Did Bush and Cheney believe their lies, or did they knowingly mislead us? The debate is being revived by those trying re-write history.
Former President George W. Bush delivers his second State of the Union address as former Vice President Dick Cheney looks on, 01/28/03. (photo: Getty Images)
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Rove's response was "Can you imagine what it would be like to have 1/3 of the world's oil reserve in the hands of Sadam?"
I recall that the administration constantly said oil was not the issue. Yet, the first thing out of Rove's mouth is the oil reserves. Basically when Iraq allowed foreign corporations into the oil fields that's when "Mission Accomplished" should have been declared.
This is a very clear-cut obvious lie. It deserves more attention. The CIA itself in an Annex to the Duelfer report shows how and why the trailers were obviously for the production of hydrogen. As a chemist who has made hydrogen using the same reaction I could tell from the CIA/DIA white paper that the trailers were used to make hydrogen. There was aluminum found. There was lye found (called "caustic" in the white paper.) Those plus water make hydrogen. Could the evidence be more clear? Yet, strangely, the CIA concluded the use was WMD. It's a lie.
If you want to prove Bush lied this is extremely good evidence of that. Cheney, you may recall, kept citing the white paper as proof of Iraqi WMD production almost to the day the Duelfer report was released.
Or, alternatively, require TV stations to provide FREE AIR TIME for candidates. Whether no money is needed for TV (free ads) or no money is capable of buying TV (no ads), there must be a way to take the money out of politics.
Otherwise, legislation will continue to benefit only the politician's corporate sponsors, and not the public.
1) Public ownership of the electoral software, so no more stealing of votes;
2)no tv ads at all in the last few days before the election [removes the risk of late-hour ambushes], and public funding would be really good but am not holding my breath...
and
3) "Preferential voting", aka [in USA] 'Instant Runoff Voting'--check it out--no need for primaries [$ saved], and a vote is never lost, because you can choose your second, third, etc., preferences as well as your first; it also encourages more respectful and less polemic political discourse, and strengthens minor parties.
Repairing the Electoral system is critical.
What will it take to move some of those able to bring these criminals to justice? Unfortunately, my unworthy opinion is that they, also, will get away with killing hundreds of thousands Iraquis and not less than 5.000 Americans. Is this proof of the existence of a "Shadow Government", as many journalist/investigators have concluded? Is this the road to the dissolution of this democracy? Finally, where are the voices of reason, of justice, and of morality?
In addition, just what was Cheney doing all that initial period of the administration's taking over office when he was out of view--and all those oil big guys were visiting Washington? I'll bet no tapes or any other records exist on that situation.
I think the staggering difference we are seeing now with Obama as president, is that instead of Obama telling the pentagon and the CIA what he wants, he is actually listening to their advice and suggestions. We will see how this goes. Those guys are accustomed to taking orders, and I fear if left to their own devices will ramp up the war in exchange for that passage through their revolving door between the pentagon and private defense industries. Obama, with not even a year of military school experience, has his hands full with these fellows.
Time will tell if he can "tough up" and really begin leading that padded pentagon bucket. I hope he can, and I hope there are still a few fellows there who will turn down the big money to stay and help him. Helpful would be more pentagon sources, we should stay ahead of this.
I am sure the intent from the Inauguration Day in 2001 was to dispose of Hussein in Iraq and take over the oil production. The American dictatorship (Bush administration) forced the answers to the "right" questions from people who were more frightened of losing their government jobs than serving the American people. Anybody who did not give the "right" answers found their careers over or in shambles (see: Valerie Plame, Paul O'Neill, Joe Wilson, Richard Clarke among others).
What is mind boggling in the present administration not wanting to find answers to these important issues!!
Something in here stinks and justice is not being properly served to the tax payer!!
Even before 9/11 Bush and Company told intelligence gathering agencies to find a reason to declare war on Iraq. So any information, no matter how vague, was slanted or outright falsified in a manner that provided justification for the invasion.
In the financial world, bad loans were presented as good business sense. Those who followed that practice got bonuses. They created a global recession.
Did Bush falsify the facts? Yes, because he demanded that the facts conform to his desires.
Was Bush self-deluded? Perhaps, but he dragged the rest of us into delusion any way he could.
Furthermore, as head of the executive branch of government, Bush was in charge of the various intelligence agencies that "mislead" him. Thus he is ultimately responsible to this terrible decision to start a war in Iraq. No excuses, it is his mistake.
Is that a defense of Bush - that he's only as bad as Saddam? Sad.
I have to hold America and Americans responsible, collectively and personally for re-electing Bush in 2004. Anybody who read the news knew: "WMD WAS A LIE".
Is a Presidential administration simply above the law? All administrations are if none are ever brought to justice when they commit crimes. This makes all presidents dictators. Assuming that Obama does not intend to be a dictator, by failing to bring justice to the prior administration he further assures that such abuses will continue to happen in the future.
If it isn't Obama who will permanently deny the Imperial Presidency, will anyone? Ever?
Who is really in charge here? Why is Obama, an apparently nice person, too big a coward to confront the crimes of the Bush Administration?
No, getting healthcare reform passed isn't going to make him less than a coward, which he most certainly is.
"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it".
The seeds of totalitarianism American style - fascist, corporate rule - have been sown in the USA. More to follow...
It may be too late to do anything worthwhile about this now. We have destroyed Iraq, allowed al Quaeda to retool and recruit many more followers and left a black mark on the American reputation for the rest of time.
Cheney was obsessed with the oil, and Rove with the reelection in 2004.
The only item missing from this conversation is the real reason that "W" went to war with Iraq:
Saddam tried to kill his father and his wife) who just happened to be along for the ride) after Gulf War 1.
Remember that Bush talk of withdrawal started after Iraq met the 'benchmark' demanding they share the oil. Silly us if we thought he meant between Shia, Suni, and Kurds.
Precedents that could come back to haunt us: 'Pre-emptive' war and drones that could be made in a high school class. GOOD WORK! and good comments.
Otherwise our constitution, our image in the world, our pride in being Americans goes down the drain.
Yes. And he also cost Tony Blair his job.
This is why people need to vote. I also believe the war is partly to blame for the economy tanking.
Funny how the Republicans have no trouble spending a trillion dollars for a needless war that destroys hundreds of thousands of lives but can't tolerate saving lives with health care reform.
It's okay to impeach a president for getting a blow job but not for blowing up a country and lives needlessly. Get your values straight.
Yes, I'm still bitter about it.
The plan is still "working" so to speak; the war is on, Iraq oil is under control and the spin still has the situation seen as an "argument"; a debate between a strawman and a shadow?
Who KNEW, in their hearts, it was about oil and other profits. Raise your hands, please.
They should be tried, even at this late date.
Even the honest MSMedia folks have to be careful, or they will be gone.
Corn is with Mother Jones magazine. Everybody on the honest side of this issue should subscribe to Mother Jones, The Nation, and perhaps to Harpers. All the rest are shills for The Big Lie.
You suggest several times that the public is likely growing weary of this "tiresome back and forth" (or words to that effect).
While that may be true, it does not diminish the importance of the debate. Please continue your crusade. The perpetrators of these crimes must pay. Do not be silenced by their sneering assertions of impunity.
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