Analysis of Public Statements made by Vice President Richard Cheney
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| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
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| Vice President Richard Cheney on Nuclear Capabilities: |
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| "In Afghanistan we found confirmation that bin Laden and the al-Qaeda network were seriously interested in nuclear and radiological weapons, and in biological and chemical agents. We are especially concerned about any possible linkup between terrorists and regimes that have or seek weapons of mass destruction. In the case of Saddam Hussein, we have a dictator who is clearly pursuing these deadly capabilities." |
| Source: Vice President Delivers Remarks to the National Academy of Home Builders, White House (6/6/2002). |
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Explanation This statement was misleading because it failed to acknowledge the intelligence community's deep division on the issue of whether Iraq was actively pursuing its nuclear program. In addition, it 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 |
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| Vice President Richard Cheney on Chemical and Biological Weapons: |
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| "We know he's got chemicals and biological [weapons] . . ." |
| Source: Meet the Press, NBC (5/19/2002). |
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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 |
|
| Vice President Richard Cheney on Nuclear Capabilities: |
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| "[W]e know he's working on nuclear." |
| Source: Meet the Press, NBC (5/19/2002). |
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Explanation This statement was misleading because it failed to acknowledge the intelligence community's deep division on the issue of whether Iraq was actively pursuing its nuclear program. | | |
| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
|
| Vice President Richard Cheney on Nuclear Capabilities: |
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| "The issue is that he's pursuing nuclear weapons." |
| Source: Late Edition (CNN), CNN (3/24/2002). |
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Explanation This statement was misleading because it failed to acknowledge the intelligence community's deep division on the issue of whether Iraq was actively pursuing its nuclear program. | | |
| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
|
| Vice President Richard Cheney on Chemical and Biological Weapons: |
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| "We know that they have chemical weapons." |
| Source: The Vice President Participates in a Media Availability with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, White House (3/19/2002). |
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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." | | |
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