White House admits Bush wrong about Iraqi nukes

Capitol Hill Blue ^ | July 8, 2003

[leftiesareloonie]

After weeks of denial, the White House Monday finally admitted President Bush lied in his January State of the Union Address when he claimed Iraq had sought significant quantities of uranium in Africa.

The acknowledgment came as a British parliamentary commission questioned the reliability of British intelligence about Saddam Hussein's efforts to obtain weapons of mass destruction in the run-up to the war in Iraq.

Bush said in his State of the Union address that the British government had learned that Saddam recently sought significant quantities of uranium in Africa.

The president's statement was incorrect because it was based on forged documents from the African nation of Niger, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer acknowledged.

An intelligence consultant who was present at two White House briefings where the uranium report was discussed confirmed that the President was told the intelligence was questionable and that his national security advisors urged him not to include the claim in his State of the Union address.

"The report had already been discredited," said Terrance J. Wilkinson, a CIA advisor present at two White House briefings. "This point was clearly made when the President was in the room during at least two of the briefings."

Bush's response was anger, Wilkinson said.

"He said that if the current operatives working for the CIA couldn't prove the story was true, then the agency had better find some who could," Wilkinson said. "He said he knew the story was true and so would the world after American troops secured the country." 

[leftiesareloonie]

Is this a reliable source? The troubling thing is that Wilkinson, whoever he is, goes on the record claiming to have been present at briefings where Bush basically say to hell with the evidence, I'm going with my gut.

I hope for Bush's sake and the GOP's sake this guy Wilkinson is not credible. If he is, and if others back him up, then Bush is probably a very deep trouble.

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[tdadams]

if others back him up, then Bush is probably a very deep trouble.

I agree. This could be Bush's Watergate. Seriously. And Capitol Hill Blue is a reputable mag. It's not the Weekly World News.

[Steven W.]

it also appears to be a mis-writing or mis-reading of words. Remember the origin of this was an errant document produced by the British MI6. As I recall Tenet stood behind it, too, to the degree that it was supplied by the Brits and we trusted them, only to later discover it had been manufactured in Niger, apparently by an over-zealous intelligence source who wanted to get paid for something. I suspect this supposed White House participant is likely a Clintonista holdover that should be out on the street looking for a new job in the immediate future.

[DoughtyOne]

I do hope this is bogus. Bush is doing the right thing in Iraq.

[OldFriend]

Clearly spinning an anti-Bush agenda. In his state of the union address the President mentioned that Britain had evidence of the Iraqi's trying to buy nuclear material from Nigeria.

Wouldn't want to offend the media by pointing out the FACTS tho.

[big gray tabby]

"He said he knew the story was true and so would the world after American troops secured the country."

Sorry, dude, but that doesn't qualify as a lie. It may be stupid and it may be reckless and pig-headed, but it's not a lie. And anyone who wants to prove "Bush lied" does not want this Wilkinson on the stand.

[Steven W.]

Capitol Hill Blue is NOT reliable & is just shy of World Weekly ... the guy who founded it is good of heart but their journalistic ethos are highly questionable and it wouldn't be the first time they've outright made things up.

[1Old Pro]

He didn't "LIE". He made a false statement based on poor intelligence.

[leftiesareloonie]

Maybe you are right. But if things went down as he claims and anybody else verifies his report, it won't matter I fear. If he's all out there making these claims himself, with no one supporting him and with others denying his claims, then it will blow over and itll go down as a failed attempt by Clintonista holdovers to get the president.

We'll see.

[Steven W.]

PS - recall that Capitol Hill Blue was one of those who outright got down on his knees and swallowed Sid Blumenthal's spin that Clinton was caught snorting cocaine with Monica in the oval office and that helped lead to Clinton's being let off the hook in the Senate because, by all other comparisons, obstruction of justice just didn't seem that severe anymore. So use the Clintonista's tactics against them, now that so many were burned first time around believing Capitol Hill Blue - when the lefties use this article to bash Bush, just remind them that they're using the same source that published similary questionable articles about Clinton.

[Steel Wolf]

Exactly. I'd give this guy as much credibility as the Nigerian uranium document at this point. The story sounds equally contrived.

[My2Cents]

The president's statement was incorrect because it was based on forged documents from the African nation of Niger,

This is hardly "lying."

[Jim Cane]

Clinton bombed pharmacuetical plants based on Monica's underdesk performace. If Bush lied, well at least he
toppled one of the world's first class jerks in the process, and isn't that what we wanted? A president
with better reasons to bomb other countries than covering up Oval Office
sodomy?

[rockfish59]

Sounds like more straw grabbing by the Dims!

Dimwits!

[metalboy]

Bush lied about Saddam wanting to get uranium or whatever for nukes? I don`t think so. Despite what Ari says, if anyone in their right mind doesn`t think Saddass wasn`t trying to get his mitts on nukes, then they ought to re-examine the history of this psycho. Now where are my donations?

[AppyPappy]

Bush did not lie. He said the British told him the Iraqis were obtaining nukes. That was the truth. They did tell him that.

[Monty22]

Who cares? I mean, honestly.. Is the world better off with or without Hussein in power there? I'd say without.

QED

[tdadams]

You're right. I have no idea why, but as I was typing 'Capitol Hill Blue' I was thinking 'Roll Call'. Two different things.

[CWOJackson]

You must have posted this in memory of a recently departed freeper who just loved this kind of story.