Quote:
Originally Posted by Tashah  None of the available evidence dispelled uncertainty either. |
Both Colin Powell in February 2001, and Condoleezza Rice in July 2001 stated in no uncertain terms that Saddam Hussein was not a threat:
YouTube - Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice Tell The Truth About Iraq
Furthermore, Bush et al made the decision to go to war (apparently without evidence of any kind) in November, 2001, only 4 months after Rice stated Saddam Hussein was not a threat.
"Significantly, the decision is made independent of normal policy-making procedures—a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iraq was not requested, members of Congress were not consulted, and the concerns of senior military officers and intelligence analysts were ignored."
USATODAY.com - Iraq course set from tight White House circle Quote:
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It is only a lie if someone truly believes it to be a lie. Prevaricate would be a more appropriate term.
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According to John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence,
“Before taking the country to war, this Administration owed it to the American people to give them a 100 percent accurate picture of the threat we faced. Unfortunately, our Committee has concluded that the Administration made significant claims that were not supported by the intelligence,” Rockefeller said. “In making the case for war, the Administration repeatedly presented intelligence as fact when in reality it was unsubstantiated, contradicted, or even non-existent. As a result, the American people were led to believe that the threat from Iraq was much greater than actually existed.”
Bush had to lie, because if he had told the truth--Saddam Hussein is not a threat, but we know he
wants to acquire WMD-- the American people would never have allowed the Iraq war.
Consider the staggering consequences of Bush's "prevarication":
Over 4,000 US military deaths
Over 30,333 US troops wounded, some severely
Iraqi civilian dead and wounded--hundreds of thousands
Five million Iraqi orphans
1000 Iraqis per day fleeing the country
Over 300,000 US troops suffering from PTSD
Cost of war:
National Priorities Project | Bringing the Federal Budget Home
Who should be held accountable? The evidence is overwhelming that Bush lied. You can only take the premise "he didn't know he was lying" so far before it begins to sound absurd. Considering the consequences of his actions, it's time to stop making excuses for him.