Cheney claims that it is outrageous to say that Bush lied. Really?
Public Statement of President George W. Bush:
“Here’s what — we’ve discovered a weapons system, biological labs, that Iraq denied she had, and labs that were prohibited under the U.N. resolutions.”
Source: President Bush, Russian President Putin Sign Treaty of Moscow, White House (6/1/2003).
Why This Statement is Misleading:
This statement was misleading because it claimed the purpose of the trailers was to produce biological weapons without disclosing that engineers from the Defense Intelligence Agency who examined the trailers concluded that they were most likely used to produce hydrogen for artillery weather balloons.
Public Statement of President George W. Bush:
“Our intelligence sources tell us that he has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons production.”
Source: President Delivers “State of the Union”, White House (1/28/2003).
Why This Statement is Misleading:
This statement was misleading because it suggested that Iraq sought aluminum tubes for use in its nuclear weapons program, failing to mention that the government’s most experienced technical experts at the U.S. Department of Energy concluded that the tubes were “poorly suited” for this purpose.
Public Statement of President George W. Bush:
“The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.”
Source: President Delivers “State of the Union”, White House (1/28/2003).
Why This Statement is Misleading:
This statement was misleading because it suggested that Iraq sought uranium from Africa despite the fact that the CIA expressed doubts about the credibility of this claim in two memos to the White House, including one addressed to National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. CIA Director George Tenet also warned against using the claim in a telephone call to Ms. Rice’s deputy. In addition, the statement fails to mention that State Department intelligence officials also concluded that this claim was “highly dubious.”
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