No,I'm not talking about a traditional IQ test, I'm talking about a little "quiz" to test your recollection of statements made by members of the Senate Intelligence Committee in the run up to and immediate aftermath of the decision to go to war in Iraq.
No peeking at the answers (in the extended post below)! (Hint: If you flunk this, you're not alone. The people who spoke these words don't even remember doing so) [Hat tip to Powerline for this one]
1. September, 2002: "[Saddam] has ignored the mandates of the United Nations, is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them."2. October, 2002: "There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons. And will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years."
3. March, 2003: "Bill, I support the president's efforts to disarm Saddam Hussein. I think he was right on in his speech tonight. The lessons we learned following September 11 were that we can't wait to be attacked again, particularly when it involves weapons of mass destruction. So regrettably, Saddam has not done the right thing, which is to disarm, and we're left with no alternative but to take action."
4. September, 2002: "Saddam Hussein, in effect, has thumbed his nose at the world community. And I think that the President's approaching this in the right fashion."
1. Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI)
2. Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV)
3. Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)
4. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
"So, tell me again about the "lies" that got us into this war"
Come on, it's all documented over the internet. We've been reading about iot for sevearl years, now.
America dealt with Iraq when it suited them (not that Amercia would ever deal with evil-doers of course) Then illegaly invaded the country for strategic reasons (or to bring democracy to Iraqis if you like fairy stories) when they felt the time was right.
Why quibble over which particular White, connected, millionaire businessmen were behind the lies and the war(s)?
There's no need to put "lies" in quotes either.
Bush lied. The Administration lied. Blair Lied.
It's not even open to debate.
In the BBC documentary "the Power of Nightmares" there's archive footage of Rumsfeld LYING about Soviet military capabilities in order to further his agenda.
It's on Video Tape. Rumsfeld telling lies. Deliberate lies. Planned lies. Lies designed to push policies in a pre-determined direction.
Liars.
No need to defend them.
They lied. We're ruled by liars.
People who can't or wont face up to this reality are probably unfit to discuss politics.
I'm not sure about the other three, but Levin at least voted AGAINST the war in Iraq, despite apparently believing the part about weapons of mass destruction.
Posted by: Jason Galbraith at May 1, 2007 2:59 PM