Byrd says Bush administration lured public into unjust war; illegal, unprovoked attack

Associated Press ^ | 05-21-03

[Brian S]

Capitol Hill-AP -- Some of the toughest criticism yet from Congress on the war in Iraq.

Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia says the Bush administration lured the American people into launching an illegal, unprovoked attack on another nation in violation of international law and under false premises.

The Senate's most senior member says the administration manipulated the events of nine-eleven to switch public focus from Osama bin Laden to Saddam Hussein. He points out that it was bin Laden who masterminded the terror attacks, not Saddam.

Byrd says the administration's claim that war was necessary because the Iraqis had weapons of mass destruction, which have yet to be found, "has become more than embarrassing."

The White House is dismissing Byrd's comments. A spokeswoman says the weapons of mass destruction will turn up eventually.

[Miss Marple]

You know, I think W is letting Byrd get WAY out on a limb.

[Brian S]

Reuters version of Byrd's tripe:

Byrd Says Bush Built 'House of Cards' on Iraq War
Wed May 21, 2003 04:02 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sen. Robert Byrd, the Senate's most outspoken critic of President Bush, on Wednesday accused him of constructing a "house of cards, built on deceit" to justify the war against Iraq.

Byrd of West Virginia, the Senate's senior Democrat who has repeatedly condemned the war to oust Saddam Hussein, accused the Bush administration of luring the American public into war by inflating threats posed by Saddam, bungling the war's aftermath and awarding reconstruction contracts "to administration cronies."

"Eventually, like it always does, the truth will emerge. And when it does, this house of cards, built on deceit, will fall," he said on the Senate floor.

While Byrd said the administration "assiduously worked to alarm the public" with threats posed by Iraq, in the war's aftermath it has become "painfully clear" the country posed no immediate threat.

Searches for its alleged weapons of mass destruction so far have "turned up only fertilizer, vacuum cleaners, conventional weapons and the occasional buried swimming pool," he said.

"Were our troops needlessly put at risk? Were countless Iraqi civilians killed and maimed when war was not really necessary? Was the American public deliberately misled? Was the world?" he asked.

Byrd also said that by putting off Iraq's move to self-government, "It is all too clear that the smiling face of the U.S. as liberator is quickly assuming the scowl of an occupier."

He said the recent resurgence of the threat posed by Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network also showed that instead of weakening terror groups with the Iraq war, "we have given them new fuel for their fury."

Byrd criticized congressional colleagues who he said have failed to get answers from Bush on expected costs and time frames for U.S. troops to remain in Iraq, and costs for rebuilding it.

"We cower in the shadows while false statements proliferate," he said, accepting "soft answers and shaky explanations because to demand the truth is hard, or unpopular, or may be politically costly."

[oceanview]

Hannity was playing excerpts from the speech on his radio show, it was classic blame america first stuff. the Rs should get some cojones and use this in political ads. he even suggested the iraqi people were better off under saddam, because at least they had water and electricity.

[JennysCool]

The Senate's most senior member

...With, not surprisingly, the most senior moments.

[PhiKapMom]

I think you are right about the Pres and he is about to begin sawing that limb off!

Everytime I think Byrd cannot sink any lower he does!

[Sentis]

KKK Byrd is just sorry Sadaam can no longer kill his people in such large numbers. Byrd pines for the day when he could Lynch people of color with impunity.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

[dalebert]

This old byrd won't fly.

[alwaysconservative]

Thanks for posting this! I saw the clip on FOX news when we were visiting my parents. My dad (a sweet 85-year old man) looked at Byrd, shook his head, and said that Byrd was the biggest horse's *ss he'd ever seen! LOL!

[Bonaparte]

Senator Byrd supports fascism. Surprise, surprise.

[jscd3]

Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia says the Bush administration lured the American people into launching an illegal, unprovoked attack on another nation in violation of international law and under false premises.

In a related story, Senator Robert Byrd accuses a rural black family of tricking him into a dressing in sheets, luring him onto their farm at 2:00 in the morning, and forcing him to watch a flaming cross that they had placed on their front lawn.

[RightWhale]

Where's that Oh, jeez image? Need it now.

[katana]

Yep, and I can hardly wait till he saws off the limb, looks at the camera, and quips "Ain't I a stinker!" (all hail Warner Brothers cartoons)

[Radix]

Yahh, I agree Miss Marple

[ex-snook]

"You know, I think W is letting Byrd get WAY out on a limb. "

Byrd will sure look foolish when the WMD are located. But it would be nice to find out who forged the 'proof' of Iraq's nuclear documents. But I suspect Bush already knows so let's see who he starts to squeeze. Some heads should start rolling.

[Moby Grape]

Please keep talking Mr. KKK Byrd...PLEASE...the more democrats talk, the more clear the public will understand how small they are, and how UNSAFE we would be with a democrat at the helm, more concerned with whether the Germans or French like us that with actually FIGHTING terrorism.

[Graewoulf]

We must always remember that is was Sen. Byrd who said that it was time for all of the democrat Senators to vote to keep IMPEACHED sick willy in office as President of the United States of America.

By this decision by Senator Byrd, the fate of the democrat Party was sealed: all democrat Presidents are above the law, henceforth.

[PISANO]

Please Lord, spare us all from any rhetoric by Bobby KKK Byrd.

[kcamtx]

BYRD DROPPINGS !!!!!!!!!!!!!