Chalabigate
"Weapons of Mass Deception"
2003-06-05
Pentagon fires back over Iraq weapons controversy
Thu, 05 Jun 2003 04:44:11 EDT
CBC News Online
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senior Pentagon officials made a rare appearance in front of the media Wednesday to deny they lied about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
'What evidence did this administration have to put the lives of American servicewomen and men on the line? – Dennis Kucinich
"This suggestion that we said, 'This is what we're looking for. Go find it,' is precisely the inaccuracy we are here to rebut," Douglas Feith, deputy undersecretary of defence, told journalists.
People such as Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich, a presidential hopeful, are taking a "show me the weapons" approach.
"Here we are in June of 2003. Show me the weapons; where are they?" he said.
He and other Democratic members of Congress are among those who believe the Bush administration manipulated foreign intelligence data to support Bush's push for a war against Iraq.
A similar review is taking place in Britain. Prime Minister Tony Blair was a staunch supporter of the U.S.-led invasion on the grounds that Iraq held weapons of mass destruction. A parliamentary committee, including some members of his own Labour party, will investigate whether he exaggerated the threat.
Kucinich wants a resolution passed in the U.S. House of Representatives calling on the administration to provide some evidence that Iraq indeed possessed such weapons.
"What evidence did this administration have to spend $63 billion (US) in taxpayers' money? What evidence did this administration have to put the lives of American servicewomen and men on the line?" he said.
One thing media reports have unearthed is that the Pentagon had its own intelligence unit that was reportedly undercutting the work of the Central Intelligence Agency and building the war agenda.
Feith said his small staff looked over available intelligence reports to create a co-ordinated approach to fighting attacks on U.S. interests. It was a worthwhile move, he said.
"There was more co-operation and interconnection among these terrorist organizations and state sponsors across ideological lines than many people had appreciated before," said Feith.
Public support for the war and Bush remains strong.
Still, observers say the failure to uncover weapons of mass destruction is erupting into a big political headache for the administration.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2003/06/04/wmd_controversy030604.html?print
This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
CBC News Online
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senior Pentagon officials made a rare appearance in front of the media Wednesday to deny they lied about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
'What evidence did this administration have to put the lives of American servicewomen and men on the line? – Dennis Kucinich
"This suggestion that we said, 'This is what we're looking for. Go find it,' is precisely the inaccuracy we are here to rebut," Douglas Feith, deputy undersecretary of defence, told journalists.
People such as Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich, a presidential hopeful, are taking a "show me the weapons" approach.
"Here we are in June of 2003. Show me the weapons; where are they?" he said.
He and other Democratic members of Congress are among those who believe the Bush administration manipulated foreign intelligence data to support Bush's push for a war against Iraq.
A similar review is taking place in Britain. Prime Minister Tony Blair was a staunch supporter of the U.S.-led invasion on the grounds that Iraq held weapons of mass destruction. A parliamentary committee, including some members of his own Labour party, will investigate whether he exaggerated the threat.
Kucinich wants a resolution passed in the U.S. House of Representatives calling on the administration to provide some evidence that Iraq indeed possessed such weapons.
"What evidence did this administration have to spend $63 billion (US) in taxpayers' money? What evidence did this administration have to put the lives of American servicewomen and men on the line?" he said.
One thing media reports have unearthed is that the Pentagon had its own intelligence unit that was reportedly undercutting the work of the Central Intelligence Agency and building the war agenda.
Feith said his small staff looked over available intelligence reports to create a co-ordinated approach to fighting attacks on U.S. interests. It was a worthwhile move, he said.
"There was more co-operation and interconnection among these terrorist organizations and state sponsors across ideological lines than many people had appreciated before," said Feith.
Public support for the war and Bush remains strong.
Still, observers say the failure to uncover weapons of mass destruction is erupting into a big political headache for the administration.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2003/06/04/wmd_controversy030604.html?print
This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Milton Frihetsson, 17:57
