Sen. Rockefeller: BUSH DELIBERATELY MANIPULATED US INTO WAR

[kpete]

Rockefeller: Bush Duped Public On Iraq
CBS News Exclusive: Ark. Senator Says Iraq Would Be Better Off With Saddam In Power

Sept. 9, 2006

Quote

"Saddam wasn't going to attack us. He would've been isolated there. He would have been in control of that country but we wouldn't have depleted our resources preventing us from prosecuting a war on terror which is what this is all about."

................Sen. John Rockefeller of West Virginia, who voted for the Iraq War, says the Bush administration pulled the wool over everyone's eyes.

"The absolute cynical manipulation, deliberately cynical manipulation, to shape American public opinion and 69 percent of the people, at that time, it worked, they said 'we want to go to war,'" Rockefeller told CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson. "Including me. The difference is after I began to learn about some of that intelligence I went down to the Senate floor and I said 'my vote was wrong.'"

Rockefeller went a step further. He says the world would be better off today if the United States had never invaded Iraq — even if it means Saddam Hussein would still be running Iraq.

more at:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/09/eveningnews/main1990644.shtml

[Homer Wells]

1. Kicked and Recommended

[grytpype]

17. It's about time someone is saying this.

And this morning in the NYT, Tiereny said we overreacted to 9/11 and the threat of terrorism. And we did. And it's about time someone started saying it.

[AX10]

2. K & R!

[bonito]

3. Kick

[mnhtnbb]

4. Kick

[JeffR]

5. What's the difference between Rockefeller & millions of progressives?

About four years...

[bahrbearian]

13. He could use a spine too

[Sydnie]

6. Thank goodness - SOMEONE had to say it

I am proud to say his campaign for govenor of WV was the second campaign I ever worked on. You made me proud tonight Jay. Good for you and GREAT for us. :woohoo:

[bahrbearian]

7. Pretty easy to pull the wool over Johnnies eyes,, I wonder what

he gained for signing on to IWR...can't think for your self John,, didn't the UN state there were no weapons or links.. but Sadamn was breaking UN resolutions right,, Bomb em ..

[Avalux]

8. Glad to hear this - but why didn't he speak up THEN??

I'm sorry but reading this now just pisses me off.

[Imagevision]

9. Look, if we don't at least win back the house, we're screwed for

2 1/2 more years! Bush is better as a lame duck schmuck...

[opihimoimoi]

10. If this Late Statement helps to remove the BushWart from Nations Body

I applaud it.

At least this JR can see to remain with the BushCo is to remain brainwashed....and thus, vulnerable to the Eyes of History

[stillcool]

11. Not enough....not nearly enough

69 percent of the people, at that time, it worked, they said 'we want to go to war,'" Rockefeller told CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson. "Including me.

it's still bullshit.

[AZBlue]

12. I think this makes an excellent tagline for the November elections.

eom

[doc03]

14. Senator Rockefeller, Senator Byrd was not fooled

why were you? Could it be it has become politically expedient to do so like the old I actually voted for it before I voted against it.

[seabeyond]

20. d*mn... or maybe not. maybe he was simply fooled and is pissed

why, without any evidence must it always be a diss. just f*ckin good for him for his straight no nonsense talk now.

[Poiuyt]

15. Exactly!!

[StraightDope]

16. "Rockefeller went a step further..."

"He says the world would be better off today if the United States had never invaded Iraq — even if it means Saddam Hussein would still be running Iraq."

AMEN!!! I think that this is the first time that I have heard ANYONE state the obvious. As bad as Saddam was, what we have done to Iraq, and the rest of the world, is far, far worse. It's about time that someone laid bare the lie that says, "No one is upset to see Saddam go. The world is a better place without him."

Better place? I've never thought so, and it's nice to see that one of my WV senators doesn't think so either.

[FourScore]

18. Hmm...

"...we wouldn't have depleted our resources preventing us from prosecuting a war on terror which is what this is all about..."

Maybe that's not what it's about. Maybe it's about forwarding the PNAC agenda instead.

[Senator]

19. Still Euphemizing: They Terrorized the Nation into War

You don't "dupe" people by screaming "mushroom clouds ... in 45 minutes."

It's not "manipulating," or "hubris," or "overreaching," or "cherrypicking," or any of the other euphemisms they use to try to convince themselves it wasn't (and isn't) as bad as it really was/is.

Sorry, it really was bad. It really was terrorism.

----

[stepnw1f]

21. He Did NOT Vote for this War

I'm sick of seeing the facts manipulated this way. He voted for a resolution "to use force if necessary". A resolution, Bush pulled out of... Not go off like some fuckhead ego-trip and try to rule the World!

[civildisoBDence]

32. You're exactly right

And don't forget, Korea and Vietnam were never declared wars. Congress abdicated its responsibility, but it didn't sanction a war.

Win back the House, and DUHbya will be a lame duck backed by a lame Dick.

Newsprism

[Jcrowley]

22. So I guess I wonder

why is he continually voting for the funding of this illegality? Isn't that complicity? And if so aren't there consequences for complicity to war crimes?

Senate OKs $63 billion for 2 wars

Friday, September 08, 2006
Andrew Taylor
Associated Press

Washington - The Senate agreed to spend an additional $63 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as lawmakers on Thursday passed a massive bill that finances the Pentagon.

The bill sailed through by a vote of 98-0 after senators added money to help track down al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and fight the opium trade in Afghanistan that is helping fuel the Taliban's resurgence.

The overwhelming support for the overall bill and the money to support U.S. troops in harm's way came despite increasing criticism by Democrats of the Bush administration's handling of the war in Iraq.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/ispol/1157712919172290.xml&coll=2

98-0.

[gumby]

23. Bush is doing the same thing again.

Bush is bullying the Congress to make him King; all in the name of fighting terra-ists, don't ya know.

So is Rockefeller going to be 'duped' once again, or is he going to stand up against Bush BEFORE further damage is done?

[ginnyinWI]

24. CBS is still worth watching on weekends

Saturdays and Sundays are still Couric-free zones--at least I hope so! Saturday and Sunday evening news, and then 60 Minutes on Sunday nights. :patriot:

[spanone]

25. .

[Marr]

26. Funny how so many regular people could tell it was bullshit.

I have no doubt that the politicians knew without a doubt that it was bullshit, if I could discern it by reading page A-58 for the buried news. Just how stupid do these guys think we are?

Don't get me wrong, I want to see the Bush Administration held to account, but c'mon. All the "he fooled us!" crap just doesn't convince me. These guys were looking out for the political careers instead of the public interest.

[dmosh42]

31. You have it exactly correct!

Having been a Vietnam era vet, and remembering the 'Domino theory' to get us into that war, most said we would never do this again without the 'hearts and minds' of the people living in the country we targeted. I agreed on the Afghan thing, but we knew it was bullshit when Iraq was becoming a top priority when they never attacked us. So if most of the people figured it out, how come Congress endorsed it completely, except for a few brave souls? And then I was flabberghasted when the country voted in these Vietnam draft dodgers in 2004 because they were stronger on security issues! Unbelievable!

[rman]

27. took him 3 years to figure it out?

[jazzjunkysue]

28. K&R. Beautiful.

[wiggs]

29. Resurrect DSMs John! There just sitting there waiting for someone

to drive the point home!

[Cameron27]

30. I don't care if he's late in saying this

I don't recall anybody in leadership saying the world would be better off...even if it means Saddam would still be running Iraq.

That's a huge statement and you know he's going to get major flack for it.

I applaud the guy.

[CarlVK]

33. Wow, if only we heard these sentiments WHEN THEY COUNTED

Dont get me wrong, I admire Sen. Rockefeller for standing up and telling it lke it is.....but god DAMN, why is it that we all scream in here about this stuff when it counts, to the DEAF EARS of the Democrats in congress who could have stopped it back then??

It's so aggrivating, I could spit.

[chat_noir]

34. K&R

[Old and In the Way]

35. Recommending with a kick for impeachment.

Starting a war/occupation with a country which had no demonstrable links to 9/11 and no offensive threat to our country, is an impeachable offense. After the trial, send him to the Hague for questioning by a war crimes trbunal.

[focusfan]

36. I wonder if theres anyway the democrates

can use what Republicans say against them}(