WP: War Issues Cloud Cheney Trip, Questions on Intelligence Persist

[diamond14]

War Issues Cloud Cheney Trip
Questions on Intelligence Persist; Role in U.N. Process Criticized

By Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 27, 2004; Page A13


NETTUNO, Italy, Jan. 26 -- Vice President Cheney had planned to spend a five-day tour encouraging Europeans to work harder in the fight against terrorism and in promoting democracy, but his message has been eclipsed by a spate of questions about his part in the decision to go to war in Iraq and in selling it to the public.

Cheney faced questions Monday about the war from reporters traveling with him in Rome. For the second day in a row, he did not answer when asked about the intelligence the White House used in concluding that the government of Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.

The issue flared anew after Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said Saturday that it was an "open question" whether Iraq had unconventional weapons. David Kay, the outgoing chief U.S. weapons hunter in Iraq, said this weekend that he did not think that any stockpiles exist.

While Cheney was posing for photographers before a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, an American reporter shouted a question to the vice president, asking to what extent he believed the intelligence on Iraq was faulty. Cheney did not look up and did not respond to the query.

On Sunday, an American reporter asked Cheney as he walked into a museum, "What do you make of Secretary Powell's comments about the search for weapons of mass destruction?" Cheney waved and said, "Nice to see you all."


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50744-2004Jan26.html

[Brucey]

1. I'm sure they want to get this out of the way now.

The repugs don't want questions about WMD lingering into the summer or fall. They want it out in the open now so that voters will forget about it before the election. What really hurt Bush* was when he went on TV and asked for $87 bn. Nobody but military suppliers was happy about that. How could they have been so stupid? He could easily have gotten the money from Congress without the public knowing much about it. Anyway, the result is that many people are now turned off by him and it will be hard for the repugs to get those votes back. I'm sure they want this WMD talk to get over with soon. We need to keep these things in the news for many, many more months. Naturally, the killing will continue.

[diamond14]

2. cheney "I had other priorities" took 5 deferments to avoid Vietnam

mrs. cheney SMILES BIG TIME, as she contemplates OUR DEAD SOLDIERS

[AmandaRuth]

3. I hope someone has the nerve to ask him about

a nice and cozy -(you scratch my back, I'll itch yours) relationship he has with a certain scotus judge

[yellowcanine]

4. "spate of questions about his part in the decision"

Anybody that is still asking questions about Cheney's role in the decision to attack Iraq hasn't been paying attention.

[Moderator]

5. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=332838