Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Cheney Says DSM is Wrong

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Latest Breaking News Donate to DU
 
katty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:41 PM
Original message
Cheney Says DSM is Wrong
http://www.drudgereport.com/flash2.htm

Cheney Says Downing Street Memo Is Wrong
Fri Jun 24 2005 09:43:30 ET

Vice President Dick Cheney was asked on CNN about the 'Downing Street memo' which said the Bush Administration had decided to go to war with Iraq and the intelligence would be fixed around that policy.

Asked if he disputes the memo's claim, Cheney said, "Of course. The memo was written sometime prior to when we actually got involved in Iraq.

"And remember what happened after the supposed memo was written. We went to the United Nations. We got a unanimous vote out of the Security Council for a resolution calling on Saddam Hussein to come clean and comply with the UN Security Council resolution. We did everything we could to resolve this without having to use military force. We gave him one last chance even, and asked him to step down before we launched military operations.

"The memo is just wrong. more from dick at drudge/link at top
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
supernova Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:42 PM
Response to Original message
1. Is anyone ever right, except Dick?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bribri16 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 06:38 PM
Response to Reply #1
54. And Cheney's credibility on Iraq is .....? n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NashVegas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:42 PM
Response to Original message
2. Up Is Down
.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
lebkuchen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 01:36 PM
Response to Reply #2
32. Black is White
Cheney is honest
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jsamuel Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:43 PM
Response to Original message
3. wtf does that mean, wrong? It is either real or a fake, not wrong or righ
t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:43 PM
Response to Original message
4. Who was at the meetings then, DICK? Who lied to the Brits?
Asshole... we aren't all as stupid as your righwingnut bootlickers.

Go fuck yourself.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
fob Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:44 PM
Response to Original message
5. Well if dick says it's wrong , that's 825% confirmation that it's DEAD ON
Edited on Fri Jun-24-05 12:46 PM by fob
And where are the Pennsylvania Avenue Minutes from that same time period that shows all the "diplomacy" and other means you* were using to stave off war?

WHERE ARE THE PAM's!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
katty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 01:33 PM
Response to Reply #5
29. When Dick says "it's wrong" you know he's been busted
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Nickster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 05:29 PM
Response to Reply #5
48. That was my first thought too!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
WonderGrunion Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-25-05 05:07 AM
Response to Reply #5
67. That's Easy
They are in those Bolton documents that the White House won't turn over to the senate. It's all an intertwined web of deceit.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Atman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:44 PM
Response to Original message
6. Where is Howard Dean or ANY dem, NOW, saying "Cheney is just wrong."
"The fact that the minutes were written BEFORE going to the UN only lends MORE credibility to them, not LESS. Mr. Cheney seems to have allowed this fact to elude him, or he is outright ignoring it, or he is lying."
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Dr Fate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 01:07 PM
Response to Reply #6
23. The "strategists" have decided that the DSM is "too hot"...
Edited on Fri Jun-24-05 01:10 PM by Dr Fate
...and that discussing it "confuses swing voters."

Thus, they have decided to remian silent and let the GOP and the media frame the public perception of the DSM.

Oh well- who are we to question the strategists who lost the last 3 election cycles.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
BrendaStarr Donating Member (491 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-25-05 05:34 AM
Response to Reply #23
69. Or how about when your adversary is about to hang himself
you don't do anything to stop it.

This is a news issue.

What is wrong with the progressive candidates is that too much of the liberal rank and file think it is political activism to hang around liberal forums all the time and whine and bitch about our own candidates, our own elected officials.

Get out to mixed forums and tell the people there the truth.

Explain to them why this is important.

Or we can keep on losing.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mom cat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 04:55 PM
Response to Reply #6
45. Cheney admits the memo is not a fake!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
icymist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-25-05 03:18 PM
Response to Reply #45
71. Yeah! And went to the UN after fixing the intelligence!
Not very intelligent if you ask me!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mom cat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jun-26-05 09:44 AM
Response to Reply #71
72. I bet they thought no one would ever tell!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
stray cat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:44 PM
Response to Original message
7. He also said Iraq would pay for its own reconstruction
And that things are going wonderfully in Iraq and that they always said Iraq would be a generational task. Cheney and Co. never speaks the truth.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
AlCzervik Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:44 PM
Response to Original message
8. like he's gonna say it was right?
C'mon.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Fire Walk With Me Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:44 PM
Response to Original message
9. Didn't the US keep the UN inspectors out of Iraq? Specifically?
And do an end run around the Constitution in the rush to invade? Then have to return for a Government vote when someone pointed it out?

What an empty stretch. Of course, they'd never stop the war now that everyone knows it's nonsense.

Saddam/911. Saddam/9/11. Saddam/9/11...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Straight Shooter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:45 PM
Response to Original message
10. george w. bush, March 2002: "Fuck Saddam, we're taking him out."
This is a direct quote of george w. bush, and it was pre-Downing Street minutes. So F you, Cheney. You are a liar.



Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
KC21304 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 01:00 PM
Response to Reply #10
21. Right on ! And when is some " journalist " going to have
the whatever to ask Bush about this at a press conference ? Let him deny or confirm he said it. And it was in the White House, the people's house, and what will we tell the children ?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
slamthecrank Donating Member (69 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 03:15 PM
Response to Reply #21
36. where??
I've been seeing this over and over, but where is it? How do we know he said that? Is there a link? I want more ammo against these numbskullz...we gotta get that stuff out into the public.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
KC21304 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 04:44 PM
Response to Reply #36
43. Bob Woodward's book.
Edited on Fri Jun-24-05 04:47 PM by KC21304
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0519-30.htm

Of course, this is an utter and complete distortion of the historical record. It was the Bush administration which rushed to war, yanking the inspectors out before they could finish their job - no doubt precisely so they couldn't finish their job and reveal an absence of WMD. It was also Bush himself who, according to Bob Woodward, had popped into a White House meeting in March of 2002, a full year before the war (not to mention also before the congressional vote, the inspectors, the Security Council vote and second non-vote, etc.), to exclaim "Fuck Saddam. We're taking him out."

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
the other one Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:46 PM
Response to Original message
11. At least he is finally being forced to address the issue.
I didn't expect him to come clean, but it is good to think that he may have to spend more and more time answering questions that he would rather avoid in the first place.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bettyellen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:49 PM
Response to Original message
12. No, you Dick, they are not "supposed" they've been confirmed
and mesh with reality better than anything you've spewed this week.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Hell Hath No Fury Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:52 PM
Response to Original message
13. Don't Cheney and Blair get....
that when they pull out the old "We went to the UN" shit that they are confirming the contents of the memos?!? The memos clearly state they needed to go to the UN to make it appear as if they had done everything they could diplomatically.

:banghead:

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Dr Fate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 01:09 PM
Response to Reply #13
24. But they know no Top Democrats will go on TV to refute that lie.
So they are not worried about hose details.

They know the media wont question it and they know that no Top Democrats will go on TV and make blunt charges either.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
MuseRider Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:53 PM
Response to Original message
14. Do you think that
anyone believes him? His poll numbers have to be in the single digits. He is angry, evil and a war profiteer and everyone knows it.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
KansDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:54 PM
Response to Original message
15. Since Cheney is a liar, I don't believe him...(eom)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
CatWoman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:54 PM
Response to Original message
16. Why are we citing Drudge as a news source?:????????
this is bullshit.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
katty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 01:35 PM
Response to Reply #16
31. Let's see if other MSM bullshit sources cover these quotes
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Roland99 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:55 PM
Response to Original message
17. HA! What a lying POS! It was *Cheney* that didn't want a UN vote!!!!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Media_Lies_Daily Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:55 PM
Response to Original message
18. More lies to cover the already impressive pile of lies already told.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
joemurphy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 12:56 PM
Response to Original message
19. Cheney Revises History
"Asked if he disputes the memo's claim, Cheney said, "Of course. The memo was written sometime prior to when we actually got involved in Iraq."

Well, yes Dick, the memo came before you started the war. Thanks for pointing out the obvious.

"And remember what happened after the supposed memo was written. We went to the United Nations.

Which you opposed doing, Dick -- remember? And we only went there because the Brits needed more of a pretext for war than you did.


"We got a unanimous vote out of the Security Council for a resolution calling on Saddam Hussein to come clean and comply with the UN Security Council resolution. We did everything we could to resolve this without having to use military force. We gave him one last chance even, and asked him to step down before we launched military operations."

Er, Dick, you actually launched operations with a secret bombing campaign in July-August, 2002. Read your history.

And we didn't go back to the UN for a resolution authorizing the war because we knew the UN wouldn't give us one. We went in anyway.


Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Robeson Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 01:00 PM
Response to Original message
20. When Cheney talks, I don't listen. Cheney = No Credibility.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Dr Fate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 01:05 PM
Response to Original message
22. And you will never see a Top Democrat go on TV to say "Cheney is lying."
And then break it down point by point as to why it is a lie by definition.

According to the Donna Braziles of the party, that would be "too much like Micheal Moore or those nutty bloggers."
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
lala_rawraw Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 01:13 PM
Response to Original message
25. He needs more garbage for that blue dress of his..
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Doomy Donating Member (60 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 01:16 PM
Response to Original message
26. He
reminds me on Lon Chaney the spooky horror film actor.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Skypilot 18 Donating Member (87 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 08:05 PM
Response to Reply #26
62. Hey ! Leave Lon Chaney out of this
Doomy (16 posts) Fri Jun-24-05 11:16 AM
Response to Original message
26. He
reminds me on Lon Chaney the spooky horror film actor.



Lon Chaney was the man of a thousand faces. Dick Cheney is the man of a thousand lies.

Both Lon Chaney and Lon Chaney Jr. were legendary actors.

All Dickhead is a legendary liar.

Please apologize to the Chaney family. And while your at it you can send a bag of dog shit to Dickhead Cheney.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Doomy Donating Member (60 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-25-05 02:54 PM
Response to Reply #62
70. Very very funny!
Lon Chaney was the man of a thousand faces. Dick Cheney is the man of a thousand lies.

LOL bigtime
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
inanna Donating Member (672 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 01:31 PM
Response to Original message
27. My aching head...
I am just SO sick and tired of the frickin' audacity, I'm running out of adjectives to describe my hatred of these THUGS.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
pfitz59 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 01:33 PM
Response to Original message
28. Biggus Dickus hath spoken
Cower before your master heathen peasants!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
rocktivity Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 01:33 PM
Response to Original message
30. Dupe
Edited on Fri Jun-24-05 01:44 PM by rocknation
n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
rocktivity Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 01:42 PM
Response to Original message
33. The DSM may not be reflection of what you ACTUALLY did, Dick
Edited on Fri Jun-24-05 01:45 PM by rocknation
But that doesn't mean it's wrong about what you PLANNED to do! And unless you yourself was at that meeting, how do you KNOW the minutes were recorded incorrectly?

:headbang:
rocknation
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Catfight Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 01:47 PM
Response to Original message
34. Que up the Hall and Oates song, "I'm outta touch," for Dicky boy. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
muriel_volestrangler Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 02:55 PM
Response to Original message
35. DSM says Cheney is war criminal (n/t)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Lecky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 03:20 PM
Response to Original message
37. Cheney never lies
Edited on Fri Jun-24-05 03:23 PM by Lecky
and the "insurgency is in its last throes".

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
UpInArms Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 03:24 PM
Response to Original message
38. You LIE Dick-O - Bombing Iraq in May 2002 - Memo July 2002
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050624/the_war_before_the_war.php

The now-notorious Downing Street memos make it necessary to reframe the story of the aerial operations that took place before the war, with significant new conclusions emerging. It now appears that the United States, dragging a reluctant Great Britain behind it, executed a deliberate, purposeful bombing campaign against Saddam Hussein's Iraq beginning in May 2002. Among the Downing Street memos are British government legal briefs written immediately before May 2002 finding that these air operations had no basis in international law and constituted aggressive acts.

In other words, Bush initiated hostilities a full 10 months before the Bush administration determined that all diplomatic means had been exhausted and six months before Congressional approval for the use of force.

...more...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00249.htm

Writing in The Nation magazine, Democracy Now! correspondent Jeremy Scahill reports on Washington's undeclared air war against Iraq in 2002:

"It was a huge air assault: Approximately 100 US and British planes flew from Kuwait into Iraqi airspace. At least seven types of aircraft were part of this massive operation, including US F-15 Strike Eagles and Royal Air Force Tornado ground-attack planes. They dropped precision-guided munitions on Saddam Hussein's major western air-defense facility, clearing the path for Special Forces helicopters that lay in wait in Jordan. Earlier attacks had been carried out against Iraqi command and control centers, radar detection systems, Revolutionary Guard units, communication centers and mobile air-defense systems. The Pentagon's goal was clear: Destroy Iraq's ability to resist. This was war.

"But there was a catch: The war hadn't started yet, at least not officially. This was September 2002--a month before Congress had voted to give President Bush the authority he used to invade Iraq, two months before the United Nations brought the matter to a vote and more than six months before "shock and awe" officially began."

...more...

:argh:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
King Coal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 03:26 PM
Response to Original message
39. Don't blame Cheney.
It's all Nitze's fault, via wolfie.
:sarcasm:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
lumpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 03:30 PM
Response to Original message
40. Step down Saddam or we'll
bomb the hell out of your country? Was that the deal Mr. Cheney? Now what was the real reason for bombing the hell out of Iraq? WMDs, US in danger? Bushco should be brought up on treason charges. All of them.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
fryguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 03:54 PM
Response to Original message
41. and if you don't believe him HE'LL KILL YOU!
eom
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
steely Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 04:13 PM
Response to Original message
42. See Dick run. Run DIck, run
Feel the heat Dickie boy. It's starting to get closer.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
SlavesandBulldozers Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 04:53 PM
Response to Original message
44. any real sources/references?
Edited on Fri Jun-24-05 04:53 PM by SlavesandBulldozers
I've never considered drudgereport a source.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Rex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 04:58 PM
Response to Original message
46. What a dick!
He makes the other dick look good!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
gizmo1979 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 05:27 PM
Response to Original message
47. Has Cheney ever not lied
he could pass a lie detector because a truth never comes from his lips.I really wish someone would just smack him right in the face.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
0007 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 05:38 PM
Response to Original message
49. Screw drudge and fuck dick cheney.
I guess dickhead thinks like rush, that the memo's are a forgery?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Dr Fate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 05:40 PM
Response to Original message
50. What is the Official DEM response to this LIE about a current event?
?????????????????????
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bunny planet Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 05:44 PM
Response to Original message
51. Is this the same Dick who said he had 'never met John Edwards before
he walked on this stage' when there was film of him sitting right next to John Edwards at a prayer breakfast the year before? Or is it the same Dick who said 'as far as I know Howard Dean has never won anything before in his life', when Howard Dean had been elected numerous times to be the Governor of Vermont and had recently had won the Chairmanship of the DNC? Because those Dicks told lies, so this Dick can't be the same one. If he says the DSM is wrong, just like the National Enquirer, it must be true. This Dick never lies.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
donkeyotay Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 05:54 PM
Response to Original message
52. It sounds like B&B were "already involved in Iraq"
The buzzwords of the day were "all options are on the table"

President Bush, Prime Minister Blair Hold Press Conference
Remarks by President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair in Joint Press Availability
Crawford High School
Crawford, Texas

excerpts from questions asked:

Q And I'm not sure necessarily whether the Prime Minister would agree with you on Yasser Arafat. But can I ask you, I think what Europeans have a problem with about expanding any war on terror to Iraq is linkage. They can see a linkage between al Qaeda and Afghanistan. They can't see a direct linkage to Saddam Hussein.

Would you accept that there isn't a direct linkage and how, therefore --

THE PRESIDENT: First of all, I wouldn't accept that. But can't they see linkage between somebody who's willing to murder his own people and the danger of him possessing weapons of mass destruction, which he said he would not develop? I see the linkage between somebody who is willing to go into his own neighborhood and use chemical weapons in order to keep himself in power, and at the same time develop a weapon that could be aimed at Europe, aimed at Israel, aimed anywhere, in order to affect foreign policy through his -- you know, I can't imagine people not seeing the threat and not holding Saddam Hussein accountable for what he said he would do, and we're going to do that.

History has called us into action. The thing I admire about this Prime Minister is he doesn't need a poll or a focus group to convince him the difference between right and wrong. And it's refreshing to see leaders speak with moral clarity when it comes to the defense of freedom.

I intend to speak with clarity when it comes to freedom, and I know Prime Minister Tony Blair does, as well. And we will hold Saddam Hussein accountable for broken promises. And that's what a lot of our discussion over there on Prairie Chapel Ranch has been about. And, other than eating lunch, which we're fixing to go do, we're going to continue our discussions.


Q Thank you. Mr. President, you have yet to build an international coalition for military action against Iraq. Has the violence in the Middle East thwarted your efforts? And Prime Minister Blair, has Bush convinced you on the need for a military action against Iraq?

THE PRESIDENT: Adam, the Prime Minister and I, of course, talked about Iraq. We both recognize the danger of a man who's willing to kill his own people harboring and developing weapons of mass destruction. This guy, Saddam Hussein, is a leader who gasses his own people, goes after people in his own neighborhood with weapons of -- chemical weapons. He's a man who obviously has something to hide.

He told the world that he would show us that he would not develop weapons of mass destruction and yet, over the past decade, he has refused to do so. And the Prime Minister and I both agree that he needs to prove that he isn't developing weapons of mass destruction.

I explained to the Prime Minister that the policy of my government is the removal of Saddam and that all options are on the table.

THE PRIME MINISTER: I can say that any sensible person looking at the position of Saddam Hussein and asking the question, would the region, the world, and not least the ordinary Iraqi people be better off without the regime of Saddam Hussein, the only answer anyone could give to that question would be, yes.

Now, how we approach this, this is a matter for discussion. This is a matter for considering all the options. But a situation where he continues to be in breach of all the United Nations resolutions, refusing to allow us to assess, as the international community have demanded, whether and how he is developing these weapons of mass destruction. Doing nothing in those circumstances is not an option, so we consider all the options available.

But the President is right to draw attention to the threat of weapons of mass destruction. That threat is real. How we deal with it, that's a matter we discuss. But that the threat exists and we have to deal with it, that seems to me a matter of plain common sense.

Q Prime Minister, we've heard the President say what his policy is directly about Saddam Hussein, which is to remove him. That is the policy of the American administration. Can I ask you whether that is now the policy of the British government? And can I ask you both if it is now your policy to target Saddam Hussein, what has happened to the doctrine of not targeting heads of states and leaving countries to decide who their leaders should be, which is one of the principles which applied during the Gulf War?

THE PRIME MINISTER: Well, John, you know it has always been our policy that Iraq would be a better place without Saddam Hussein. I don't think anyone can be in any doubt about that, for all the reasons I gave earlier. And you know reasons to do with weapons of mass destruction also deal with the appalling brutality and repression of his own people. But how we now proceed in this situation, how we make sure that this threat that is posed by weapons of mass destruction is dealt with, that is a matter that is open. And when the time comes for taking those decisions, we will tell people about those decisions.

. . .

THE PRIME MINISTER: You talked about no linkage there. There is a reason why United Nations resolutions were passed, nine of them, calling upon him to stop developing weapons of mass destruction. I mean, there is a reason why weapons inspectors went in there, and that is because we know he has been developing these weapons.

We know that those weapons constitute a threat. Three days after the 11th of September when I made my first statement to the House of Commons in Britain, I specifically said then this issue of weapons of mass destruction has got to be dealt with. And the reason for that is that what happened on the 11th of September was a call to us to make sure that we didn't repeat the mistake of allowing groups to develop destructive capability and hope that, at some point in time, they weren't going to use it. They develop that destructive capability for a reason.

Now, we've made it very clear to you how we then proceed and how we deal with this. All the options are open. And I think after the 11th of September, this President showed that he proceeds in a calm and a measured and a sensible, but in a firm way. Now, that is precisely what we need in this situation, too.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/04/20020406-3.html
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
struggle4progress Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 06:08 PM
Response to Original message
53. Why can't we just ignore Drudge?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
progressivebydesign Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 07:10 PM
Response to Original message
55. What a freakin' spinmiester!! And the people will believe him. n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
drduffy Donating Member (739 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 07:15 PM
Response to Original message
56. Every day I say a little prayer....
attacking a few more of the neurons surrounding C's heart. My rationale? A heartless SOB should be heart-less. It is only just.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
MiniMe Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 07:27 PM
Response to Original message
57. Isn't that the point? That the memo was written before we got......
Isn't that the point? That the memo was written before we got involved in Iraq and before we went to the UN? Why would that be a point to dispute the memo's authenticity?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
oblivious Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 07:33 PM
Response to Original message
58. CNN: "Cheney said he had not read the so-called "Downing Street memo.""
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
aion Donating Member (574 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 07:34 PM
Response to Original message
59. Asking Hitler Whether Poland was Justified -- You weren't expecting truth
...were you?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
radar Donating Member (447 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 07:41 PM
Response to Original message
60. The memo he hadn't read?
Wolf Blitzer asked Vice President Cheney yesterday if he had read the Downing Street Minutes.
BLITZER: Did you read the so-called Downing Street memo?
CHENEY: No, I did not.


I got that heads-up via ThinkProgress...
http://thinkprogress.org/2005/06/24/cheney-on-downing-street-ignorance-is-bliss/

But, for the transcript...
CNN WOLF BLITZER REPORTS
Cheney Interview; Aruban Judge Arrested; Rumsfeld Grilled in Senate; Insurgents Continue Campaign in Iraq
Aired June 23, 2005 - 17:00 ET

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0506/23/wbr.01.html

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Auntie Bush Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 07:52 PM
Response to Original message
61. What does he know? He's been in an underground bunker
on life support for the past 3 1/2 years.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NYC Liberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 09:14 PM
Response to Original message
63. OF COURSE IT WAS WRITTEN BEFORE WE WENT TO WAR!!!
That is the POINT asshole!! :mad:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Up2Late Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-24-05 09:27 PM
Response to Original message
64. "...And remember what happened after the supposed memo was written...
...We went to the United Nations..."

AND!

You are SOOOOOOOOOOOO Busted Dick!

Locking! (him up) Look into the disk, Look into the disk
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
LightningFlash Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-25-05 03:05 AM
Response to Original message
65. Ahhh yes, of course.....
Nice try, fat ass....

http://www.rawstory.com/exclusives/muriel/path_of_war_timeline_613.htm
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Backstory_Confirming_the_Downing_Street_0614.html

Happened before the U.N. security? Or happened after the fact?

Which is it tricky dick? Oh that's right. Another bullshit lie. Here comes the DSM.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
pinniped Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-25-05 04:54 AM
Response to Original message
66. He hit his 1,000,000 lie quota and look where he is now.
.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
evolvenow Donating Member (800 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-25-05 05:25 AM
Response to Original message
68. He also said"Gitmo is fine and gives the prisoners "time in the tropics"
UnFlipping believable. Breaking every Geneva Convention, HUman rights gain, and this WAR CRIMINAL thinks that people are being treated very well in a concentration camp, against their will, without ability to contact family, lawyer, nada, tortured, and who knows what else, and IMHO, according to many experts, none of these people have done anything wrong, and even if they had, are they not entitled to representation, a trial, no torture? Not if Dick gets to say so. How about he takes all of his billions and checks in at Spa Gitmo, seeing as how it is so lovely there. WTF!!


kick the WAR CRIMINALS out of the WH and into the HAGUE
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Fri May 03rd 2024, 04:25 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Latest Breaking News Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC