Analysis of Public Statements made by Vice President Richard Cheney
<<
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
>>
| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
 |
| Vice President Richard Cheney on Nuclear Capabilities: |
|
| "QUESTION: So Saddam's more dangerous than North Korea or Iran? VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: I think so because of his past practice and because we believe that he is a danger, a fundamental danger, not only for the region but potentially the United States, as well. And I say, a lot of that is based on the evidence that's now available, that he is working actively to improve his . . . nuclear weapons program." |
| Source: Meet the Press, NBC (9/8/2002). |
|
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: |
|
| "Now, the more recent developments have to do with our now being able to conclude, based on intelligence that's becoming available . . . that he has reconstituted his nuclear program to develop a nuclear weapon, that there are efforts under way inside Iraq to significantly expand his capability." |
| Source: Meet the Press, NBC (9/8/2002). |
|
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: |
|
| "VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: And what we've seen recently that has raised our level of concern to the current state of unrest, if you will, if I can put it in those terms, is that he now is trying, through his illicit procurement network, to acquire the equipment he needs to be able to enrich uranium to make the bombs. QUESTION: Aluminum tubes. VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: Specifically aluminum tubes." |
| Source: Meet the Press, NBC (9/8/2002). |
|
Explanation This statement was misleading because it suggested that Iraq sought aluminum tubes for use in its nuclear weapons program, failing to mention that the government's most experienced technical experts at the U.S. Department of Energy concluded that the tubes were "poorly suited" for this purpose. | | |
| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
|
| Vice President Richard Cheney on Nuclear Capabilities: |
|
| "What we know now, from various sources, is that he has continued to improve the, if you can put it in those terms, the capabilities of his nuclear . . . and he continues to pursue a nuclear weapon." |
| Source: VP Speaks to Commonwealth Club of California, White House (8/7/2002). |
|
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: |
|
| "We have already found confirmation that the al-Qaeda terrorists are seriously interested in nuclear and radiological weapons, and in biological and chemical agents. At the same time, there is a danger of terror groups joining together with regimes that have or are seeking to build weapons of mass destruction. In the case of Saddam Hussein, we have a dictator who is clearly pursuing these capabilities -- and has used them, both in his war against Iran and against his own people." |
| Source: Vice President makes remarks at an event for Representative Saxby Chambliss, White House (7/19/2002). |
|
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." | | |
<<
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
>>
|
