Hearst Newspapers’ Eric Rosenberg did a great job over the weekend pulling together some of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s statements (and misstatements) on Iraq. It’s definitely worth reading.
“In the lead-up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said U.S. forces would be welcomed by the Iraqi citizenry and that Saddam Hussein had large stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons,” Rosenberg wrote. “Now, after both statements have been shown to be either incorrect or vastly exaggerated, Rumsfeld – with the same trademark confidence that he exuded before the war – is denying that he ever made such assertions.”
The examples of Rumsfeld’s statements and subsequent retreats are plentiful, but Rosenberg lists the highlights.
* In February, PBS’ Jim Lehrer asked if U.S. forces would be welcomed in Iraq. “There is no question but that they would be welcomed,” Rumsfeld replied. In a September media briefing, when a reporter sought to remind Rumsfeld of his claim of Iraqis would welcome our efforts, Rumsfeld interrupted the questioner. “Never said that,” he said. “Never did. You may remember it well, but you’re thinking of somebody else.”
* Before the war, Rumsfeld told the House House Armed Services Committee that Saddam Hussein “has amassed large clandestine stocks of biological weapons,” including anthrax and botulism toxin and possibly smallpox. “His regime has amassed large clandestine stockpiles of chemical weapons, including VX and sarin and mustard gas,” Rumsfeld said. Just last month, however, when a reporter noted that Rumsfeld had “painted a picture of extensive stocks” of Iraqi WMD, Rumsfeld denied the premise of the question.
“Wait,” Rumsfeld interjected. “You go back and give me something that talks about extensive stocks. The U.N. reported extensive stocks. That is where that came from. I said what I believed to be the case, and I don’t — I’d be surprised if you found the word ‘extensive.'”
Clinton wanted to debate the meaning of the word “is.” Rumsfeld wants to debate the meaning of the word “extensive.” We’ve come such a long way…
* And lastly, Rumsfeld said in March that we knew the location of Iraq’s WMD. “We know where they are,” he said on March 30. “They’re in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat.” In September, Rumsfeld changed his tune. “I should have said, ‘I believe we’re in that area. Our intelligence tells us they’re in that area,’ and that was our best judgment.”
As I’ve said before, how can we tell when Bush administration officials are lying about Iraq? When their lips are moving.