The official White House response to O'Neill's statements

[underpants]

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20040110125909990001&_mpc=news%2e6

White House spokesman Scott McClellan would not confirm or deny that the White House began Iraq war planning early in Bush's term. But, he said, Saddam "was a threat to peace and stability before September 11th, and even more of a threat after September 11.''

"It appears that the world according to Mr. O'Neill is more about trying to justify his own opinions than looking at the reality of the results we are achieving on behalf of the American people,'' McClellan said in Texas, where the president is staying at his ranch.

[Skip Intro]

1. And what is "the reality of the results we are achieving..."

"...on behalf of the American people?"

[underpants]

3. Well there haven't been any attacks now have there?

I was just flipping around during a commercial break in the Indie-KC game and that (which is the official RW talking point) was thrown out by the guy (name?) on Fox News. The security EXPERT who he asked that too replied that there was no major terrorist attack on the US before that either.

I have been saying the same (sort of) when someone says that to me. This expert apparently wasn't following the script to mention such a thing on FOX and really is mistaken or doesn't count the WTC bombing on Feb. 26, 1993 (5 weeks into Clinton's first term) as major. It also forgets our DOMESTIC terrorist attack on April 19, 1995 by that scumbag McVeigh.

Gee how did we respond to that? Did we scapegoat the militias and RW jesus freaks who funded and housed McVeigh?

[kcwayne]

4. Yeah, results

500 American Dead
15000 Dead Iraqi innocent
10000 Dead Afghani innocent
3 million jobs lost
500 billion in deficits
First step taken towards destroying medicare
Osama Bin Laden still on the loose plotting terrorist acts

How many more of these results can we take?

[DBoon]

14. And add

- Dollar lowest ever against the Euro (the currency of "old europe")
- IMF warnings to US about escalating budget deficits threatening global financial stability
- Thousands of high-skilled tech jobs exported, never to return.

[kayell]

13. The reality of the results they are achieving

[louis-t]

2. nice little dance they're doing.

"results we are achieving on behalf of the American people"-please, not in my name. "justify his own opinions"-O'Neill was stating provable facts for the most part, after all, he was there at the time and the PNAC motives have been self-published for all to read. Let's see how long McClellan lasts now that the heat is being turned up.

[Sophree]

10. projection

Bush Cabal is trying to justify THEIR own opinions.

[SpiralHawk]

5. Out at the First Pig Farm

the Chimp-in-Chief is kicking back for a few more days, to ensure his status as Guiness Book of World Records holder of the title "Most Thoroughly Vacationed President."

Good thing he's got a "talking head" to make the excuses for him.

Mr. O'Neill -- your Hour to Strut and Fret Upon the Stage has arrived. Please proceed with your revelations.

[Mikimouse]

8. Guiness Book of world Records will have...

* in multiple categories:
Least Curious
Most Arrogant
Most Thoroughly Vacationed President- as you said
Most Thoroughly Corrupt Individual to Ever Hold Office
Most Completely 'Momma's Boy' to Ever Hold Office of the President
First US President to be Removed from Office (I can hope, can't I)

Please feel free to add to the list

[11 Bravo]

12. And 'tis indeed a tale told by an idiot,

full of sound and fury ... signifying nothing.

[randr]

6. Heard a response today that

said "we didn't listen to him the, why should we listen to him now".
Makes me wonder how many other people are on the payroll that are not being listened to.
The fact that they pay people for nothing should be impeachable .

[underpants]

15. They expect the dept. heads to rubber stamp what ever they tell them

Apparently O'Neill wanted to at least discuss policy and the effects that policies would have.

See my post of John Di Iulio's letter to Ron Suskind in GD.

Welcome to DU :hi:

[Terwilliger]

7. And the Chickenshit Chickenhawk on freakin' vacation again!

He's been on vacation since he got the silver-spoon out of his mouth!

[havocmom]

9. what was achieved on behalf of the American people was:

Made the USA an outlaw nation by attacking a nation without provocation or reason

Involving our troops in empire building to the benifit of a powerful elite in violation of international law and common decency

Assure that there will be no homeland security by taking actions which killed/maimed thousand of innocents and giving others reason to hate us and maintain blood feuds with Americans

Squander lives, resources and the good will of many nations so a few corporations could steal a bundle from the US treasury and the resources of a sovereign people. It is called piracy in most places.

Completely and willfully disregard every principle that this nation is supposed to exemplify and promote in the name of freedom and democracy

Holding our military personnel virtual hostages via awarding contracts for their logistical support to war profiteers

Continual and inexcusable lying to our elected Representatives, to us and to the citizens of the world to justify their own agendas

The theft of lives, liberties and freedoms of our own people, and other sovereign peoples

The theft of resources needed for the proper functioning of this nation and other sovereign nations

The total and willful destruction of the honor and dignity of this nation and the brave men and women who serve it

[peacetalksforall]

11. Achieved? Deaths, limbs lost, minds lost plus corp contracts.

Yep, achieved a lot. Everything is going up.

Homeless count - up.
Uninsured count - up.
Bankruptcies - up.
Losing homes - up.
Jobs lost - up.
Environemental ruin - up.
Theft by CEOs and their military partners - up.
Scandals - up.
Propaganda take-overs - up.
Dirty tricks - always on the up.

And no 'up the rivers'.

Where is Ken Lay this winter - up on the mountain?

[Skittles]

16. NOT F***ING GOOD ENOUGH SCOTT

Gawd, this is SICKENING. THEY FREAKING GRILLED CLINTON ON TAPE ABOUT A CONSENSUAL SEX ACT BUT THESE F***ERS LIED TO GET US INTO A WAR.

[cthrumatrix]

17. I emailed and called for an Independent Investigation...!!

[NewJeffCT]

18. Saddam a threat???

Not according to speeches given by Colin Powell & Condi Rice in 2001. They were practically bragging that sanctions had neutered Saddam to the point where he was no longer even a *conventional* threat to his neighbors, let alone a threat with WMD.

[Terran]

19. statement conflicts with what Rumsfeld said

about seeing Iraq through the prism of September 11th (I think he used the word "prism"). Maybe someone more familiar with the timeline can back me up, but I seem to recall that the big push on Iraq WMD's and the al Qaeda link came after 9/11 happened. Basically the whole thing was going nowhere as far as a reason for an invasion, and the excuse Rumsefeld gave Congress for why we should invade was that the existing intelligence had been re-evaluated in light of 9/11. All of which is clearly BS, if they were planning the invasion in early 2001.

[cthrumatrix]

22. they have documents....wait til they start making the rounds

the repugs are in the "crosshairs of truth"....

cover the truth - media....your next

[ElsewheresDaughter]

20. Faux news is spouting "Sour Grapes" ah the sweet smell of GOP desparation

[underpants]

21. Money Man Mouths Off: "Treasury"-chest of information or sellout?

That was the Fox call in quesiton of the day this morning (pre 7 AM)