Important because the Administration has mentioned this link repeatedly, including in a speech on August 21 by President Bush.
NYTimes:
quote:WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 — The Central Intelligence Agency last fall repudiated the claim that there were prewar ties between Saddam Hussein’s government and an operative of Al Qaeda, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, according to a report issued Friday by the Senate Intelligence Committee.
The disclosure undercuts continuing assertions by the Bush administration that such ties existed, and that they provided evidence of links between Iraq and Al Qaeda. The Republican-controlled committee, in a second report, also sharply criticized the administration for its reliance on the Iraqi National Congress during the prelude to the war in Iraq.
quote:As recently as Aug. 21, President Bush said at a news conference that Mr. Hussein “had relations with Zarqawi.’’ But a C.I.A. report completed in October 2005 concluded instead that Mr. Hussein’s government “did not have a relationship, harbor or even turn a blind eye toward Zarqawi and his associates,” according to the new Senate findings.
The Administration has responded that this is all old news -- rehashing the past when we have a clear and present threat to deal with.
Posted by John Van Pelt (Member # 5767) on :
Yes. We must stay the course.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Oh let's stop bring up old issues. Bush lies, Bush is dishonest, blah blah blah.
We're there now, so let's stop pointing out how incompetent our commander in chief is and get behind him!
In all seriousness, how stupid can he be? Why keep asserting things as the truth when he has to know by now that we will eventually find out the truth? Hasn't be read the 9/11 Commission report, hasn't he read...ANYTHING? He read the intel reports enough to know there's something to the claims he is making, but those same reports say right on there that they are based on sketchy intel, lies, uncorroborated evidence, etc.
And it only hurts his party. He's gone in a couple years, lame duck in a couple months, doesn't really matter what happens to HIM politically. He isn't getting anything passed anymore anyway. Republicans need to band together to shut him up if they have a chance at winning anything in November.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
quote:Why keep asserting things as the truth when he has to know by now that we will eventually find out the truth?
Honestly? Because it keeps certain names in the news, and polls show that people are starting to remember Al Qaeda. And when they remember Al Qaeda, it becomes easier to justify our presence in Iraq for some reason. So reminding people of Al Qaeda is, for the Bush Administration, a win/win situation, even if it's just to deny a denial of a connection.
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
Case in point: The tireless continued association of Iraq to 9/11.
The memetic cram session has gone on for so long that it's almost comical to me.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
"mememtic cram session"
I like that.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson:
quote:Why keep asserting things as the truth when he has to know by now that we will eventually find out the truth?
Honestly? Because it keeps certain names in the news, and polls show that people are starting to remember Al Qaeda. And when they remember Al Qaeda, it becomes easier to justify our presence in Iraq for some reason. So reminding people of Al Qaeda is, for the Bush Administration, a win/win situation, even if it's just to deny a denial of a connection.
Well then at least be smart enough to KEEP OF THE FACADE! It doesn't make much sense to say Al Qaeda Al Qaeda Al Qaeda and then when a reporter asks you what Saddam had to do with 9/11 and you say "absolutely nothing."
People are stupid, but it's best not to tempt fate. Bush is getting caught red handed left and right (heh). It stops making sense to lie, especially on this scale, when you've been caught so many times before. For all the jokes Republicans like to make about Clinton, didn't they LEARN anything from him?
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Actually, the Bush administration learned that its best to tell the exact truth. People don't remember the truth, people remember what they're led to believe is the truth. This way its extraordinarily hard to accuse him of lying or misleading, because look, he clearly admits it when asked! How could he be lying or misleading?!
Mmmm, politics.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
So lie to them unless they ask you a direct question, then fess up?
He's blunt a lot of the time, but he most certainly isn't truthful.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
quote:So lie to them unless they ask you a direct question, then fess up?
This appears to be administration policy. And as far as I can tell, it's fairly effective.