As well as lying, Bush also twisted facts:
Public Statement of President George W. Bush:
“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.”
Source: President Bush Announces Major Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended, White House (5/1/2003).
Why This Statement is Misleading:
This statement was misleading because by referencing the September 11 attacks in conjunction with discussion of the war on terror in Iraq, it left the impression that Iraq was connected to September 11. In fact, President Bush himself in September 2003 acknowledged that “We’ve had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with September the 11th.”
[Link -> http://democrats.reform.house.gov/IraqOnTheRecord/index.asp?Speaker=President+George+W.+Bush]
Public Statement of President George W. Bush:
“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.”
Source: President Says Saddam Hussein Must Leave Iraq Within 48 Hours, White House (3/17/2003).
Why This Statement is Misleading:
This statement was misleading because it suggested that Iraq was providing support to al Qaeda. In fact, the U.S. intelligence community had conflicting evidence on this issue and was divided regarding whether there was an operational relationship. This statement also was misleading because it evoked the threat of Iraq providing al Qaeda with weapons of mass destruction. According to the National Intelligence Estimate, the intelligence community had “low confidence” in that scenario.
[Link -> http://democrats.reform.house.gov/IraqOnTheRecord/index.asp?start=5&Speaker=President+George+W%2E+Bush]
Public Statement of President George W. Bush:
“He said he wouldn’t have chemical weapons, he’s got them.”
Source: Remarks by the President at Arkansas Welcome, White House (11/4/2002).
Why This Statement is Misleading:
This statement was misleading because it professed certainty when the intelligence community provided only an “estimate.” According to CIA Director George Tenet, “it is important to underline the word estimate. Because not everything we analyze can be known to a standard of absolute proof.” In addition, the statement failed to acknowledge the Defense Intelligence Agency position that: “There is no reliable information on whether Iraq is producing and stockpiling chemical weapons or where Iraq has — or will — establish its chemical warfare agent production facilities.”
[Link -> http://democrats.reform.house.gov/IraqOnTheRecord/index.asp?start=20&Speaker=President+George+W%2E+Bush]