Analysis of Public Statements made by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
<<
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
>>
| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
 |
| Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Chemical and Biological Weapons: |
|
| "He's amassed large, clandestine stockpiles of chemical weapons, including VX, sarin and mustard gas." |
| Source: Testimony of U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Senate Armed Services Committee (9/19/2002). |
|
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 |
|
| Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Nuclear Capabilities: |
|
| "He . . . is aggressively pursuing nuclear weapons." |
| Source: Testimony of U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Senate Armed Services Committee (9/19/2002). |
|
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. | | |
| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
|
| Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Chemical and Biological Weapons: |
|
| "He has stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons." |
| Source: Testimony of U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Senate Armed Services Committee (9/19/2002). |
|
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 |
|
| Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Nuclear Capabilities: |
|
| "We do know that the Iraqi regime . . . they're pursuing nuclear weapons." |
| Source: Testimony of U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Senate Armed Services Committee (9/19/2002). |
|
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. | | |
| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
|
| Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Chemical and Biological Weapons: |
|
| "We do know that the Iraqi regime has chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction." |
| Source: Testimony of U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Senate Armed Services Committee (9/19/2002). |
|
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
>>
|
