Study: False statements preceded war

[many a good man]

Source: AP

19 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - A study by two nonprofit journalism organizations found that President Bush and top administration officials issued hundreds of false statements about the national security threat from Iraq in the two years following the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The study concluded that the statements "were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanized public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses."

...

The study counted 935 false statements in the two-year period. It found that in speeches, briefings, interviews and other venues, Bush and administration officials stated unequivocally on at least 532 occasions that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction or was trying to produce or obtain them or had links to al-Qaida or both.

"It is now beyond dispute that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction or have meaningful ties to al-Qaida," according to Charles Lewis and Mark Reading-Smith of the Fund for Independence in Journalism staff members, writing an overview of the study. "In short, the Bush administration led the nation to war on the basis of erroneous information that it methodically propagated and that culminated in military action against Iraq on March 19, 2003."

Named in the study along with Bush were top officials of the administration during the period studied: Vice President Dick Cheney, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and White House press secretaries Ari Fleischer and Scott McClellan.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080123/ap_on_go_pr_wh/misinformation_study_4

[babylonsister]

1. Rec'd. The hell with impeachment, they should go straight to jail.

:grr:

[Skittles]

3. to hell with the people who fell for that nonsense too

including some running for president

[TheWraith]

4. And yet, as long as they have the Republican senators on their side, they're bulletproof.

Strange but true.

[kenfrequed]

103. Impeachment!

Impeachment hearings would be the best thing to put these loyal Bushites out of office.

[TheWraith]

204. Do you really think they'd flip 17 Republican Senators?

Even assuming that every Dem in the House supported the idea, and assuming that every Dem in the Senate could be lined up--both long-shot ideas to start with--you'd still need 67 senators to convict and remove from office. That means all the Dems plus 17, assuming that you don't include Lieberman in our total.

After all the shit that they've been caught doing and rationalizing, what makes you think that the Republican senators have any shame at all, that they could be bullied or humiliated into breaking with the Shrub?

[kenfrequed]

226. It is about doing the right thing

Whether or not you "flip 17 repubs" we have to do what is right for the good of our nation. If we do not hold Bush accountable today, then the next president (whatever the party) will take Bush as the starting point and as a measure of what is acceptable.

But if you are a pragmatist than I would have to point out that holding republican congressional feet to the fire might even be MORE important than getting Hill-bama elected. Force the entire republican party to embrace Bush and explain why they backed his idiotic policies. It allows us to run against Bush, which is probably one of the best sales pitches we have for getting party activists active again, and getting independents to the polls on our side.

[superconnected]

178. And a few democrat representatives, namely Pukelosi.

[struggle4progress]

9. Preferably one of their own secret jails

[Larry Ogg]

109. Hold on there, new evidence exonerates Bush and Cheney from all the deceit

concerning the war on terror.

Its true these peace loving god fearing Christian men were completely duped and misled by a leading Democrat…



Who would have ever thunk…

[Seabiscuit]

The hell with impeachment and jail, they should go straight to hell, without passing "Go".

[Supersedeas]

159. War Criminals -- plain and simple

[gateley]

219. That is so what I would prefer -- and a REAL jail. Like an Alcatraz. nt

[Leftisalwaysright]

2. And Yet Some Still Don't See It

I don't get how people can read studies like this and still believe in the GOP. I don't care what they say while trying to get elected, they're all the same.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

27. but we have Democrats who supported them

and prob still do?

[harmonicon]

112. two of the democrats who supported them are running for president.

[midnight]

133. You know what I find confusing is all the lies. The information

that was being discussed on the senate floor when the war was started is much different today. But we still have two in office that have continued financial support of this war, and will continue it for longer than needs to.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

150. I don't think you can just cut funding like that. You have to bring the troops home first!

We still have troops over there who haven't come home yet and we cannot leave them without funds. There doesn't seem to be a concrete plan to bring them home. The troops on the ground would be the first to suffer if funding is cut.

[eagleswing963]

167. I disagree

If we needed to evacuate that country tomorrow, the planes would be there!!!
Money or no money, those troops would be out if the order to retreat was given!

Its a matter of an ego maniac who would rather see men die then admit he screwed up.

Some Christian! I am glad I left that hokie religion!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

173. it's not that simple

[Hersheygirl]

129. Everyone is born ignorant

But it takes hard work to remain ignorant.

Ben Franklin

Republicans must be working overtime to become that ignorant.

[superconnected]

179. you can't help the willfully blind.

[Botany]

5. So they lied to start a war and over 1 million are dead

Nancy, you want to do anything?

[babylonsister]

7. Ha! Fat chance. nt

[razors edge]

Her dinner table is covered

in dead bodies also, no room for anything else till after desert.

Chilled brains anyone?

[Stuart G]

6. Do you suppose?...........

Do you suppose if we were somehow to be able to talk to those who wrote the Constitution and those who signed it, how many would think the facts in this study, specifically the 935 false statements........if the writers and signers would say that this constituted "high crimes and misdemeanors.." Of if they would just consider these people who lied to kill, treasonous assholes, and string em up...forget jail..............

[many a good man]

11. It's the HIGHEST of the high crimes

and meanest of the misdemeanors.

I will not stop now to give my opinion concerning--to involve the two countries in a war, and trusting to escape scrutiny, by fixing the public gaze upon the exceeding brightness of military glory--that attractive rainbow, that rises in showers of blood--that serpent's eye, that charms to destroy he plunged into it, and has swept, on and on, till, disappointed in his calculation of the ease with which might be subdued, he now finds himself, he knows not where. How like the half insane mumbling of a fever-dream, is the whole war part of his late message! ... At one time, urging the national honor, the security of the future, the prevention of foreign interference, and even, the good of herself, as among the objects of the war; at another, telling us, that "to reject indemnity, by refusing to accept a cession of teritory, would be to abandon all our just demands, and to wage the war, bearing all it's expenses, without a purpose or definite object<.>" So then, the national honor, security of the future, and every thing but teritorial inderrmity, may be considered the no-purposes, and indefinite, objects of the war!

-A. Lincoln (updated)

[struggle4progress]

8. It might be real news if anybody caughtem tellin th'truth about sumthin

[HowHasItComeToThis]

10. HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS,IMPEACH AND TREASON

IMPECH AND TREASON

[unkachuck]

25. and I love the....

....strict constructionist types who won't impeach a criminal president or demand that only congress declare wars....

....what a bag of shit....

[gratuitous]

12. Just 935 little white lies

Heck, what was the harm done? It's not like anybody di--.

Quit rememberin' stuff!

[UpInArms]

13. where's rocknation? doesn't he have a list of "you call this news?"

what rock have these (errrr mmmmm - "journalism") folks been living under?

[danhan]

23. The problem is.....

The problem is that all of these statements can be prefaced with the words "based upon the best information we have,..."

Try it. It is just like adding the words "in bed" to whatever your fortune cookie says. Works every time.:sarcasm:

Seriously, does anyone know where one can find the actual list of quotes and when they were said?

[danhan]

24. The 935 quotes that is.

[orleans]

54. here you go

there is a link on the left "search the database" that you should check out:
http://www.publicintegrity.org/WarCard/Default.aspx?src=project_home&context=bibliography&id=949

[UpInArms]

121. here's one of my favorite links to the lies

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/02/03/nwmd103.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/02/03/ixnewstop.html

How the official line changed on WMD
By Toby Helm
Last Updated: 12:01am GMT 03/02/2004

Toby Helm tracks the way Tony Blair and George Bush have shifted their stance since concerns that Saddam had a hidden arsenal first came to the fore

What the Government said about the threat from Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

Before the war

Sept 24, 2002: The Government's official dossier on the threat from Saddam's weapons - Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction, The Assessment of the British Government - is published.

It states: "Intelligence shows that Saddam attaches great importance to the possession of chemical and biological weapons which he regards as being the basis for Iraqi regional power.

"He believes that respect for Iraq rests on its possession of these weapons and the missiles capable of delivering them.

"Intelligence indicates that Saddam is determined to retain this capability and recognises that Iraqi political weight would be diminished if Iraq's military power rested solely on its conventional military forces."

Tony Blair, in his foreword to the dossier, wrote that the document "discloses that his military planning allows for some of his WMD to be ready within 45 minutes of an order to use them."



Sept 25: Mr Blair says during a Commons debate on Iraq: "His weapons of mass destruction programme is active, detailed and growing.

"The policy of containment is not working. The WMD programme is not shut down. It is up and running now."

Nov 18: Mr Blair, speaking on Radio Monte Carlo, makes clear the aim is to disarm Saddam of his WMD, rather than to remove him from power.

"I have got no doubt that the purpose of our challenge from the UN is disarmament of weapons of mass destruction. It is not regime change," he says.

...more through June 2003...

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

123. I am presuming these are included, from our

own DU journalist, Will Pitt

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3151842&mesg_id=3152348

This is hardly "news", but I think you'll find quite a few of these statements are declarative, without caveats.

MKJ

[momster]

14. In Other News....

Water Wet, Sky Blue.

[Myrina]

15. Thank you, I needed this ....

... just got a new coworker - US Army retired, fire-breathing, testosterone oozing, church going, loves-to-hear-himself-talk O'Reilly watcher. I am going to print this out and tuck it into my planner for the next time he tries to bait me into a "political lunch chat".

Up until now all I've done (for the sake of my job and my other coworkers' sanity) is smile through gritted teeth and say "that's really not a discussion you want to have with me", and remove myself from the group.

:mad: :argh: :banghead:

[navarth]

139. Go, girl. Turn into the fight.

Don't be intimidated by neanderthals. They're slow.

[fshrink]

16. And

all major newspapers, including the NYT endorsed it. Talk about journalism...

[Just-plain-Kathy]

18. Annnnd... we all knew this for years and none of our leaders are holding anyone accountable.

Sure we have a few dems with a spine, but the ones with a voice, remain quiet.

[Dukkha]

17. they needed a study to reach that conclusion?

how about a can of

[harmonicon]

114. yeah, I'm waiting for their new studies to be finished:

1. does shit stink?
2. What tastes better? Honey or rusty razor blades?

[stubtoe]

142. I know. But a documented study lends legitimacy to the argument.

But, what the hell took them so long!? :mad:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. A little slow to catch on, aren't they?

I knew this in, oh, about the winter of 2003.

[swag]

20. Eat that, Tony Snow.

[underpants]

84. Stop trying to change the subject

I assume you are referring to his "performance" on Bill Maher

[Radio_Lady]

166. ... along with your cowardly yellow snow...

[CubicleGuy]

199. Tony Snow?

Hey, he was just following orders.

He got paid the big bucks to lie, so lie he did. Maybe he told himself that it wasn't up to him to discern what was true from what was false. That wasn't in the job description. All he had to do to earn the big bucks was to parrot what they gave him to say.

So, Mr. Snow, was it really worth your soul?

[Hulk]

21. Impeachment is off the table. Maybe it's time to get a new table.

Nancy needs to reconsider her rash promise. This nation demands accountability! There is more info now than when she made her hollow statement, and it's time to reconsider and get these criminals brought to justice.

We aren't talking about a blow job here.....see how this might just be worse?????

[superconnected]

185. The world needs America to hold her government accountable.

For the good of the world, pelosi needs to bring a warcrimes charge forward and impeachment hearings.

Or she needs to step down and help someone who WILL do the right thing take her place.

Even if it stops at the house of representatives, it's still the right thing. When it gets to the senate it will show clearly who the murderous thieves supporters are.

It needs to be on the table for America.

[knight_of_the_star]

22. Naw Shit Sherlock

Took them how long to figure this out?

[NoodleyAppendage]

26. Study? Why not just look at the magnitude of street protests in NYC prior to the war.

250,000 - 400,000 protestors knew they were lying. Here's a thought non-profit journalist organizations...PAY ATTENTION TO THE INFORMED CITIZENRY! You just might learn something and at a much cheaper cost.

J

[underpants]

85. Also, how about when the inspectors were actually THERE and couldn't find anything?

Remember that MONTH before the war? Yeah we all do now but at the time all we heard was "Tell me (insert military rank or government title) why are they just SO INCOMPETENT?"

I have to admit that I fell prey to this myself. For all that I told people I knew how bad of an idea this was and how this surely going to turn out (it did) when a freind asked me if I thought there were NO WMD in IRAQ!?!?!? I said, "Well not to the extent that they say..." when I knew the answer was NO. Shows how psyops works on a population even somewhat informed members of it.

[Le Taz Hot]

116. 250,000 - 400,000??

Hogwash! The news told me there were only 2500 -4000 people so that couldn't possibly be true. :sarcasm:

[Hissyspit]

28. Why do these two non-profit journalistic associations hate their country?

Impeach!

[snot]

29. k&r'd

[Can o Beans]

30. My mother-in-law's reply:

"Well, we know now that those statements were false, but at the time he made those statements, George thought they were true, and so apparently did many congresspeople and senators who had access to exactly the same information."

:wtf:

[bjobotts]

47. Tell mother in law that the downing street memos prove Bush knew better

Plus there is now links to more info that Bush/Cheney and the rest all knew they were exaggerating and lying...they knew about the yellow cake forgery and where it came back from...they were involved with creating false intell. The bastards knew and lied.

[Can o Beans]

48. Really...

If you have more links, I would love to see (and share) them. The DSM doesn't hold too much water 'round here, but I wulod love to have something concrete from a US source that shows he KNEW he was lying.

Thanks for replying...

CoB

[Lasher]

53. 2001: Powell & Rice Declare Iraq Has No WMD and Is Not a Threat

Colon and Condi knew. They said Saddam was not a threat, then changed their rhetoric to help lie us into war.

Powell: He has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against his neighbors.

Rice: But in terms of Saddam Hussein being there, let's remember that his country is divided, in effect. He does not control the northern part of his country. We are able to keep arms from him. His military forces have not been rebuilt.

Site includes video clip: http://www.thememoryhole.org/war/powell-no-wmd.htm

Bush knew too, and here's proof: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5281919

Who said what, when: http://www.rotten.com/library/history/war/wmd/saddam/

Cheney & Libby knew yellowcake claims were bogus: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x306837

Junior was told the aluminum tubes were more likely intended for conventional weapons: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x795091

Fake photos shown to members of Congress to con them into supporting the invasion: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1716813

Junior was told repeatedly, no WMDs, no al Qaeda: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x181739

WMD before and after: http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/03/06/10_wmd.html

[stubtoe]

144. I nominate Lasher for official DU historian!

Excellent job as always, Lasher. Thanks for the links and info.

[Lasher]

157. Aw shucks.

Wasn't nothin'.



But I will confess to having a few bookmarks stored under 'Iraq War'.

[mwb970]

68. Why is it important to your M-I-L that bush be totally innocent?

And it's not just her. The Fox-watching Denial Brigade seems to take any criticism of the worthless bush as a personal criticism of them. They are willfully blind. People like this are hopeless. Good luck with her!

[lumberjack_jeff]

135. Isn't it?

Isn't it a criticism of them? I knew in 2000 that George was going to get us into some sort of clusterfuck. I knew in 2002 exactly which clusterfuck.

Is it more likely that a guy who calls himself "lumberjack" is omniscient, or is it more likely that the voters and the press didn't do their due diligence?

The emotion shame serves a useful purpose. The cure is redemption - fixing the problems you've caused... but the first step is acknowledging that you've caused it.

[salin]

60. The NIE that was presented to Congress was not the same NIE that was

presented to the WH. The White House version had a whole lot of footnotes with caveats indicating where intelligence was not backed up with other details and thus still questionable - these footnotes were throughout the document. The document that was presented to Congress was stripped of the footnotes and caveats.

We now have plenty of examples (esp from the EPA as good examples) where the admin has a political functionary, go in and edit documents to make it "fit" to the Admin stand - stripping out scientifically reached conclusions and statements. So in 2008, this should be harder to fathom to the person who wants to believe the admin worked in good faith, than it was when it was revealed before the Intelligence Senate committee in 2004-5.

On the day that CIA folks responsible for preparing the NIE spoke before the Senate Intelligence committee the conceded that there were two NIEs and that the stripped down one presented to Congress was vastly different and led the reader to vastly different conclusions. They also testified that they did not know who ordered or carried out the final changes (stripping down).

So no, the Congress believed what they were led to believe from a stripped down intel report that was very deceptive and very different than what the White House had seen/had in their possession. The WH intentionally misled congress.

[donkeyotay]

212. At the time we were standing united behind the biggest twit on the planet.

There had been some kind of national security leak and Cheney and the Repos were running around snarling at the congress for being pro-terrorist. There was an FBI investigation, and to see the NIE you had to sign in to read it under guard, knowing that alone would get your phone tapped. Very few read it, but not many remember what was going on at the time.

[underpants]

83. I knew they were false and *I* did everything I could to prevent it

Yes they should have, face they did know they had to, but it is up to us and her, your mother-in-law, to find out. People who failed to criticise and those who blindly followed have blood on their hands as far as I am concerned.

[Canuckistanian]

217. "exactly the same information"

Now there's a disputable statement.

[kotsu]

31. Well Duhhhhh

Journalists are just now figuring that out?

[laconicsax]

43. Welcome to DU

[WePurrsevere]

58. No, most have known all along and...

were either complacent or accessories. :grr:

The last two paragraphs of the article linked above address this abhorrent little fact... journalistic integrity indeed.. pfft!

As Gore Vidal said in this interesting video (posted on DU almost 2 yrs ago):
When our media does not want to make money out of news, corruption is complete. You would think that that was something totally against nature, you don't want to sell papers, you don't want to sell washing machines or whatever you're selling on television. You don't want to go against what the owners of the country want and they don't want bad news of this sort and the don't want people to really know about these things."

and welcome to DU. :)

[Highway61]

124. Too busy finding out info on Brittany

Welcome to DU!

[Rhiannon12866]

223. The MSM would rather report on the Clinton-Obama bickering.

That's the most important news to them...:-(

Welcome to DU, kotsu! Excellent point and we're very glad to have you with us!:hi:

[idgiehkt]

32. yeah, they got 935 problems but the truth ain't one.

nice the media picks this up about 5 years and a million deaths too late.

[veracity]

33. So why do so many still believe their version of 9/11??

Are these lies a surprise to anyone here? We've known about them....this is simply an official tally. So, why....despite the awareness of more and more people that we've been lied to about EVERYTHING for all these years....why is 9/11 the ONE exception? Why does ANYONE still believe that the official story of what happened had a single line of truth in it? It's amazing...

Think: The Final Holdout: http://tvnewslies.org/blog/?p=648

[frog92969]

41. They believe the myth about collapsing steelframed buildings.

[laconicsax]

45. Because the official story does have some truth to it.

Unless you're alleging that a couple airliners didn't actually hit the WTC towers.

[radiclib]

34. Study shmuddy

Who do you like in the Super Bowl?

[CranialRectaLoopbak]

35. I like the Steelers in 2009

[bigbrother05]

36. Cheney's mantra

It's easier to ask forgiveness, than permission.
Even brought up the media being complacent.

[Dr Fate]

37. We dont have the votes. "We" as in DLC/"centrist" cowards/traitors.

When they tell you "we dont have the votes"- make sure you know who all the "we" is. Hint: It aint just Republicans.

If we cant talk the DLCers and "centrists" out of protecting Bush in the 1st place, we certainly cant get to the Republicans via public pressure...

[Baby Snooks]

38. Above the law...

Congress won't impeach them and the Justice Department won't investigate them. And if things get too hot, they will toss another sacrificial lamb like Scooter Libby to the wolves to cover for them.

As people in Houston are discovering with the most corrupt district attorney in the country, the Republicans control our entire justice system. There is no one to investigate them becuase they are the law enforcement agencies, the prosecutors, and the judges.

They overthrew our government. At the polls.

And if Hillary Clinton becomes president, she will do what Bill Clinton did. Just sweep it all under the rug. And Madame Speaker will serve her the way she served George W Bush.

I no longer believe there is any two party system in this country. The people may identify with a party. But the politicians do not. They are this new party. The Republicrats.

They hijacked the Republican Party. And at some point, they hijacked the Democratic Party as well.

They do not care about the people. They only care about the corporation.

By the corporation. For the corporation.

[Nihil]

63. And the answer is lying here in plain sight.

> I no longer believe there is any two party system in this country.
> ...
> They hijacked the Republican Party. And at some point, they hijacked
> the Democratic Party as well.
>
> They do not care about the people. They only care about the corporation.
>
> By the corporation. For the corporation.

Excellent post!
:toast:

[flying_wahini]

110. I'll drink to that!

... as someone from Houston, too.....

can't believe the corruption in the DA's office...

[Vilis Veritas]

141. Bingo. Corporate Fascism. A kinder gentler fascism ;-)

So long as we submit to the Corporate Will...

The will of the people has been subverted and replaced with the Corporate Will. It all began approx. 100 years ago when Corporations were granted Personhood and constitutional protections.

Peace.

[dwp6577]

156. I now believe you are correct

Here's where we need to concentrate our energy...find a way to take back our democratic party!
I'm at a loss...

great post!

[Lorien]

39. File this under "No shit Sherlock". We need to wallpaper Pelosi's office with

this report. :grr:

[BrklynLiberal]

175. The Sherlock response was my first instinct too....

Hi Lorien.

Hope everyone is doing well....
:hi:

[Norrin Radd]

40. k+r

[McCamy Taylor]

42. So what does it say about MSNBC and Tweety that he says no one believed a word of it?

If we take him at face value, then he is saying that his network, GE/NBC lied when it lead the oil drumbeat to war.

Or maybe he is trying to claim that the American viewing public does not believe what it sees on the news, and that the average US citizen who approved the war did so because he/she wanted a public spectacle rather than out of fear of attack? If so, Tweety should be taken to a town hall, preferably somewhere in the south where lots of hometown men and women are serving their third or fourth tour of duties in Iraq and left to explain himself to the hometown crowd, behind locked and bolted doors.

If GE can afford a sock, they need to put it in Tweety's mouth.

[tucsonlib]

44. I'm Shocked! Shocked!, I Tell You!!

I counted nine hundred and thirty seven.

[complain jane]

46. And the point of this is...?

I'm sure two nonprofit journalism organizations are going to get far with this.

We all have known this forever.

[AllyCat]

49. Well, well. You don't say! How much more proof do we need to impeach these crooks?

And yet, Pelosi just sits on her hands..."we don't have the votes!". Waaa waaa waaa.

Neither did the Congress that impeached Nixon. That is, until they unearthed all the dirt with IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS. Gee, they found the votes then.

This complicit Congress makes me ill.

[deacon]

50. Join me in a HUGE k +r ! n/t

[cutlassmama]

51. Did they leave off a few zeros on the end when they were counting on this study? Only 935?

[ben_meyers]

52. Here's the winger response

The study was posted Tuesday on the Web site of the Center for Public Integrity, which worked with the Fund for Independence in Journalism. White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said he could not comment on the study because he had not seen it.



From the Center for Public Integerity's web site

* Full disclosure: The Open Society Institute, which was founded by George Soros, is a funder of the Center for Public Integrity.

http://www.publicintegrity.org/report.aspx?aid=196


All they will say is it's just Soros again.

[Senator]

55. Repeat: "They Terrorized Fellow Americans With Lies Like 'Mushroom Clouds'"

If you don't say it like that it gets rationalized and euphemized away.

We need to use the "ugly language" to break through the self-delusion and euphemedia fog.

---

[Skittles]

56. no, they terrorized idiots

any thinking person could see they were full of shit

[WePurrsevere]

59. And there in lies a major part of the problem

too many people don't think.

It's so much easier not to so they sit back all warm and comfy and allow themselves to get spoon feed whatever the corporate media choose to feed them, and believe them when they tell us that the manure and toxins they're feeding them is honey.

[mwb970]

69. I never believed a word they said about Iraq.

Not one word. Not for one second.

[lumberjack_jeff]

136. I still don't. n/t

[krabigirl]

138. Yep

[Senator]

147. Even "idiots" can be victims of terrorism

And they can even be our fellow Americans.

But even if no one was fooled, they are still guilty of doing what they did.

And failure to impeach and prosecute them for it is complicity -- approval -- exoneration for the regime.

---

[Skittles]

227. aw I understand that, Senator

my point was more that, not all of us were terrorized - there were a lot of us who never bought any of their bullshit - very often when it comes up they make it sound like everyone was under their b.s. spell - here and around the world that very much was not the case

[Nihil]

65. Don't forget that it wasn't just lies that they used to terrorise their fellow Americans

Anthrax anybody?

P.A.T.R.I.O.T. act?

Guantanamo Bay?

:-(

[IsItJustMe]

87. Fear is a hell-of-a motivator, isn't it? This pResident, his administration along with our

complicit m&m have become masters at it.

[flordehinojos]

57. how could it have "galvanized" public opinion when there were millions of people demonstrating for

peace, no invasion, no occupation, no bush/blair war, out in the streets. i think the report is not representing that fact. in my opinion, bush invaded and occupied iraq against the will of the people, just like he seated himself in the oval office, times two, against the will of the people, just like he gets what he wants, whenever he wants, anytime he wants without ever anyone having said, "NO", to him. that is pathetic, and for that millions of people have died.

[mwb970]

70. Increasingly, it comes down to Americans vs. Republicans.

I'm on America's side!

[anniebelle]

61. So?

How many times are we going to "uncover" more of their lies and deceit? We know, the whole world knows and what good does it do us to know? When are we going to get somewhere with all this information? BushCo needs to be tried for war crimes and crimes against all human decency. They are sick fucks and so are their enablers -- the GOP!

[jonnyra]

62. Because of the Bush/Cheney lies and fabrications

and because a bunch of spineless democrats marched in lockstep to drums of war...America launched missiles across Iraq destroying cities, roads, bridges, hospitals and killing 10's of thousands of innocent Iraqis...men women and children. Our government gave it a name...a cool sounding video game title like Shock and Awe. We all watched on our television sets...many Americans cheered...as bombs reigned down on the innocent populations of the cities we attacked. We watched as cities were reduced to rubble...children were maimed, killed and orphaned...schools disappeared in fire storms. Water supplies were deliberately targeted, power grids were destroyed plunging the citizenry into darkness. We saw the glowing fire balls tower over the cities as massive bombs pummeled the places where people lived, and worked and raised their children. Fox news...CNN...MSNBC...all of 'em created cool graphics and gave the attacks their own unique branding to better sell advertising while cruise missiles, stealth bombers, wave after wave of weapons of mass destruction blanketed a nation that was no threat and had done nothing to America...NOTHING.

Flowery language about spreading peace and democracy does not take away the evil. What we saw that night is pure evil. Democrats and republicans alike bear the responsibility for this evil. Pelosi knows this and this is why impeachment is off the table...they are all guilty of war crimes and she knows this. This is why impeachment or even meaningful hearings will never happen...THEY ARE ALL WAR CRIMINALS.

[Nihil]

74. Excellent post.

> Democrats and republicans alike bear the responsibility for this evil.
> Pelosi knows this and this is why impeachment is off the table...
> they are all guilty of war crimes and she knows this. This is why
> impeachment or even meaningful hearings will never happen...
> THEY ARE ALL WAR CRIMINALS.

[CRH]

195. Thank You, ...

and I won't bother say welcome to DU, you are no Newbie to politics. Your post caught the callus flavor of the event well, as the citizens, who could not put a million protesters in the streets, were presented with channels to voyeurism. Another nation and its population was annihilated before our eyes, in a premeditated act of aggression by our politicians and the docile uninformed electorate, while praising god and wrapping themselves in the bloody flag of patriotism.

Following the invasion, over 70% supported the war, for fear of the alternative, of seeming unpatriotic

[WePurrsevere]

64. K&R here AND Rated & emailed out via Yahoo.. the more that see this, the better.

n/t

[mwb970]

66. In other words, bush and cheney are WAR CRIMINALS!

They should be incarcerated, tried, and convicted. What is the punishment for treason these days?

[formercia]

67. Cut and paste report into editor

search and replace the word Iraq with Iran, change dates, insert new players and republish.

[The Wizard]

71. This puts a number

on the lies, but their policy has always been to lie without compunction and to lie about everything possible so as to not allow anyone to keep up with them.
Everyone but the Pox (deliberate typo) News morans knows it was all based on lies. Unfortunately, all of us will be handed the bill for this. We weren't out in the streets in numbers necessary to stop the lunatic Bush. The days of blaming all of our ills on Clinton's pecker are over for all but the totally brain washed.
What would Dante say?

[lonestarnot]

72. 935 fucking lies? No WAY MORE!

[Cooley Hurd]

73. Sure sounds like a lowball number to me, too...

[AndyA]

75. This story has now been picked up on the front page of MSNBC.

We should all forward it to John Conyers today, asking WHY an American President can LIE to the people of this country so many times, and Congress does NOTHING about it.

Tell us, Rep. Conyers. Just how is that?

K & R - what a way to start the day!

[tanstaafl]

76. DUH

Oh my! You mean they lied us into a war. Wow, who would have thought that Bush and his crew would LIE about something ...

Tell me something I don't know!

[maddogesq]

221. Yep. And the clear sky is blue, and the grass is green.

Not news to me, but nice to see the press it is finally getting.

[beezlebum]

77. um...is this rly newz too anyone?

well, it's news that the msm is actually admitting it, albeit 5 fucking years too late! it's basically negligent homicide, and accomplice to murder, and aiding and abetting murder and grand larceny, and reckless operation of a vehicle. a couple million counts. on behalf of both the media as well as our negligent congress. and senate. including a few presidential hopefuls.

now all those sleeping citizens should know that all us crazy libruls have been right all this time, that our troops are there based on nearly a thousand lies, so they should all join in our calls to BRING THEM HOME and IMPEACH. NOW.

[beezlebum]

86. ...i'm suspicious...

tha corporation in charge knows that republicans will not be able to do it's bidding any longer, so now, it's FINALLY admitting the criminal activity, hoping that everyone will rally against bushco., swaying the vote to __insert name of corporatist democrat here__...too tinfoily? perhaps, but i can't help but wonder...

[Binka]

192. Welcome To DU Great Post On A Very Somber Subject

Jesus anyone who believed anything flopping out of Bush's mouth after the fiasco of stealing FLA was and IS a motherfucking idiot. Everything people needed to know about that smarmy malignant narcissistic psycho was apparent then.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

78. Well, duh!!!!

It's taken over 4 years (nearly 5) for somebody to complete a "study" to tell us what most of us here knew AT THE TIME?!!!! If only the major news organizations and other journalists were doing what they should have been doing, which is to say critically examining and questioning the (mis-)administration's statements and assertions THEN, maybe we wouldn't be in stuck in such a jam in Iraq right now and countless soldiers and Iraqi civilians would still be alive (and in one piece). *sigh*

[paparush]

79. Torch. Pitchfork. Repeat

[Wednesdays]

80. I once had a paid singing gig

in a choir for religious services. That is, until they started signing onto Bushco's war effort. The clincher for me was when the preacher for the day got up to the pulpit and actually called for war against Iraq, citing the threat of Iraq's "weapons of mass destruction." I couldn't stand it any longer. After the service I stood up and ranted to the other choir members, "Where is the evidence of weapons of mass destruction? Where?" (To which they just shrugged like a bunch of dummies and said, "That's how it is.") I walked out, and never returned.

That was November 2002.

I like being vindicated, but I don't like the vindication coming 5 years and thousands of deaths later.

[Phred42]

81. Sounds Impeachable to Me

Pelosi & Reid need to go ASAP.
Continuing to ignore the mountains of High Crimes and misdemeanors committed by the Bush Crime Family is inexcusable and makes Pelosi & Reid and Pelosi Accessories after the fact

http://www.law.cornell.edu/donors/solicit.php?http_referer=/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000003----000-.html

TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 1 >

Accessory after the fact

Whoever, knowing that an offense against the United States has been committed, receives, relieves, comforts or assists the offender in order to hinder or prevent his apprehension, trial or punishment, is an accessory after the fact.
Except as otherwise expressly provided by any Act of Congress, an accessory after the fact shall be imprisoned not more than one-half the maximum term of imprisonment or (notwithstanding section 3571) fined not more than one-half the maximum fine prescribed for the punishment of the principal, or both; or if the principal is punishable by life imprisonment or death, the accessory shall be imprisoned not more than 15 years.

[IsItJustMe]

82. All of this is so predictable when you have our media in the hands of a few powerful corporations.

These corporations have a vested interest of not reporting anything unfavorable about this administration, so our news has become nothing more than a rehash of what the administration says.

[DanG2012]

88. George Bush and White House issued 935 false statements after September 11

Source: news.com.au

US President George W Bush and other top officials issued almost one thousand false statements about the national security threat from Iraq following the September 11 attacks, according to a study by two not-for-profit organisations.

According to the study, 935 false statements were issued by the White House in the two years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

“It is now beyond dispute that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction or have meaningful ties to al-Qaeda,” wrote the study’s authors Charles Lewis and Mark Reading-Smith.

“In short, the Bush administration led the nation to war on the basis of erroneous information that it methodically propagated and that culminated in military action against Iraq on March 19, 2003.”

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23097132-1702,00.html

---

ok, SOME of us have know this for YEARS, but at last its in print...

peace,
DanG

[freedomnorth]

89. duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3151842&mesg_id=3151842

[lapfog_1]

90. Now if we can get some major news source to

fact check and publish this.

This Aussie news web site is great... but by itself, won't be enough to catapult this into the MSM.

BTW, welcome to DU!

[jimshoes]

91. I'm sure it was

just an accident.


Oh BTW :sarcasm:

[FreeStateDemocrat]

92. MSNBC has picked this up: Study: Bush led U.S. to war on 'false pretenses'

Hundreds of false statements on WMDs, al-Qaida used to justify Iraq war

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22794451/


Impeach the warmonger. The worst thing any president can do is lead our country into a costly, unnecessary war by lying about the justification.


edited to add article headline.

[Lochloosa]

93. And the most telling statement from the article

Some journalists — indeed, even some entire news organizations — have since acknowledged that their coverage during those prewar months was far too deferential and uncritical. These mea culpas notwithstanding, much of the wall-to-wall media coverage provided additional, 'independent' validation of the Bush administration's false statements about Iraq," it said.

[MissDeeds]

94. Only 935?

Every time Bush and company opened their mouths, drafted a statement, or issued a "terra threat" they lied. And as a result, soldiers died, and died, and died.

[Demeter]

99. I'm Sure That's Off By a Factor of Ten

But maybe they were very restrictive in their definitions...

[Orsino]

100. They're probably only counting September 12th. n/t

[bullimiami]

95. and hes not impeached and charged for what reason exactly?

is it because american royalty is untouchable?

[Massachusetts]

97. Exactly.

[Art_from_Ark]

98. They'll only impeach him if he lies

about getting a blow job :crazy:

[Homer Wells]

190. Even that won't work!!

Were he to receive this service from some willing(?) provider, the MSM and the Repug Party would merely cite it as his right to receive said service, in the interest of keeping his Morale(?) up!!

:grr: :spray:

[SpiralHawk]

96. "Move along. There is nothing to see here (smirk). - republicon corporate Ministry of Truthiness

[Doctor_J]

107. Too bad impeachment is off the table

:eyes:

[MessiahRp]

115. I'd say I'm surprised but unlike our President I am not a compulsive liar.

n/t

[paparush]

101. Nancy!!! Tap Tap Tap..is this thing on?? NANCY!!!!!!

[racaulk]

102. Gee...ya think?

Hey Nancy, are we still keeping the powder dry?

K&R

[wizstars]

104. DUH-UH....

What??? Our pResident a LIAR??? How can ANYONE say that???

:sarcasm:

:kick:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

105. K & R. Might have saved them some time if they'd read Will Pitt's post from almost 3 yrs ago,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3968849

MKJ

:kick:

[BrklynLiberal]

106. No shit Sherlock!! Big fat DUH!!! Is this news to anyone with a brain??

[MrsBrady]

108. i'd lust like to say....DUH!!!!! n/t

[mdmc]

111. Their lies unified the country. Impeachment would divide the country

:eyes:

Democrats, stand behind me.

[paparush]

119. Orwell Rises From the Grave and Gives You Mega Props!

Golf Clap all around!

That is the perfect summation of the lunacy in which we live.

[mdmc]

209. thank you for the kind words my friend

Peace and low stress.

[donkeyotay]

214. Notice how the people who united behind the lies,

ignored the fact that bush never "made the case for war," and called those who tried to bring out the facts anti-American never said they were sorry? Now, for the sake of unity we're supposed to join them! I think the Reagan Democrats need to knock over the Koolaide stand and come home.

[mdmc]

215. here is the problem

The DLC is raygun dems. Our party has been taken over by the triangulators. It is just the neo-cons vs. the moderate conservatives. The progressives are out in the cold.

[bdamomma]

113. more evidence and they are still running free,

this is total BS, is it pitchfork time yet? They are criminals and they need to be held accountable for their acts. Look at what they done to this country??? oh, just preaching to the choir here.

[underpants]

117. 4.2 deaths per lie

3,931 / 935

[wintersoulja]

118. Sure fooled Edwards

couldnt have fooled Hillary with all her experience.
I wonder why she didnt foil 9-11-01?

[debbierlus]

120. Many of us knew this from DAY 1:

And, it is really pathetic that only NOW, we see it on the front page top story of major web browser.

Dems won't do anything. They just put contempt hearings for the obstruction of justice case on hold...
You think they are going to touch impeachment.

[happygoluckytoyou]

122. AND WHAT ABOUT THIS DID WE NOT ALREADY KNOW???

NOT ONLY THE GOP ADMINISTRATION--- BUT THE ENTIRE GOP LED DO-NOTHING CONGRESS WHICH SUPPORTED THEIR MAN IN THE WHITEHOUSE TO THE POINT THAT NO VOICES OF REASON WERE HEARD SHOULD BE REASON ENOUGH THAT EVERY ONE OF THEM IS VOTED OUT IN 2008.

HOORAY FOR THE FEW WHISTLE-BLOWERS... FRANCE... DIXIE CHICKS... CODE-PINK... DENNIS K.... WHO GOT IT RIGHT AND STOOD UP------ SADLY, YOU KNOW, THEIR BRAVERY WILL NEVER BE TOUTED IN THE PRESS

[npincus]

125. Impeachment, then The Hague

[The Stranger]

126. Paging the Nancy Disaster and her table . . .

[Summer93]

127. Military - How do they see this?

I know they are all "Yes" men so they can't say anything against their "commander in chief" but..

Are they gonna pack a lunch for him to take to Paraguay?

Or is there any chance that he could be taken into custody?

[JohnyCanuck]

224. Not a chance.

On the contrary, they'll provide and F16 escort to fly him and his boxed lunch down there.

[gristy]

128. wow - 6500 recommends at the bottom of the link

Be sure to recommend at the link. I looked at a few other Yahoo articles this morning, and they usually get 10's or at most 100's of recommends.

[Javaman]

130. They are called LIES!!!

STOP THIS FALSE STATEMENT BULLSHIT.

[LeftHander]

131. Obviously non-profit journalism is Un-Amerikan....

Why do they hate America so much?

[Ian David]

132. It's a good thing someone took Impeachement off the table, or he'd be in big trouble. n/t

[navarth]

134. Holy Breaking News Batman!!!

The sun came up this morning. The bear shits in the woods. Bu$h lied.

All BIIIIG surprises.

They wouldn't be letting this have any play unless they were trying to distract us from something else, that's my theory. They know Bu$h will never see the inside of a jail cell.

[L0oniX]

137. Nice list of criminals but don't forget Bill Kristal and Henry Kissinger and others like them.

"Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy." -- Henry Kissinger

[navarth]

148. not to mention

David Frum, Judith Miller, Chris Matthews, the entire Fake News Channel, Christopher Hitchens (sadly)

[L. Coyote]

140. HELLO! Standard Practice, always has been, we pay for the lies with taxes folks!

The USG spend millions on propaganda. We taxpayers pay for our lies!!

from: Next STOP Iran? More BUSH LIES and Surging Toward War With Iran
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x980363

US Journalist Quit Pentagon Iraqi Media Project = $96M Propaganda Project

Wednesday, January 14th, 2004
U.S. Journalist Quits Pentagon Iraqi Media Project Calling it U.S. Propaganda
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/01/14/1555223

Listen LINK

We talk to a longtime TV producer about the massive problems he saw in the new U.S.-funded Iraqi Media Network, which he said became an "irrelevant mouthpiece for Coalition Provisional Authority propaganda, managed news and mediocre programs." The U.S. has awarded a $96 million contract to a U.S. producer of communications equipment, Harris Corp., to create a U.S.-funded national media network in Iraq.

According to the head of Harris Corp, the Iraqi Media Network will have 30 TV and radio transmitters, three broadcast studios, and 12 bureaus around Iraq. .....


15. BUSH's LIES: "federal agencies spent $1.6 billion on what some Democrats called 'spin.' "

Bush administration propaganda and disinformation
From SourceWatch - http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bush_administration_propaganda_and_disinformation

The Bush administration "spent $1.4 billion in taxpayer dollars on 137 contracts with advertising agencies over the past two-and-a-half years, according to a Government Accountability Office report released by House Democrats" on February 13, 2006, Richard Williamson reported for Adweek. "With spending on public relations and other media included, federal agencies spent $1.6 billion on what some Democrats called 'spin.'" ............

The GAO reported that the "six largest recipients of ad and PR dollars were" Leo Burnett USA, $536 million; Campbell-Ewald, $194 million; GSD&M, $179 million; J. Walter Thompson (JWT), $148 million; Frankel & Company, $133 million; and Ketchum, $78 million. "The agencies received more than $1.2 billion in media contracts, according to the report," according to Adweek. ........

13. Pentagon OK's Propaganda for Iraq (and Possibly Elsewhere)

Pentagon OK's Propaganda for Iraq (and Possibly Elsewhere)
Source: Los Angeles Times, March 4, 2006 - http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-infowar4mar04,0,1357115.story?coll=la-home-world
http://www.prwatch.org/node/4517

Declaring it "within our authorities and responsibilities," the top U.S. general in Iraq, George Casey, announced that the Lincoln Group program that covertly places stories written by U.S. troops in Iraqi newspapers will continue. Navy Admiral Scott Van Buskirk is also reviewing the Iraq propaganda program. His review was previously described as finished but not public .....

14. The Sword Employs the Pen = "the military's practice of paying journalists"

Center for Media and Democracy » Spin of the Day » Feb 07, 2005

The Sword Employs the Pen
http://www.prwatch.org/node/3260

The Pentagon is investigating "the military's practice of paying journalists to write articles and commentary ... and also looking more broadly at Pentagon activities that might involve inappropriate payments to journalists," writes Associated Press. CNN reported on Pentagon involvement with two news websites, Southeast European Times (focused on the Balkans) and Magharebia (focused on North Africa). Some 50 journalists were paid by the Pentagon through a private contractor, Anteon Corporation, ..........

==============================
Pentagon Paid Reporters for Stories Overseas
February 06, 2005 - http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000789872

WASHINGTON (AP) The Pentagon’s chief investigator is looking into the military’s practice of paying journalists to write articles and commentary for a Web site aimed at influencing public opinion in the Balkans, officials said Friday.

At the request of Larry Di Rita, chief spokesman for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, the Pentagon’s inspector general, Joseph Schmitz, is reviewing that case and also looking more broadly at Pentagon activities that might involve inappropriate payments to journalists. ...............

[montanto]

143. Sheesh, they lied to us? Dammit!

[arewenotdemo]

145. Code Pink fought the lies

Others covered their (political) asses.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pYATbsu2cP8

[JBoy]

146. CNN doesn't think this is important enough to be on their front page

Evil doers.

[Mountainman]

149. It took them this long to find out what we all knew to be the case in 2002?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

152. these were written off as conspiracy theories in 2002?

[WritersBlock]

151. How come perpetrating an act of war against the US is treason, but lying us into war isn't? n/t

[ladywnch]

153. I'm sorry, but this came a news or surprise to who again??????

I thought this had been well documented/publicized some time ago and MSM will still ignore it and we'll still be the only ones talking about it. :shrug:

[Ecumenist]

154. No kiddin'... What I don't get is why people are so surprised and that

the media is acting like this has come out of the clear blue sky. How could you not know that these SOBs lie everytime they open what passes for a mouth and says A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G. Kicked AND recommended!!

[0007]

155. What can be said that hasn't been said before? The only thing left

is what is gonna happen to these first class criminals. The same that happened to Libby?


What I can’t understand is the contant and irrational hatred of Cheney. I mean, I’ve met and dealt with the man personally, and I’ve known him to be a kind, level-headed, fairly normal guy.

Oh wait…. Halliberton, right? Didn’t Clinton give Halliberton the no-bid contracts? And another thing… everybody cries about Halliberton, but people seem to forget that many of the products and services Halliberton provides ARE ONLY PROVIDED by Halliberton. It’s not like you can go down to True-Value and buy oil-rig equipment, you know. Get real.

[Broadslidin]

158. May our Imperial Military Invasion of Iraq be a major contributor to the Bankruptcy of the US Empire

The imperial US paper coupons will no longer be the
currency of choice in drawing up international contracts.
(Especially in the crude oil biz)

[backscatter712]

160. Can we hang the war criminal yet?

Disclaimer to Secret Service: (Hi, Agent Mike!) Note that I am advocating a judicial execution, not an assassination.

[Botany]

161. and look what the lies have brought

http://warnewstoday.blogspot.com/

Gunmen killed the dean of Baghdad University's dental school while he was driving home from work on Wednesday, Iraqi police said. They said they found the body of Munthar Muhrej Radhi, who headed the country's premier dental school, in the front of his car in western Baghdad. He had been shot multiple times.

[troubleinwinter]

162. We should write the entire article on a tablecloth for Nancy Pelosi.

Send it to her and tell her we have something to help her set the table.

[otohara]

163. So Many Still Think Colin Powell Has CREDIBILITY

shit, he was second to Bush on "false" AKA "lies".

[JohnyCanuck]

225. And he even beats out

Dick "Snarling man" Cheney for the silver. Way to go Colin!

[Cant trust em]

164. News bulletin! 2+2=4.

Tell me something I didn't already know.

[FREEWILL56]

165. "Study: False statements preceded war."

Gee, you think? I'm not trying to be a wiseass, but too many of us knew they were pushing LIES in order to go to war and we even knew their main motive was the oil and not anything to do with Osama or 9-11. We were silenced or ignored with many in government so scared they handed powers to the executive branch that should never have been given. Many of those running for president are either in on the deception or had the wool pulled over their eyes with those who saw through it being ignored and silenced. This isn't just a shunning from the MSM either as the anthrax had a purpose and some died, remember? This is bigger than most can conceive.
To know who's at fault for this shit, just look at who benefits from it? Many have said follow the money and it doesn't stop in the white house as corporations are the real culprit with the white house as the new patsy go-between for those that really have the control. The rest in government are under their control or squelched enough until they get it. This country is no longer of the people, by the people, and for the people and there is a great evil within it.

[Sam Ervin jret]

168. FALSE STATEMENTS ALWAYS PROCEDE WAR

and then they walk right along side it and follow it, they wright the history of war. False statements are not news.

It's the number, the audacity, the gullibility/ complicity of ALL of the press and the absolute bastardization of the very language that we speak and read that is new.

Torture that cannot be defined?

Prisoners of war that are not called as such so they do not have the right of such?

mercenaries who get paid a fortune (and never come home flag draped coffins) are called military consultants.

Said mercenaries are said to do the "important work for our country and we need them over there" YET see above why are they NEVER in the FUCKING COFFINS. NO ONE IS THAT GOOD IF they are doing "important stuff and they are that "good", let them do the stuff that all these kids are getting killed going and let the kids do their job!

UP is DOWN AND DOWN I UP that is the difference not just lies. Not even damn lies. An alternate reality is being built and asked to be accepted ( and for many is accepted) by those in power. That's a lot worse than just some lies in the time of WAR. it's even worse than lies that get you into war. Which are pretty horrible.

[focusfan]

169. whats the big deal nothing will be done to Bush or Cheney

as always those crooks get a slap on the wrist.

[mhatrw]

170. Follow up study: Water is wet n/t

[rAVES]

171. Hey I could have told you that without the need of a study..

[D23MIURG23]

172. imagine that! n/t

[Maraya1969]

174. Can the families of dead American soldiers sue bush and/.or whoever

one would sue over this atrocity? There is no dispute that they are responsible for these people's deaths. The whole thing is sickening and if one of my family died because of these mass murderers I would want blood.

[DemReadingDU]

176. link to NPR - Study: False statements preceded war

1/23/08 Group: 'Orchestrated Deception' by Bush on Iraq
President Bush and top administration officials made more than 900 false statements in the two years following Sept. 11, 2001, about the national security threat posed by Iraq under Saddam Hussein, according to a new report by a public interest group.

The statements by Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, then National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other officials "were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanized public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses," the Center for Public Integrity says in the report.

Steve Inskeep talks with Charles Lewis, founder of the center, about the report, called "The War Card: Orchestrated Deception on the Path to War." The report includes an online database that allows readers to search by phrase, person and subject.

Lewis is currently president of The Fund for Independence in Journalism.

Bush has acknowledged that the prewar intelligence about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction turned out to be wrong, but says that the United States was nonetheless right to remove Saddam from power.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18319248


and here is the report
False Pretenses
Following 9/11, President Bush and seven top officials of his administration waged a carefully orchestrated campaign of misinformation about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein's Iraq.
By Charles Lewis and Mark Reading-Smith
http://www.publicintegrity.org/WarCard /

[superconnected]

177. So when are they going to be tried for war crimes? How about

for the murder of tens of thousands of iraqis?

Oh yeah, forgot, Pelosi doesn't see why.

Fire her ignorant ass.

[superconnected]

180. I bet congress celebrates this by giving the bush admin a few more hundred mil.

At this point we should be trying our senators and representatives for aiding and abetting.

[underpants]

181. __Check out Reuters scrub job on this---

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2750666

[Raster]

182. Two words: THEY LIED!

Wake up America!:kick:

[Raster]

184. Three more words: IMPEACH THE BASTARDS!

Wake up America!:kick:

[katty]

183. Really?! Gee, who knew?! this report took long enough!! too late

[superconnected]

186. It's never too late to catch a felon. There's no statue of limitations

for murders and war criminals.

[gpopple]

187. Both the Government and the Media

Doesn't this show that it's about time to impeach and imprison? I agree with the posts that point out that not only have the Repugs been compromised but the Dems as well. All with the help of Big Media.

I'm writing from GE so I'd imagine Big Brother will be here soon.

[CRH]

188. Don't blame the press, blame yourselves, the Nation has been rogue, ...

for a very long time. How many of us know this, but refuse to acknowledge the brutal truth.

Wake up and smell the destruction, it is not just Bush.

http://www.heatherwokusch.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=63

Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush Jr. and the War Crimes Left Behind

~~ snip (second paragraph) ~~

Back in the heady days of 1991's Persian Gulf War, Commander in Chief Bush Sr. was widely praised for the invasion's rapid end, but the true battle had only begun for many on the ground: the United States had dumped 375 tons of depleted uranium (DU) weaponry on Iraq during the war, despite foreknowledge its radioactivity would make food and water in the bombed regions unsafe for consumption on an indefinite basis (DU remains radioactive for 4.5 billion years). And according to the Geneva Conventions, that's a war crime.

DU is a highly radioactive nuclear waste product valued by the US military for its ability to penetrate tank armor, but it's also a remorseless enemy. A region's food chain is devastated by the trails of carcinogenic dust left in a DU bomb's wake, and of course, humans inhale and absorb the dust as well; even nine years after the war, veterans afflicted with Gulf War Syndrome ailments still had DU traces in their urine. Depleted uranium is also suspected in dramatically elevated levels of birth defects and cancer cases among those in bombed areas, as well as in a wide litany of Gulf War vet health complaints.

But the use of DU weaponry wasn't Bush Sr.'s only transgression in Iraq. US forces also bombed electrical grids that powered 1,410 water-treatment plants for Iraq's 22 million people, even though the Geneva Conventions clearly state that destroying or rendering useless items essential to the survival of civilian populations is illegal under international law and a war crime. An excerpt from "Strategic Attack," a 1998 US Air Force document, explains: "The electrical attacks proved extremely effective ... The loss of electricity shut down the capital's water treatment plants and led to a public health crisis from raw sewage dumped in the Tigris River." A second US Defense Intelligence Agency document, 1991's "Iraq Water Treatment Vulnerabilities," predicted how sanctions would then be used to prevent Iraq from getting the equipment and chemicals necessary for water purification, which would result in "a shortage of pure drinking water for much of the population" leading to "increased incidences, if not epidemics, of disease."

That's where Bill Clinton came in. Far from heeding the dangers of radioactive weaponry, he contributed to the estimated 11 tons of DU weaponry used by NATO forces in the 1999 Balkan conflict. Clinton also strongly supported the devastating sanctions against Iraq that led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. Notoriously, in 1996 when his Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was asked about the roughly half a million Iraqi children some estimated had died as a result of the sanctions, her response was "I think this is a very hard choice, but the price--we think the price is worth it."

~~ end excerpt ~~

How is it many of the folks who want to hold Bush responsible for war crimes, refuse to accept our military and politicians, both parties, are part and parcel, responsible for ignoring the Geneva Conventions, and in the past have refused to allow civilian repair of needed infra structure, at the cost of half a million children dying a slow and miserable death.

These crimes did not just start with the present administration. It is time the citizens of the country as well as many members on this board realize and admit, the US and its government, is a rogue state, guilty of heinous war crimes. History is full of other events, google Kissinger / carpet bombing, if you doubt.

Hillary's spouse does not walk above the fray, and Obama thinks the coalition George H.W. Bush put together for Gulf War I, was an admirable example to mention of cooperative foreign policy. A cooperative foreign policy that introduced depleted uranium into the world of warfare, and led by the world's foremost rogue state. A cooperative foreign policy that prevented the repair of civilian infra structure destroyed with spite for human life, and the governing rules of the Geneva Conventions.

And, most of the people on this board want to put someone into the highest office in the land, who will do nothing to inform the citizens of their plight, i.e., the struggle against a false history and false perception of national identity and heritage. Thus we are doomed to repeat the same repugnant behavior, over and over, again.

So if you want to jail Bush, don't stop there.

Flame on, but after reading every reponse in this thread, few seem aware, and it just needed saying.

[Harry Monroe]

189. And this is news, how...??

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."
-- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials

“The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus become vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth becomes the greatest enemy of the State”
Joseph Goebbels, propaganda minister to Adolph Hitler

[Danieljay]

191. ummm. Duh?

[pdx_prog]

193. Well, duh, Duh, DUH!

Imagine that.....

[lovuian]

194. Traitors all of them

Everyone of them needs to be imprisoned

[Mountainman]

196. I sent a letter to my editor with a link to the study.

I don't think the paper would print it otherwise. They may not print my letter.

[cureautismnow]

197. Preserving, Protecting, and Defending the U.S. Constitution is...

Off the table. :mad:

[pleah]

198. Throw their butts in jail already! How much more evidence is it going to take before

our so called representatives do something!

[Rhiannon12866]

201. Join Congressman Wexler's call for Cheney Impeachment hearings...

http://www.wexlerwantshearings.com/

[Rhiannon12866]

200. K&R! Excellent article and way past time!

My friend sent this to me via e-mail and I'm considering sending this to my mother who won't believe me, but swears by the "news...":woohoo:

[tbyg52]

202. K&R

This is all over the mainstream news, unbelievably. It's even on my local news, just now, with video of a younger W lying his ass off. So now it's out there where everyone can see it. What's it going to *take*?????

[killbotfactory]

203. No shit?

Wow, that's a complete surprise.

[LuckyLib]

205. A toast to many of us who didn't buy it from day one. Gulf of Tonkin, anyone?

[Deny and Shred]

206. They will never, ever go under oath.

or let anyone else. Scooter did, and got caught. Hence the H. Miers no oath, no transcript. The Dick and I must appear together, and NOT under oath, otherwise, sorry America, we're classifying everything and calling evidence of our crimes National Security.
Legally, they can (and do) lie incessantly so long as it's not under oath. Lying in the press will only get them in Public Relations trouble. Why that hasn't kicked in any further? Complacency from the people and the Dem leaders.
Independent Special Prosecutor - seems to be the only way to get anywhere.
W would eventually pardon all involved, just like his pappy, but it is the one useful tool in the bag.

[bandolero]

207. Former Bush Speech-writer Hints at 9/11 Inside Job

The Coastal Post, a monthly newspaper in beau Marin County, CA, has a great article about one of Bush's inside men (Victor Gold- a veteran GOP campaign operative)...read about how 9/11 was the best thing that could've happened to the Cheney administration...

http://www.coastalpost.com/08/01/09_Bush_Speechwriter_13A0B5.html

[demgrrrll]

213. Very interesting. Someday we may know the truth.

[KansDem]

208. Well, I, for one, am glad *that's* settled...

...President Bush and top administration officials issued hundreds of false statements about the national security threat from Iraq in the two years following the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Now, off to The Hague with them!

[fascisthunter]

210. sick

[water]

211. It should be a bombshell...

... but no one really cares.

[Canuckistanian]

216. K&R for the "Duhhh" factor

It was as plain as...

You name the metaphor.

[AnnieBW]

218. What was that number again?

1-800-WELL-DUH

[2008]

220. k&r

[lakeguy]

222. how many of those "false statements" can we call lies?

all of them?