Analysis of Public Statements made by President George Bush
<<
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
>>
| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
 |
| President George W. Bush on Chemical and Biological Weapons: |
|
| "Not only has he got chemical weapons, but I want you to remember, he's used chemical weapons." |
| Source: Remarks by the President in Texas Welcome, White House (11/4/2002). |
|
Explanation 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." | | |
| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
|
| President George W. Bush on Al-Qaeda: |
|
| "It's a man who has got connections with Al Qaida. Imagine a terrorist network with Iraq as an arsenal and as a training ground, so that a Saddam Hussein could use this shadowy group of people to attack his enemy and leave no fingerprint behind. He's a threat." |
| Source: Remarks by the President in Texas Welcome, White House (11/4/2002). |
|
Explanation 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. | | |
| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
|
| President George W. Bush on Chemical and Biological Weapons: |
|
| "We not only know he's got chemical weapons, but incredibly enough he's used chemical weapons." |
| Source: President Talks Tax Cuts and Homeland Security in Iowa, White House (11/4/2002). |
|
Explanation 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." | | |
| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
|
| President George W. Bush on Al-Qaeda: |
|
| "Saddam Hussein is a man who told the world he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction, but he's got them . . . . And not only that, [he would] like nothing more than to hook up with one of these shadowy terrorist networks like Al Qaeda, provide some weapons and training to them, let them come do his dirty work, and we wouldn't be able to see his fingerprints on his
action." |
| Source: Iraq Must Disarm Says President in South Dakota Speech, White House (11/3/2002). |
|
Explanation This statement 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, and the intelligence community believed that Iraq appeared to be "drawing a line short of conducting terrorist attacks" against the United States for fear of providing cause for war. | | |
| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
|
| President George W. Bush on Chemical and Biological Weapons: |
|
| "[Saddam Hussein is] a man who not only has chemical weapons, but he has used chemical weapons against some of his neighbors." |
| Source: Iraq Must Disarm Says President in South Dakota Speech, White House (11/3/2002). |
|
Explanation 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." | | |
<<
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
>>
|
