dr3d1zzl3
07-14-2004, 04:59 AM
It is interesting to look at how the Bush Administration has backpedalled in their WMD rhetoric after no WMDs were found following the Iraq war. This timeline of quotes is taken largely from this page.
See also this or this selection or this great article summarizing Fox News' lies and contradictions regarding the Iraq war and the WMD hunt.
August 26, 2002, Dick Cheney
Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. [Speech to VFW National Convention]
December 6, 2002, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer
The president of the United States and the secretary of defense would not assert as plainly and bluntly as they have that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction if it was not true, and if they did not have a solid basis for saying it. [BBC article]
September 12, 2002, George W. Bush
Right now, Iraq is expanding and improving facilities that were used for the production of biological weapons. [Speech to UN General Assembly]
September 24, 2002, Tony Blair
The assessed intelligence has established beyond doubt that Saddam has continued to produce chemical and biological weapons, that he continues in his efforts to develop nuclear weapons, and that he has been able to extend the range of his ballistic missile programme. [Comments on September Dossier]
January 9, 2003, Ari Fleischer
We know for a fact that there are weapons there. [Press Briefing]
January 28, 2003, George W. Bush
Our intelligence officials estimate that Saddam Hussein had the materials to produce as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent. [State of the Union Address]
February 5, 2003, Colin Powell
We know that Saddam Hussein is determined to keep his weapons of mass destruction, is determined to make more. [Remarks to UN Security Council]
February 8, 2003, George W. Bush
We have sources that tell us that Saddam Hussein recently authorized Iraqi field commanders to use chemical weapons # the very weapons the dictator tells us he does not have. [Radio Address]
February 28, 2003, Colin Powell
If Iraq had disarmed itself, gotten rid of its weapons of mass destruction over the past 12 years, or over the last several months since (UN Resolution) 1441 was enacted, we would not be facing the crisis that we now have before us . . . But the suggestion that we are doing this because we want to go to every country in the Middle East and rearrange all of its pieces is not correct. [Interview with Radio France International]
March 7, 2003, Colin Powell
So has the strategic decision been made to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction by the leadership in Baghdad? . . . I think our judgment has to be clearly not. [Remarks to UN Security Council]
March 16, 2003, Dick Cheney
We know he [Saddam] has been absolutely devoted to trying to acquire nuclear weapons. And we believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons. [Interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press'; Article]
March 17, 2003, George W. Bush
Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised. [Address to the Nation]
March 21, 2003, Ari Fleisher
Well, there is no question that we have evidence and information that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, biological and chemical particularly . . . all this will be made clear in the course of the operation, for whatever duration it takes. [Press Briefing]
March 22, 2003, Gen. Tommy Franks
There is no doubt that the regime of Saddam Hussein possesses weapons of mass destruction. And . . . as this operation continues, those weapons will be identified, found, along with the people who have produced them and who guard them. [Press Conference]
March 23, 2003, Defense Policy Board member Kenneth Adelman
I have no doubt we're going to find big stores of weapons of mass destruction. [Washington Post]
March 22, 2003, Pentagon Spokeswoman Victoria Clark
One of our top objectives is to find and destroy the WMD. There are a number of sites. [Press Briefing]
See also this or this selection or this great article summarizing Fox News' lies and contradictions regarding the Iraq war and the WMD hunt.
August 26, 2002, Dick Cheney
Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. [Speech to VFW National Convention]
December 6, 2002, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer
The president of the United States and the secretary of defense would not assert as plainly and bluntly as they have that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction if it was not true, and if they did not have a solid basis for saying it. [BBC article]
September 12, 2002, George W. Bush
Right now, Iraq is expanding and improving facilities that were used for the production of biological weapons. [Speech to UN General Assembly]
September 24, 2002, Tony Blair
The assessed intelligence has established beyond doubt that Saddam has continued to produce chemical and biological weapons, that he continues in his efforts to develop nuclear weapons, and that he has been able to extend the range of his ballistic missile programme. [Comments on September Dossier]
January 9, 2003, Ari Fleischer
We know for a fact that there are weapons there. [Press Briefing]
January 28, 2003, George W. Bush
Our intelligence officials estimate that Saddam Hussein had the materials to produce as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent. [State of the Union Address]
February 5, 2003, Colin Powell
We know that Saddam Hussein is determined to keep his weapons of mass destruction, is determined to make more. [Remarks to UN Security Council]
February 8, 2003, George W. Bush
We have sources that tell us that Saddam Hussein recently authorized Iraqi field commanders to use chemical weapons # the very weapons the dictator tells us he does not have. [Radio Address]
February 28, 2003, Colin Powell
If Iraq had disarmed itself, gotten rid of its weapons of mass destruction over the past 12 years, or over the last several months since (UN Resolution) 1441 was enacted, we would not be facing the crisis that we now have before us . . . But the suggestion that we are doing this because we want to go to every country in the Middle East and rearrange all of its pieces is not correct. [Interview with Radio France International]
March 7, 2003, Colin Powell
So has the strategic decision been made to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction by the leadership in Baghdad? . . . I think our judgment has to be clearly not. [Remarks to UN Security Council]
March 16, 2003, Dick Cheney
We know he [Saddam] has been absolutely devoted to trying to acquire nuclear weapons. And we believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons. [Interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press'; Article]
March 17, 2003, George W. Bush
Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised. [Address to the Nation]
March 21, 2003, Ari Fleisher
Well, there is no question that we have evidence and information that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, biological and chemical particularly . . . all this will be made clear in the course of the operation, for whatever duration it takes. [Press Briefing]
March 22, 2003, Gen. Tommy Franks
There is no doubt that the regime of Saddam Hussein possesses weapons of mass destruction. And . . . as this operation continues, those weapons will be identified, found, along with the people who have produced them and who guard them. [Press Conference]
March 23, 2003, Defense Policy Board member Kenneth Adelman
I have no doubt we're going to find big stores of weapons of mass destruction. [Washington Post]
March 22, 2003, Pentagon Spokeswoman Victoria Clark
One of our top objectives is to find and destroy the WMD. There are a number of sites. [Press Briefing]