It's a fact that several members of the administration lied.
They said it was certain, no questions about it, that Saddam had certain types of weapons.
If they had said "we believe" he has these weapons, it would be a different story. But they presented it as absolute certainty.
"We know where [Iraq's WMD] are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south, and north somewhat." – Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, March 30, 2003, in statements to the press.
[we "knew" nothing of the kind]
“We have also discovered through intelligence
that Iraq has a growing fleet of manned and unmanned aerial vehicles that could be used to disperse chemical or biological weapons across broad areas."
State of the Union Address – 1/28/2003
[the facts show the drones were totally unsuitable for that purpose]
"Satellite photographs reveal that Iraq is rebuilding facilities at [past nuclear] sites."
Bush speech to the nation – 10/7/2002
[they did not reveal that, it was merely an erroneous interpretation]
"We know he's been absolutely devoted to trying to acquire nuclear weapons, and we believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons."
VP Dick Cheney – “Meet the Press” 3/16/2003
[we knew nothing of the sort, it was a conjecture based on faulty evidence]
Saddam Hussein possesses chemical and biological weapons.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (01.20.03)
[lie]
“leaves no doubt that . . . Iraq . . . continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.”
State of the Union
[lie, there was plenty of doubt]
Secretary Powell told the Security Council that “Saddam has . . . the wherewithal to develop smallpox.”
[no evidence of that] |
