Funny. I would have thought it was more. From the Center for Public Integrity, via AP:
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.
This is news? Though it is nice to have the numbers:
"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," [according to Charles Lewis and Mark Reading-Smith of the Fund for Independence in Journalism staff members, writing an overview of the study.]
Bush led with 259 false statements, 231 about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and 28 about Iraq's links to al-Qaida, the study found. That was second only to Powell's 244 false statements about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and 10 about Iraq and al-Qaida.
The center said the study was based on a database created with public statements over the two years beginning on Sept. 11, 2001, and information from more than 25 government reports, books, articles, speeches and interviews.
"The cumulative effect of these false statements — amplified by thousands of news stories and broadcasts — was massive, with the media coverage creating an almost impenetrable din [except for the DFHs
, of course!] for several critical months in the run-up to war," the study concluded.
"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.
Of course, long time Corrente readers have two additional pieces of the puzzle that the story, good as it is, does not mention:
1. The Iraq disinformation campaign was coordinated from the White House by the White House Iraq Group (WHIG), and
2. The "independent" validation of WHIG disinformation was probably the result of over 50 planted stories in our famously free press.
All in all, this data shows the almost complete collapse of Constitutional government (as if we didn't know). A lawless and amoral executive was able to lie the country into a war with impunity. There were no checks and no balances.
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935 false statements
What validates treason and war crimes?
Oh, that's so divisive!
I think we need to put all that behind us so the country can heal. What's wrong with you?
[x] Any (D) in the general. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. -- Mahatma Gandhi
CPI = communists for permanent impotence!
that's how the traditional press will treat this report. "blah blah, liberal think tank, soros, blah blah." phasers set to ignore, i doubt many of them will give this report the time of day.
doing otherwise admits their complicity.
"Divisive"
Conservatives always want to "put it behind us" when we are talking about accountability.
We can discuss that the first time I see a Conservative poster forgoe the opportunity to bring up charges made against President Bill Clinton that are ten to fifteen years old.
But then, that is always different, as Foxnews tells us, isn't it?
Saddam did support al Qaeda
A new book shows Saddam did support al Qaeda and the Taliban:
'Both In One Trench: Saddam's Secret Terror Documents' http://www.bothinonetrench.com
ray, thanks so much
for your input.
now, i will go reread every single comment BIO has ever posted here, and all the attendent links, while listening to Cokie Roberts reruns on NPR, while viewing the video of W's 'greatest moments in flighsuit chic.' while tasering myself, to 'country and western' music from the last seven or so years. naked.
after that, i'll read your 'slam dunk' saddam = al qaeda link. perhaps with some wine.
Oooh! Captured documents! Can I see? Is there a pony?
Jeebus. Just shoot me.
[x] Any (D) in the general. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. -- Mahatma Gandhi
comment spam
lol.. "A new book shows", try "my fictious book I wrote and am trying to sell".
Wait there's more: (from Amazon)
Did theTime-LifeFaux News book series sell you on the quality?So what's going on here? psyops? Is he leaking formerly secret documents in his book? Did the Iraq Study Group kick him out?
Anyways, good job getting a link pimping your book. Glad to see it only comes out in paperback. Must be AWESOME.
Saddam Hussein's Lack of WMD's
I think, that because Saddam Hussein either ran out of WMDs or had used up his gases on killing his own people and only murdered a fourth of what Hitler had, he should have been left alone.
Hey, maybe we should have left Hitler alone.....? Maybe not..?
Something to think about.
That was cold, CD
Not like I mind being equated to Loopy Ray or Dubbya in a flight suit or naked tasering or bubble-gum C&W but hey - Cokie Roberts?
That is sooo over the line.
Ray Robison?
Didn't he sing Only the Lonely?
I can see how you'd identify with him, paulT....
[x] Any (D) in the general. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. -- Mahatma Gandhi
maybe
Hey, maybe the Saudis convinced their buddy Bush Jr. to invade Iraq and create a political vacuum to allow sectarian violence to wipe out a certain pesky group of believers, and also to drive up oil prices to a record high while plundering Iraq supplies and keeping Iraq capacity offline...? Maybe not..?
IMPEACH!! Someone take the report and RUN with it!
What are our congressmen waiting for? If the majority of US citizens is dissatisfied with Bush and Cheney and want them impeached, what easier time than now to write/call/email their congressman and demand impeachment and use the handy-dandy tidy little 935 false statements report? It can't get easier than that! Or am I too naive in hoping Americans will wake up from the zombie state they've been hypnotized into?
well, i had to get a lil dig in there.
it's so fun and i just couldn't help myself. but i bet you look smashing and proper in a flight suit! i'm just sorry the swaggering chimp has ruined that look for all real men for a generation...
...your comeback is of course that next to you, some of my soapbox moments make you look brief. ;-)
sick
It really is going to be painful to watch this year. I mean it’s always painful to watch Bush speak, but -just sick.
I suppose the number would be higher if the 10 million emails that are missing from the White House were found.
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