Anyone Surprised?

[MC]

WASHINGTON - A study by two nonprofit journalism organizations found that President Bush and top administration officials issued hundreds of false statements about the national security threat from Iraq in the two years following the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The study concluded that the statements "were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanized public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses."

The study was posted Tuesday on the Web site of the Center for Public Integrity, which worked with the Fund for Independence in Journalism.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel did not comment on the merits of the study Tuesday night but reiterated the administration's position that the world community viewed Iraq's leader, Saddam Hussein, as a threat.

"The actions taken in 2003 were based on the collective judgment of intelligence agencies around the world," Stanzel said.

The study counted 935 false statements in the two-year period. It found that in speeches, briefings, interviews and other venues, Bush and administration officials stated unequivocally on at least 532 occasions that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction or was trying to produce or obtain them or had links to al-Qaida or both.

"It is now beyond dispute that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction or have meaningful ties to al-Qaida," according to Charles Lewis and Mark Reading-Smith of the Fund for Independence in Journalism staff members, writing an overview of the study. "In short, the Bush administration led the nation to war on the basis of erroneous information that it methodically propagated and that culminated in military action against Iraq on March 19, 2003."

Named in the study along with Bush were top officials of the administration during the period studied: Vice President **** Cheney, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and White House press secretaries Ari Fleischer and Scott McClellan.

Bush led with 259 false statements, 231 about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and 28 about Iraq's links to al-Qaida, the study found. That was second only to Powell's 244 false statements about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and 10 about Iraq and al-Qaida.

The center said the study was based on a database created with public statements over the two years beginning on Sept. 11, 2001, and information from more than 25 government reports, books, articles, speeches and interviews.

"The cumulative effect of these false statements — amplified by thousands of news stories and broadcasts — was massive, with the media coverage creating an almost impenetrable din for several critical months in the run-up to war," the study concluded.

"Some journalists — indeed, even some entire news organizations — have since acknowledged that their coverage during those prewar months was far too deferential and uncritical. These mea culpas notwithstanding, much of the wall-to-wall media coverage provided additional, 'independent' validation of the Bush administration's false statements about Iraq," it said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080123...ation_study;_ylt=AvwhgqiQKFvbcbfelo4tGc2s0NUE

 

[Zeonix]

I am. I thought they'd wait until he was gone to start tallying all of the lies we've been told.

 

[Grega]

Im not suprised.

But as zeo said. I thought they would bring this out after Bush wen tout of office.

 

[Spunky]

Saddam really did have weapons of mass destruction though, we just didn't know it at the time. One of Saddam's retired generals, Georges Sada, had written a book called "Saddam's Secrets" and was telling Jon Stewart about it on The Daily Show one episode, and he talked about how Saddam snuck them out to Syria before we got there.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1601210/posts

I haven't read the book, so I only know that much. But I was intrigued by it nonetheless. But of course Bush didn't know this and so he was still lying. But even still, that's a funny coincidence if it's true.

 

[Grega]

If the book is to be believed.

But looking from a difrent view. "The US hass nucks lets stop them"

Sound familiar?

 

[Avenger]

Saddam really did have weapons of mass destruction though, we just didn't know it at the time. One of Saddam's retired generals, Georges Sada, had written a book called "Saddam's Secrets" and was telling Jon Stewart about it on The Daily Show one episode, and he talked about how Saddam snuck them out to Syria before we got there.

I doubt he had WDMs giving him an edge, or he would have used them. His "retired generals" are likely less than pleased with him, and wouldn't mind discrediting Iraq on an American TV-show. Inspectors from around the world checked Saddam's facilities - there were no signs of WDMs.

 

[DJ-Ready]

Hate to say it (actually I don't) but we (Europe) told you so ever since your almighty president started operation oil war... err I mean, Iraqi Freedom

 

[Spunky]

Inspectors from around the world checked Saddam's facilities - there were no signs of WDMs.

Saddam snuck them out to Syria before we got there.

@ Ready - So did we, but Bush is a retard.

 

[Synth]

He's going to jail... and so is most of his cabinet... they think quitting/retiring early is going save them.

I say we blindfold him, and tie that war-monger to a donkey, heading straight for Falluja.

 

[DJ-Ready]

He's going to jail... and so is most of his cabinet... they think quitting/retiring early is going save them.

I say we blindfold him, and tie that war-monger to a donkey, heading straight for Falluja.

He woulnd't even go to jail if he'd kill people by himself while being taped on film (instead of sending troops...).

 

[Synth]

The second he's out of office... he's going to lose his diplomatic immunity... or get assassinated.

 

[DJ-Ready]

The second he's out of office... he's going to lose his diplomatic immunity... or get assassinated.

Now that would be great. If it were only that easy.
Seriously, I'd party if he'd get killed.

 

[Avenger]

Uh, Spunky? If he "snuck them out to Syria", why didn't he use them on the US forces when he had nothing to lose?

 

[Chakra-X]

I am. I thought they'd wait until he was gone to start tallying all of the lies we've been told.

Same. But if this was a democratic President, they would be calling this out the second they found out there were no weapons of mass destruction.

Honestly, why hasn't anything been done to him legally? Quite of few members of his administration have resigned, but there is no punishment. **** went down in Water Gate, but all that seems to happen is that people accuse, but nothing follows through. ****ing Bill Clinton was impeached for lying about **** about his personal life.

I just don't get it at times. I've seen a great amount of anti-bush rhetoric,media, and reports, yet he won twice. Even if they somehow rigged the second election, how the hell did it get so close in the first place? Are people really that backwards? Or is it just fear?

Don't even get me started on Cheney...He basically thinks "if the President wants to do it, he can".

But I'm not surprised.

 

[DJ-Ready]

Its stupidity and the constant fear of terrorism, which was created by your oh so great media cause your politics said so.
That, lobbyism (sp?) and corruption.

*cough* oil *cough*

 

[Eon]

Its stupidity and the constant fear of terrorism, which was created by your oh so great media cause your politics said so.
That, lobbyism (sp?) and corruption.

Man, you sure are on top of things. I would never have realized this until you posted it. :O

 

[DJ-Ready]

See, good that I'm here for you ;P

 

[Zeonix]

Iraq has very little to do with oil and very much to do with domination of the Middle East. I don't understand how people aren't noticing that we're fighting wars on either side of Iran right now, and have ships near the Gulf. I mean, they REALLY want to attack Iran, but they need a situation where they can say "Oh lawd, we've been attacked! We were right gogogogogo".

I mean, really, if oil was the only thing on their minds why would we bother being friends with Israel?

 

[Eon]

I want to control the middle east.

 

[DJ-Ready]

I can't seem to figure what israel has to do with that.
Though there are many reasons why the US wants Israel to be as "strong" as they are now.