Kennedy says case for Iraq War was total fraud. A lie made up in Texas

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=121491

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030918/ap_on_go_co/kennedy_iraq&cid=512&ncid=1480

BOSTON - The case for going to war against Iraq was a fraud "made up in Texas" to give Republicans a political boost, Sen. Edward Kennedy said Thursday.


In an interview with The Associated Press, Kennedy also said the Bush administration has failed to account for nearly half of the $4 billion the war is costing each month. He said he believes much of the unaccounted-for money is being used to bribe foreign leaders to send in troops.

He called the Bush administration's current Iraq policy "adrift."

The Massachusetts Democrat expressed doubts about how serious a threat Saddam Hussein posed to the United States in its battle against terrorism. He said administration officials relied on "distortion, misrepresentation, a selection of intelligence" to justify their case for war.

"There was no imminent threat. This was made up in Texas, announced in January to the Republican leadership that war was going to take place and was going to be good politically. This whole thing was a fraud," Kennedy said.

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[soupkitchen]

1. The yellow liars of Texas

[TennesseeWalker]

2. Wow. Amazing. It's going to tear this country in half, though.

Before anybody starts thinking Civil War, don't forget that all progressives aren't up north or in the big cities. Don't abandon us. And don't abandon the little people who trusted the assholes in power. They deserve better government too.

[NNN0LHI]

8. Shit man. The most liberal people I know are from the south

Starting with my wife.

Don

[Octafish]

19. REAL Americans ALL

And real Americans know there are 50 states filled with good people. Bushler and his minions are the ones dividing everybody — geographically, economically, politcally and spiritually. That's why it's so important to keep in touch, work together to kick the Little Turd back to Crawford, and remember we are The UNITED STATES.

[Zhade]

21. Damn straight.

My own father, for example. We argued over the invasion, after I called Chimpy a traitor at the infamous "Scripted Press Conference".

He's since told me he's proud of me. People wake up. We can't forget them.

[GreenArrow]

3. amazing how that other senator

from Massachusetts fell for the fraud and still tries to justify it.

[whirlygigspin]

4. there's a shot that will be heard around the world

Thank You Mr.Kennedy.

[Caution]

5. It constantly amazes me that people

assume that somehow people in government can't also be duped by this administration. It seems to me that the administration was able to dupe 90% of the people in this country and some of them were liberal senators. Ted Kennedy and John Kerry have two of the most progressive records in our government but apparently taking the word of the intelligence agencies of the country over an issue of national security is something that should never be done.

I'm sorry, but maybe you are an exception and maybe there are a few others, but most of the people in this country wouldnt have believed that the administration would flat-out lie in this manner. Maybe Ted and John knew then that the whole things was a pack of lies and maybe they voted to do it anyways, I don't know, but based upon their past records I would find this very difficult to believe.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

6. Dennis knew (nt)

[Caution]

13. Yep DK knew and I give him credit for it.

and he was a voice in the wilderness. I appreciate his leadership. But I'm not going to blame people who were duped by the administration for the lies that were told to them

[KoKo]

7. It's time for a call for an Independent Investigation of this: And, not by

old political Hacks who've done their turn around Washington and Industry. We need to find some "untainted folks to do this. Question Is: Where are there such people? Maybe Hart/Rudman? I don't know, but there needs to be an outcry.

[GreenArrow]

11. you're right

most people wouldn't have believed, even with the evidence right in front of their faces, even with LBJ/Gulf of Tonkin, Nixon and Watergate, even with Reagan and the Iran-Contra imbroglio, and the October Surprise, Bill Clinton and his Monica lie, and so on. The government lies to repeatedly, and increasingly baldly, and the majority don't seem to notice or care.

[hedda_foil]

12. Ted voted NO. John voted YES.

Ted argued forcefully and continually for a requirement that * be forced to come back to Congress for a new resolution BEFORE going to war without UN approval. So did Byrd. So did Durbin. So did Boxer. So did 23 other Senators. They knew. The Senators who voted for the resolution thought what they were doing was the politically correct thing to do.

[Mechatanketra]

24. It's not that we don't think they can be duped.

It's that I don't understand why I'm supposed to follow their leadership once it has become clear that they were duped and I was not, especially given that they do have access to all these government channels whereas I have to rely on what filters through the news media.

And in many of these people's case, my disbelief is compounded when they deride those who were correct rather than admit they were in the wrong.

[Cheswick2.0]

26. Hello and Thank you and you are correct

and it is NOT about being "too liberal" or not "Liberal enough". Robert Byrd is no liberal. The issue is who was right and who was wrong and who will now admit it.....and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

[hedda_foil]

9. I very much doubt he fell for it.

The other member from MA knew the score as a senior member of the FA committee, as did the others who voted to give * carte blance as long as he gave them the cover of "consulting" with the UN before he decided to go it alone.

No. When most of the most the senior members of the key committees (intel, FA, Armed Forces) Byrd, Kennedy, Durbin, Graham and many others argue forcefully and VOTE against this abortion, there can be little doubt that the presidential candidates-to-be knew too.

This is simply one more piece of proof. And yes, it may well tear our country apart because they did this.

[NNN0LHI]

10. It will tear the Republican party apart. That is for damn sure n/t

[calimary]

15. Let's hope so.

They deserve to be torn into little bitty pieces, pieces so small that it'll take years to put their Humpty Dumpty asses back together again. If ever. Reap what you sew, assholes! At least we can all say you're deserving.

[chiburb]

17. And lets not forget Bush's "press conference" (sic)...

In which he promised to go back to the UN for a new/second resolution before invading. He didn't just hoodwink or lie to congress, he lied to and hoodwinked a majority of the American people.
Politically, I don't think a "yes" vote hurts a candidate. Hell, the peoples can identify with a dupee!

On edit: And a BIG thunbs up for Ted!

[GreenArrow]

18. oh, I agree with you

Kerry, IMO, knew it was bullshit and voted for it anyway.

[Booberdawg]

14. Whoa! Go TED!!!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[whirlygigspin]

16. here's a kick for Jack!

:kick:

[mlawson]

20. These charges are immensely impeachable.

Isn't a shame that the Dems in Congress will never try for it???

[TennesseeWalker]

22. I'm not sure sure they won't try.

Something big is happening..something that's never happened before...I can feel it...Kennedy is more clued in than almost any other Senator...wonder if the CIA has decided to cut the Evildoers loose?

[Booberdawg]

23. Republicans control the House and the Senate = NO CHANCE

[joanski01]

25. I am so happy

that Ted Kennedy did this. It really needed to be done. This people have to be stopped before they attack another country.

[Egnever]

27. Bout damn time!

Thes guys have been silent far too long! This on top of the black caucusses statement the other day is good stuff if a little long in coming for me.

Things are definaely shaking. The WMD report comes out any day now and what is hapening with the inquiry into the inteligence leading up to the war? they were suposed to reconvene this month also no?

Things are about to get really nasty methinks.