Analysis of Public Statements made by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
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| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
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| Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Nuclear Capabilities: |
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| "His regime has the design for a nuclear weapon, was working on several different methods of enriching uranium, and recently was discovered seeking significant quantities of uranium from Africa." |
| Source: Donald Rumsfeld and Richard Myers Hold Regular Defense Department Briefing, Defense Department (1/29/2003). |
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Explanation This statement was misleading because it asserted that Iraq sought uranium from Africa despite the fact that the CIA had expressed doubts about the credibility of this claim in two memos to the White House, including one addressed to National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet also had warned against using the claim in a telephone call to Ms. Rice's deputy. In addition, the statement failed to mention that State Department intelligence officials had concluded that this claim was "highly dubious." | | |
| The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq |
|
| Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Nuclear Capabilities: |
|
| "His regime has the design for a nuclear weapon, was working on several different methods of enriching uranium . . . ." |
| Source: Donald Rumsfeld and Richard Myers Hold Regular Defense Department Briefing, Defense Department (1/29/2003). |
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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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| Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Urgent Threat: |
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| "Saddam Hussein's regime is a grave and gathering danger. It's a danger to its neighbors, to the United States, to the Middle East and to the international peace and stability. It's a danger we cannot ignore." |
| Source: Donald Rumsfeld Addresses the Conference of Army Reserve Operators, Defense Department (1/20/2003). |
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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 |
|
| Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Urgent Threat: |
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| "Iraq poses a threat to the security of our people and to the stability of the world that is distinct from any other." |
| Source: Donald Rumsfeld Addresses the Conference of Army Reserve Operators, Defense Department (1/20/2003). |
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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 |
|
| Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Nuclear Capabilities: |
|
| "And he has an active program to acquire and develop nuclear weapons." |
| Source: Donald Rumsfeld Addresses the Conference of Army Reserve Operators, Defense Department (1/20/2003). |
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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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