Today's administration talking point/LIE

[VelmaD]

Looks like the big lie for the day is that the President never said Iraq was an "imminent threat".

Granted he may not have used those exact two words (hint for help from fellow DUers to find any quotes that disprove that) but every time he went on tv talking about chemical and biological and nuclear weapons in Iraq and how they could be deployed in 45 minutes he sure implied it.

[w13rd0]

1. No, he used THOSE EXACT WORDS...

..."imminent threat"..."grave and growing danger"...

They lie? NEWS FLASH...whoa! I'm SHOCKED!

[VelmaD]

2. If you can remember...

exactly which speech he used "imminent threat" in you'll be my hero. I'm trying to find it as a direct quote so I can send it to all the idiot talking heads who keep saying "but he never said that".

Not that it'll make a difference mind you, but I would dearly love to be able to prove they lied (or at least didn't bother to do their research).

[DUreader]

5. Was it not a requirement in the Congressional Authorization He Implemented

I recall it had to be imminent threat or proof of 9/11 involvement

that allowed him to invoke the Powers granted by the sell out congress

[rusty charly]

6. here's something

Washington, 8 October 2002 (RFE/RL) -- President George W. Bush addressed the American people last night in an effort to convince them of what he believes is the urgency to confront Iraq about its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, and to go to war over the issue if necessary.

Speaking from Cincinnati, Bush said Iraq's president, Saddam Hussein, poses a unique threat to the Middle East, to the United States, and to the world. "While there are many dangers in the world, the threat from Iraq stands alone because it gathers the most serious dangers of our age in one place. Iraq's weapons of mass destruction are controlled by a murderous tyrant who has already used chemical weapons to kill thousands of people," Bush said.

[Saudade]

4. Threat

The problem with this "argument" is obvious and twofold:

Most Americans (except the willfully stupid) understand that when you talk ad nauseum about "tons of chemical and biological weapons" that can be deployed in "45 minutes", about deadly "drone aircraft," "reconstituted nuclear weapons," "mushroom clouds," and so on, you are trying to scare people, regardless of whether the term "immanent threat" is actually used.

Second, when they nitpick about specific words in this context, it only makes them look like Bill Clinton who nitpicked on the subject of sexual infidelity, not invading a sovereign country in defiance of the UN Charter and world opinion.

[Skittles]

3. google bush speech imminent threat

here be the first couple of hits

http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/iraqimminent.html

http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2002/10/08102002135121.asp

[VelmaD]

7. thanks...

I'm currently buried up to my eyes in google results on this search. This is way more fun than listening to Brit Hume and just fuming. :-)

[Skittles]

9. this talking point could backfire

even idiot Bush supporters know what they freaking heard

[Salviati]

8. So then you ask,

Well if Iraq wasn't an imminent threat, then isn't the president saying that our invation of iraq was illegal under international law?

[nannygoat]

10. * may have not used the actual words "imminent threat"

but here are two sources that report the 45-minute claim which is pretty "imminent"...

White House Didn't Gain CIA Nod for Claim On Iraqi Strikes
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A17424-2003Jul19?language=printer

Bush under pressure over 'dodgy' Iraq weapons claim
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/07/21/wmd21.xml