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PR Push for Iraq War Preceded Intelligence Findings: "White Paper" Drafted before NIE even Requested by John Prados
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by Erik Larson | August 25, 2008 at 08:00 am
289 views | 28 Recommendations | 16 comments
John Prados' analysis of new and older documentary and other evidence that the Bush Administration manipulated the case for war with Iraq
The U.S. intelligence community buckled sooner in 2002 than previously reported to Bush administration pressure for data justifying an invasion of Iraq, according to a documents posting on the Web today by National Security Archive senior fellow John Prados.
The documents suggest that the public relations push for war came before the intelligence analysis, which then conformed to public positions taken by Pentagon and White House officials. For example, a July 2002 draft of the "White Paper" ultimately issued by the CIA in October 2002 actually pre-dated the National Intelligence Estimate that the paper purportedly summarized, but which Congress did not insist on until September 2002.
A similar comparison between a declassified draft and the final version of the British government's "White Paper" on Iraq weapons of mass destruction adds to evidence that the two nations colluded in the effort to build public support for the invasion of Iraq. Dr. Prados concludes that the new evidence tends to support charges raised by former White House press secretary Scott McClellan and by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in its long-delayed June 2008 "Phase II" report on politicization of intelligence.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (16)
at 08:51 on August 25th, 2008
Erik Larson, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Before being Elected President G. W. Bush did already have the Iraq war on his agenda.
at 09:06 on August 25th, 2008
Where Bush Got His Marching Orders
"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to
develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them.
That is our bottom line."
- President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998
"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is
clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons
of mass destruction program."
- President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998
"Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a
great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will
use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is
the greatest security threat we face."
- Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998
"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten
times since 1983."
- Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998
"We urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the
U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if
appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond
effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of
mass destruction programs."
- Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI), Tom
Daschle (D-SD), John Kerry ( D - MA), and others Oct. 9, 1998
"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass
destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and
he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
- Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998
"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass
destruction and palaces for his cronies."
- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999
"There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has invigorated his weapons
programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear
programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In
addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless
using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range
missiles that will threaten theUnited States and our allies."
- Letter to President Bush, Signed by Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL,) and
others,
December 5, 2001
"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and
threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the
mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass
destruction and the means of delivering them."
- Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002
"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical
weapons throughout his country."
- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible
to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as
Saddam is in power."
- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and
developing weapons of mass destruction."
- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002
"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are
confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and
biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to
build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence
reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..."
- Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002
"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the
authority to use force-- if necessary-- to disarm Saddam Hussein because
I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his
hands is a real and grave threat to our security."
- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002
"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working
aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear
weapons within the next five years ... We also should remember we have
always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of
weapons of mass destruction."
- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002
"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years,every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and
destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity.
This he has refused to do."
- Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports
show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and
biological weapon stock, his missile delivery capability, and his
nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to
terrorists, including al Qaeda members. It is clear, however, that if
left unchecked Saddam Hussein will continue to
> increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and
will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002
"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that
Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing
capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass
destruction."
- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002
"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal,
murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a
particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to
miscalculation .. And now he is miscalculating America's response to his
continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass
destruction... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass
destruction is real."
- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003
at 09:13 on August 25th, 2008
Iraq never did have such weapons, never ever! Iraq even complied with UN inspectors and all reports cleared Iraq and Iraq tried to avoid another war and did every thing the UN and the US demanded and yet the US went to war against IRAQ in spite of UN resolutions and against the security counsel. Just admit the wrong and lets turns the page and try to fix the disaster and make sure it never ever happens again.
at 12:41 on August 25th, 2008
Hussein was a brutal dictator installed by the CIA and was given precursors for bio and chem weapons during the Reagan administration. He had programs for these weapons and wanted nukes. However, there's no evidence any of them had been operational during the sanctions, just that he hoped to restart them at some future date. No evidence weapons were moved out of Iraq. David Kay got fired when he couldn't find evidence, and was replaced with Charles Duelfer who found no evidence either.
at 17:45 on August 25th, 2008
Yes, and he destroyed those complying with UN demands and yes he was trained in the US, helped into power and armed by the US. He did even invade Kuwait with US Ambassadors Knowledge and I recall that the US Ambassador let him know that the US would not interfere in Kuwait, The US changed horses though due to political international pressure and maybe because the Ambassador did overstep the boundaries of competence somewhat.
at 12:38 on August 25th, 2008
thanks for the list Joel, a lot of these Dems were complicit, unless they're irresponsible idiots and were used. Clinton definitely needs to be investigated. However, the Bush Administration did manipulate the info that was provided to Congress, and 9/11 shock is not a good excuse.
at 13:46 on August 25th, 2008
The list I provided puts the lie to your allegation. Obviously the nation did not have to be convinced that Saddam had to be removed.
at 13:59 on August 25th, 2008
Not all the nation was convinced or as gullible as many.
at 14:26 on August 25th, 2008
Either the elected Democrats are idiots, schmoes and idolitors not worthy of consideration let alone quotation or they are not.
at 18:43 on August 25th, 2008
Oh heck If I saw you already wrote all this I would have just referred to your well done work. No matter, folks will revise history and forgot that most nations and GOP/DEMS said he Had WMD and had proof of a WMD program. Folks want to make it all make since. The Bottom line is the UN authorized this war and the US passed a law to allow invasion. Now they say they didn't know what they voted on.
at 13:14 on August 25th, 2008
Erik Larson, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 13:38 on August 25th, 2008
Erik Larson, I like this story. "Hussein was a brutal dictator installed by the CIA ", however he did not kill 1 million Irakis. Europeans have been forced to pay for useless old Vietnam bombs falling on Irak. The business of Irak war after 5 years a disaster. Probably it helped the bush family and stopped another war, recently. This NP newspaper comments remember me more and more a army veteran's journal, but not a civil society newspaper. What's wrong here ? Are we decoration for something else? War army specialists have their work, but why are they dominatang probably 70% of world opinions at NP, a canadian non-Us newspublisher? Too much pressure cooking. Sorry Larson, I post on your article, the message is not adressed to you. We have all to make some World image improvement on NP. this constant war writing gives a very low level and people asking me why and who is this group? Anyway we loosing our prime time answering professional prefabricated endless comments. It's quality and not repeating the same propaganda. Thanks for understanding.
at 14:13 on August 25th, 2008
Erik Larson, I like this story. It's good stuff.
WMD's found -- zero.
American World Credibility -- zero.
Nice article, Erik!
at 15:41 on August 25th, 2008
Erik Larson, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 18:22 on August 25th, 2008
Erik Larson, I like this story. It's good stuff. I appreciate your views.
You know I hear This all of the Time. How is it that world leaders who we not allied with Geoge Bush came to the same conclusion. Even the French President at the time said that Sadaam had a wmd program and should be removed. Revisionist history has set in as John Kerry, Sen Biden, Hillary and Bill Clinton and most other democrats called for Hussains removal.
Bush could not convince folks who disliked him. Nations that were on our do not share list came to the conclusion there were WMD. Now how is that? Hussian did have a WMD program and lied about his materials. He suspended it before the War and disposed of the contents. What we found was the rements of WMD and the paperwork that proved a WMD program existed. Hussain never thought we would invade and was hoping to get the heat off so he could begin again. This is all found in committee meeting in the US Senate and house and outside groups who gathered evidence.
What is the bottom line. Let Hussain kill gas his own people, trenches filled with dead people. Thousand in prison and a brother who raped children. Is that what should have happened. So this was no preemptive strike as he was given the oppertunity since 1992 to come clean. We invaded because he did not comply with the UN resolutions that threatened invsion and removal if he would not comply. We talked to our enemy and he lied or never replied.
History will show a differernt view of what this President did. I am tired of war as well. But I am proud that our troops tracked down and tried or killed these tyants.
at 22:20 on August 25th, 2008
i appreciate everyone's views, even the ones that piss me off- we're all entitled to our opinions, and all of it being put into the public debate helps sort the truth from the lies and the good from the bad- none of us are perfect or all-wise, and we all have something to contribute. I try to be accurate, fair and honest, though i have strong views on some things. I would like to see the world more peaceful, productive, happy and beneficial to all beings. Hussein was terrible, and he was considered an ally or useful tool by both Dems and Reps; "realpolitik" is the word the Russians coined for this. I think history has shown it's misguided. Paschen noted Ambassador April Glaspie's message to Hussein;
U.S. Ambassador Glaspie - "We have no opinion on your Arab - Arab conflicts, such as your dispute with Kuwait. Secretary (of State James) Baker has directed me to emphasize the instruction, first given to Iraq in the 1960's, that the Kuwait issue is not associated with America. (Saddam smiles)
On August 2, 1990 four days later, Saddam's massed troops invade and occupy Kuwait."
Note the "liberal" NY Times media spin on this as well. April Glaspie would not comment on this. We the People are the government, even when we abdicate our responsibilities to our "leaders"- we do so out of laziness and confusion, and because those who want to control government for their selfish purposes, i.e. corporate socialism, find it easier to manipulate govt. when the People aren't paying attention and are willing to give up Rights and responsibilities; we're conditioned to obey authority, shop, watch TV and not ask questions.
I think history is proving that is detrimental to society. The "elites" are not making the best decisions for society, the public interest or the People, and the People's wisdom is being perverted and shoved aside. Far better to educate the People in reality and politicize us, empower us and encourage us to get involved, imho. Many European nations that invest more in their people and societies have higher rates of productivity than the US- universal health care is a classic example. Hitler the fascist nazi made sure the People were fed, had safe neighborhoods and working conditions, access to health care, effective education- and built better armies that way. We could invest in society and the People for peace and good, instead of evil and war. The kids in the US today are not being prepared for the future nearly as well as kids in developing nations; we're gonna be experiencing the consequences in this generation and the next. It seems some elites hate that there is a middle class demanding a voice, and that has money to put into media and the political process, influencing the public discourse. I'm confident we'll adapt and become more competitive and productive in newer and better ways, but there will be changes.
I think the war was unneccessary and a terrible mistake. I don't think the Bush Administration and key Congress members believed for a minute that it was about democracy; it was about removing Hussein, an obstacle to US hegemony in a geo-strategic region, to control access to the Black Gold, which they seem to think US security is dependent on; i think our security depends on cooperation with the Peoples of the world, we should go over governments heads and befriend the Peoples. Oil will be economically obsolete by mid-century because of the production peak which is happening now, and obsolete in a couple decades because of advances in tech and renewable energy. What a wasted of a million lives and a couple trillion dollars so far.
I think the Bush Administration lied; this article is another piece of evidence. I think Bush and Cheney should be impeached and prosecuted, and so should Pelosi and many Dems and Reps, for war-mongering lies, torture, warrantless spying. Nancy Pelosi, How Do You Plead? There need to be public hearings, with questions submitted by the Citizens and answered under Oath, not the softballs insiders lob to each other, probably because of fear their own crimes will be exposed. The ethics committee is a joke. Just wanted to make that clear; i am not defending Hussein or any of the world's tyrants, or the Bush Administration, or any Dems or Reps that sold or supported the Iraq war.