual exact words that would show him as a liar.
The fact that over 70% of Americans got the impression that Saddam was involved in 9/11 from listening to the President talk about the contacts between Iraq and al Quaeda not his responsibility.
Nice low bar you’ve set there.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:14 pmThinkprogress has gotten its facts wrong. The President has consistently stated — both before and after the invasion of Iraq — there was no evidence of Iraqi complicity in the 9/11 attacks. Exley
This is the kind of self-serving disingenuous lies conducted by “Slick Willy” that used to drive the moralist Republicans into an outrage. “It depends on what the definition of is is.”
Anybody with functioning neurons realize that all of the thunder talk about Iraq and Hussein leading up to the war, with near-proximity references to 911, Al Queda, “shadowy terrorist networks”, and Osama bin Laden, was obviously and clearly done with the intent of linking all of these things together. That Bush may never have said “Hussein conspired to fly airplanes into the WTC” is incredibly disingenuous.
Instead of Slick Willy lying about a BJ, we have Slick Bush and Slick Dick (sounds like porn stars) lying about epic levels of death and destruction. And Slick Tony, Slick Patrick1, Slick Ringo, and Slick Exely backpedaling to cover it up.
Boys, your party is almost over. Enjoy your final 18 months.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:14 pmHiB,
The Jan. 31, 2003 statement from Bush shows he was very careful in his language and never said Iraq was involved in the 9/11 attacks.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:14 pm“not so easy as you might think
Comment by Tobey Tall — May 22, 2007 @ 5:10 pm”
Lack of ease has never stopped me before… Besides, Bush is giving me an incentive.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:15 pmSaddam Hussein’s Philanthropy of Terror
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:15 pm“Who committed the acts on 9/11?”
Who are you asking, HiB?
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:15 pmThe latest and best poll of likely Democratic caucus goers in the first state that will weigh in on the 2008 nomination race has Clinton falling to third place. And that’s not the worst of it. As Clinton stumbles, a new contender with potential to eat into her base it rising rapidly.
The Des Moines Register survey has former North Carolina Senator John Edwards solidly in first. Edwards, who ran second in the 2004 Iowa caucuses and has worked hard to maintain his organization in the state, is at 29 percent. That’s about where he has been for some time in Iowa, where caucus goers will do much to define the direction of the 2008 race as it hist full speed next January.
In second place is Illinois Senator Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) with 23 percent.
Clinton musters a mere 21 percent — down significantly from her position in several previous polls — to secure the No. 3 position
http://news.yahoo.com/ s/ thenation/ 20070520/ cm_thenation/ 45197223
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:16 pmAs I show in the post above, Bush was saying even before the invasion of Iraq that he was not saying Iraq was involved in 9/11.
Comment by Exley
And he wasn’t saying it wasn’t.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:17 pmYou’ll do Exley. Who committed the acts on 9/11?
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:19 pmOkay, HiB…I’ll play along:
“Who committed the acts on 9/11?”
Al Qaeda terrorists.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:22 pm#98
“the 2008 nomination race has Clinton falling to third place. And that’s not the worst of it.”
Sorry, but I look at this developement as (relatively) good news.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:23 pmHillary is not the leader we are going to need in the next 16 to 20 years.
“Who committed the acts on 9/11?â€
Who are you asking, HiB? Exley
He’s asking YOU, you idiot! Bush linked Iraq to Al Queda, a group few ordinary Americans had ever heard of before 911. A group that committed the 911 attack.
Bush connects Iraq to Al Queda, to shadowy terrorist networks (TM), etc.
Who committed the acts of 911? Al Queda. Who is linked to Al Queda? Iraq and Hussein. What implications were intended by the avalanche of propaganda being catapulted by Bush, Cheney, and the neocon team?
Do you have an honest bone in your pathetic body? You can’t really be this stupid, can you? Can you?
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:24 pmunbelievable,
Other than Foley and Strom Thurmond, I’ve never heard of any of those people….and I believe Thurmond was a Democrat at the time he had sex with a teenager.
And, none of those people are neocons…You said “so many neocons are routinely busted with excessive quantities of hardcore drugs and for perverted sex.â€
I’ll agree with you that many evangelicals are nutty but, come on, one could just as easily compile a similar list of obscure Democrat perverts.
And Timothy McVeigh?…Pleeeze.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:25 pmLet me try that one again: Saddam Hussein’s Philanthropy of Terror
http://www.husseinandterror.com/
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:27 pmgorn, stated it so much better than I.
You, Exley, wish not to make that connection. For whatever reason I won’t understand. But I, and others, are tired of seeing this country hijacked by the fearmongers.
Don’t believe it, that’s your right. It’s still the truth.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:27 pmGorn,
Relax…Just because I pointed out that none of your quotes supported the canard that Bush said Iraq was involved in the 9/11 attacks and in fact he specifically said he was not making that claim does not mean you should take your frustrations out on me….
Just do better research next time.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:28 pm“Sorry, but I look at this developement as (relatively) good news.”
So did I :)
We’ve been discussing how no one we know supports Hillary, but yet the nationwide polls show her as the front runner. In keeping with that sunning discussion, I thought this information would be of interest.
“Hillary is not the leader we are going to need in the next 16 to 20 years.
Comment by heyzeus — May 22, 2007 @ 5:23 pm”
That person is Al Gore and I wish he’d get in the race…
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:28 pmHow can Snow honestly sit there and pretend this administration made no link between Saddam and 9/11????
How stupid do they think we are?
This is just like how they claimed “we never said Iraq was an imminent threat”. Yeah RIGHT. You talked about mushroom clouds, mobile bio weapon labs, buying enriched uranium in Africa in order to make nukes. GIVE ME A BREAK.
These guys are the worst liars in HISTORY along with being the most corrupt and incompetent administration ever.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:32 pm“gorn, stated it so much better than I.”
Yeah…He admitted he had no evidence to support the canard that Bush ever said Iraq was involved in 9/11.
Once again: Jan. 31, 2003, almost two months before the invasion of Iraq:
“Q: One question for you both. Do you believe that there is a link between Saddam Hussein, a direct link, and the men who attacked on September the 11th?
THE PRESIDENT: I can’t make that claim.â€
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:32 pmOther than Foley and Strom Thurmond, I’ve never heard of any of those people….and I believe Thurmond was a Democrat at the time he had sex with a teenager.”
Doesn’t make them any less real. Especially not to their victims.
“And, none of those people are neocons…You said “so many neocons are routinely busted with excessive quantities of hardcore drugs and for perverted sex.—
Funny, you haven’t heard of any of them, but you do know that none of these people you’ve ever heard of are not neocons… Shouldn’t you have to know a person before you can know his affliation?
Besides, are you defending neocons?
“I’ll agree with you that many evangelicals are nutty but, come on, one could just as easily compile a similar list of obscure Democrat perverts.”
Then step up and have at it. I’m guessing so such list exists eitherbecause it does not exist or because your side isn’t bright enough to assemble one. Wow us and be the first…
“And Timothy McVeigh?…Pleeeze.
Comment by Ringo — May 22, 2007 @ 5:25 pm”
He was one of yours. You owned him. The don’t get much more conservative Christian gun-loving than Timmy’s kind.
Though, Gore Vidal had a three year correspondence with him and said that he was simply a product of his nurture. No kidding.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:35 pmComment by Exley — May 22, 2007 @ 5:28 pm
Do you understand the concept of juxtaposition? If you don’t I include a link below
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/juxtaposition
Bush used this tactic so much in the build up to Iraq. Anyone who was slightly switched on saw through it. You can always rely on some useful idiots mind….
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:35 pmWhat is the infatuation the right has with Sen. Clinton? This love with her has been going on since Bill Clinton, took office! What I see is a buch of men with the “Mommy Complex”,worried almost to death about Sen. Clinton is, or is not going to do!
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:38 pmNeal Boortz has the rest of his life pinned to what Ms. Clinton is or isn’t going to do. The world would have been a better place if she hadn’t decided to run,Boortz was going to retire if she didn’t run! Here’s a 62 year old galoot calling her “Thunderthighs,or the HildaBeast” almost daily on his gabfest about himself!
Poor Britney, Cavatuo,Gibson Sean an Rush,wouldn’t have anything to whine about daily! Shucks almost forget, Mr. Loofah,Billie-Boy!
Can anyone tell me what the infatuation with Sen. Clinton is?
#102, Maybe Hayseed or what is it, Heyzeus, could tell me?
Once again: Jan. 31, 2003, almost two months before the invasion of Iraq:
“Q: One question for you both. Do you believe that there is a link between Saddam Hussein, a direct link, and the men who attacked on September the 11th?
THE PRESIDENT: I can’t make that claim.â€
Comment by Exley — May 22, 2007 @ 5:32 pm
Perhaps your claim of innocence on the President’s part might carry more weight if, instead of saying “I can’t make that claim,” he had said, “No, there is no link direct or otherwise between Saddam Hussein and the men who attacked us on September the 11th.”
See the difference? One is an unequivocal denial of belief in something, and the other isn’t. You’re comfortable with the one that isn’t.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:40 pmWhere is it when he regrets anyone in his administration making the links? Where is when he admonishes Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Perle and others for the incorrect links made?
He couldn’t make the claim but stood quietly by when others under him did. They just did it on their own?
Charles Manson was convicted of murder but didn’t commit the crime.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:41 pm#110
Exley
Regarding your ” One question for you both” quote … who is the other person being asked the question?
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:41 pmExlax:
Relax…
The hell I will relax. You and your ilk have brought this country to the brink, and have done untold damage in Iraq. Relaxing is what allowed your pinhead leader to rise to power in the first place. Relaxing is what allowed him to stay there for a second term.
Just because I pointed out that none of your quotes supported the canard that Bush said Iraq was involved in the 9/11 attacks
Stop right there, buttcrust. Nobody, anywhere, said that Bush claimed Iraq was “involved in the 9/11 attacks”. What we said is that Bush linked Iraq to 911, and yes he most certainly did. In the same paragraph of the same speech, to talk about Iraq and 911, and to link Iraq to Al Queda, is providing a link (slickly stated) between Iraq and 911. Not the 911 attack precisely, but the 911 state of mind. The 911 state of mind was what provided the implicit authority of the American people to conduct military actions. Bush, quite intentionally, exploited that mindset to justify an invasion he and his neocon handlers had in mind all along. Bush said “I have political capital and I’m going to use it.” And he did. He called out his “axis of evil”, and pursued his course of belligerence accordingly. He projected clearly what he intended to do, and then he did it.
Stop pretending that any of this is a “canard”. You aren’t fooling anybody who isn’t already a fool.
Just do better research next time.
Yes, those pesky direct quotes can be so uncomfortable, can’t they?
Is this the best you can do, Exlax?
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:41 pmwho said atta met with iraqi intelligence officials in prague, czech republic just months before 9/11. gore didn’t say that, bush/cheney did. so quit lying exley, ringo, etc. the weekly standard published that crap at the behest of cheney. bush is responsible for what his vice president does when it comes to cooking up phony baloney intelligence.
so you guys go jump in a lake or something. ledeen, cheney, bush, rumsfeld etc. all led the american public to believe that there was a “connection”. in fact, that handjob stephen hayes at the weekly stundard wrote an effing book about it!
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:41 pmTo keep from going insane, I’m going to pretend this is a campaigning strategy:
Dear (my real name),
In the months following the release of An Inconvenient Truth, I began to focus on why our democracy has been so slow to deal with the climate crisis. The unwillingness to solve this problem is not only the result of a lack of political will, but it has also been caused by the emergence of a new political environment dangerously hostile to reason, knowledge, and facts. In the long-term, this poses a threat to the very basis of American democracy: the ability of a well-informed citizenry to use the rule of reason to hold government accountable.
When George Bush launched his preemptive war in Iraq, more than 70% of Americans believed Saddam Hussein was linked to the terrorists who caused 9-11. After the 2004 election, when asked what stuck in their minds about the campaign, voters in Ohio named two ads playing to the fears of terrorism paid for by the Bush Campaign. One pattern that has held true since 2001 is that this White House is less interested in openness and truth than any previous administration.
We are facing so many long-term challenges, from the climate crisis and the war in Iraq to health care and social welfare. To solve these problems and move forward we need to reverse the damage done to our democracy. We have little time to waste.
My goal in The Assault on Reason is to explore why our public forum now welcomes the enemies of reason. More importantly, the book focuses on what we can do together, individually and collectively, to restore the rule of reason to our democracy.
My team will be emailing those of you who live in the cities that I will visit for book signings. I hope that I’ll have the chance to see you in person.
I’ll be back in touch soon.
Thank You,
Al Gore
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:42 pm#116, TrueStory,
Tony Blair. It was a joint press conference with Bush and Blair.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:43 pmunbelievable,
“Funny, you haven’t heard of any of them, but you do know that none of these people you’ve ever heard of are not neocons… Shouldn’t you have to know a person before you can know his affliation?”
——————————————————————————–
Neocons make up a small percentage of Republicans (maybe 15%) and most are quite well known.
————————————————————————
“Besides, are you defending neocons? ”
————————————————————-
Yes, I am.
Gotta go….Never should have ventured into this cesspool in the first place.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:44 pmThinkprogress has gotten its facts wrong. The President has consistently stated — both before and after the invasion of Iraq — there was no evidence of Iraqi complicity in the 9/11 attacks.
I trust Thinkprogress will correct its erroneous assertion.
Comment by Exley
This is so utterly dishonest that I hardly know where to start. Bush and his staff consistently conflated Saddam and Al Qaeda, and had made it abundantly clear that Al Qaeda was responsible for 9/11. Without specifically saying that Saddam ordered the attack, they were able to make it obvious to the American public that the distinction was of no importance: Saddam=Al Qaeda and Al Qaeda=9/11. Therefore, Saddam=9/11.
Read this: http://tinyurl.com/on1q
The BBC went to the trouble of gathering many of the relevant quotations in one place. Including this quotation from Dick Cheney, in reference to the invasion of Iraq:
“We will have struck a major blow right at the heart of the base, if you will, the geographic base of the terrorists who’ve had us under assault now for many years, but most especially on 9/11.”
How direct a linkage do you need?
They knew damn well that Saddam had nothing to do with 9/11, but they used every oratorical trick in the book to convince the American public that he did. And they succeeded. To suggest that they were doing otherwise is incredibly disingenous.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:45 pmComment by gummitch — May 22, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
Stop telling the truth gummitch. It means nothing because they are creating their own reality.
Exley will never have the balls to admit he’s wrong.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:49 pm“the connection” by stephen f. hayes, last person to do a print interview with cheney, iirc. available for 1.20 used at amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/ Connection-Collaboration-Hussein-Endangered-America/ dp/ 0060746734/ ref=pd_bbs_1/ 002-6099458-3278409?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179870697&sr=8-1
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:49 pmExley won’t change his mind but I thank all who place the links and quotes. with so much to remember on the spins of these fearmongers it’s good to see the flames of disscontent is growing.
The country hasn’t come to a boil yet but the faithful haven’t let is cool off.
thanks again.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:50 pm“Neocons make up a small percentage of Republicans (maybe 15%) and most are quite well known.”
The operative word being Republicans…
But you can’t know them all…
“Yes, I am.”
Why?
“Gotta go….Never should have ventured into this cesspool in the first place.
Comment by Ringo — May 22, 2007 @ 5:44 pm”
The only thing stinking around here is you.
I see you couldn’t compose a list of Democratic pedophiles… No surprise.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:50 pmwho said atta met with iraqi intelligence in czech republic summer of 2001? WHO? Ledeen, cheney, rumsfelf, and bush.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:51 pmUKBristolDave - the unfortunate thing for wingnuts like Exley, is the internet retains those incriminating quotes…
Yeah, that doesn’t say Saddam was behind 9/11 - does it?
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:54 pm