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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| "On the nuclear question, many of us are convinced that Saddam will acquire such weapons fairly soon." |
| Source: Vice President Honors Veterans of Korean War, White House (8/29/2002). |
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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 |
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| Vice President Richard Cheney on Nuclear Capabilities: |
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| "[T]hey continue to pursue an aggressive nuclear weapons program." |
| Source: Vice President Honors Veterans of Korean War, White House (8/29/2002). |
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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 |
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| Vice President Richard Cheney on Al-Qaeda: |
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| "As former Secretary of State Kissinger recently stated: "The imminence of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the huge dangers it involves, the rejection of a viable inspection system, and the demonstrated hostility of Saddam Hussein combine to produce an imperative for preemptive action." If the United States could have preempted 9/11, we would have, no question. Should we be able to prevent another, much more devastating attack, we will, no question. This nation will not live at the mercy of terrorists or terror regimes." |
| Source: Vice President Speaks at VFW 103rd National Convention, White House (8/26/2002). |
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Explanation This statement was misleading because by referencing the September 11 attacks in conjunction with discussion of the war on terror in Iraq, it left the impression that Iraq was connected to September 11. In fact, President Bush himself in September 2003 acknowledged that "We've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with September the 11th." The statement also was misleading because it evoked the threat of Iraq providing terrorists who would attack the United States with weapons of mass destruction. According to the National Intelligence Estimate, the intelligence community had "low confidence" in that scenario. | | |
| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
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| Vice President Richard Cheney on Urgent Threat: |
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| "Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us." |
| Source: Vice President Speaks at VFW 103rd National Convention, White House (8/26/2002). |
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Explanation This statement was misleading because it suggested that Iraq posed an urgent threat despite the fact that the U.S. intelligence community had deep divisions and divergent points of view regarding Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. As Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet noted in February 2004, "Let me be clear: analysts differed on several important aspects of these programs and those debates were spelled out in the Estimate. They never said there was an 'imminent' threat." | | |
| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
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| Vice President Richard Cheney on Nuclear Capabilities: |
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| "But we now know that Saddam has resumed his efforts to acquire nuclear weapons." |
| Source: Vice President Speaks at VFW 103rd National Convention, White House (8/26/2002). |
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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. | | |
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