Lies

An excuse for the Administration’s justifications about the policies they pursued in Iraq was that they were based on the best intelligence available and even though much of that proved to be wrong, strong and decisive action was needed to fight those who were arrayed against us. The critics at that time argued that Bush used selected information to bolster a pre-formed agenda.

It is now becoming apparent that the administration ignored accurate intelligence and continues to this day to blatantly lie to the American public about Iraq reality. In addition to the recent NIE report that predicts an increase in insurgent activity, and the just released Bob Woodward book “State of Denial”, a new intelligence report on Iraq is being held until after the November election. Given the examples below, it is obvious that its revelations would be detrimental to the Administration. If there were anything favorable to the Bush position it certainly would be immediately released

The Washington Post today, published a concise table contrasting the administration’s words to the information available to them, although not to the public:

January, February 2003. "It would take 450,000 troops to occupy Iraq, based on experience in Bosnia. Simply securing the most important 25 major cities in Iraq would take 180,000 to 200,000 troops if there were lots of opposition to the US presence and fighting among the Iraqis" – The Pentagon’s Intelligence Planning Division.

March 2004. “To suggest that we need several hundred thousand troops there after military operations cease, after the conflict ends, I don’t think is accurate. I think that’s an overstatement.” Vice President Cheney.


November 11, 2003. "We are seeing the establishment of an insurgency in Iraq" – Robert Richer, head of the CIA’s Near East Division telling Bush and the National Security Council.

November 11, 2003. “I need more data. I don’t want to read in the New York Times that we are facing an insurgency. I don’t want anyone to say it is an insurgency” – Bush to Richer.
“We are not only containing the terrorist threat, we are turning it back.” President Bush in a speech at the Heritage Foundation.


April and May 2005. The overall insurgent attacks in April numbered about 1,700 with 52 Americans dead. In May, the number of attacks rose to 2,000, and 82 Americans died – Pentagon statistics.

May 30, 2005. “I think they’re in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency.” – Vice President Cheney.


May 24, 2006. “Insurgents and terrorists retain the resources and capabilities to sustain and even increase current level of violence through the next year.” – US Secret Intelligence Assessment.

May 22. 2006. “Years from now people will look back on the formation of a unity government as a decisive moment in the story of liberty, a moment when freedom gained a firm foothold in the Middle East and the forces of terror began their long retreat” – President Bush.


Late September 2006. “We also assess that the global Jihadist movement – which includes Al Qaida, affiliated and independent terrorist groups, and emerging networks and cells – is spreading and adapting to counterterrorism efforts… If this trend continues, threats to US interests at home and abroad, will become more adverse, leading to increasing attacks worldwide – Declassified National Intelligence Estimate report.

Early September 2006. “Many Americans… ask the same questions five years after 9/11. The answer is yes. America is safer. We are safer because we have taken action to protect the homeland. We are safer because we are on the offensive against our enemies overseas. We’re safer because of the skill and sacrifice of the brave Americans who defend our people – President Bush.