Posted on 07/17/2003 9:55:37 AM PDT by kattracks
One of the most vocal critics of the Bush administration's decision to include a reference to Iraq's nuclear program in President Bush's State of the Union address repeatedly cited the same threat himself in the years prior to Bush's January 2003 comments.
In quotes unearthed by the Landmark Legal Foundation, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., confirmed the existence of Iraq's nuclear program four months before Bush's comments, telling CBS's "Face the Nation," "I assume [Saddam] would continue to attempt to hide those chemical and biological weapons and continue with a clandestine nuclear program if he can."
In fact, as far back as 1998, the top Democrat was warning that Iraq was shopping for nuclear fuel - almost the exact same allegation that has Levin and his party pointing the finger at Bush.
In a speech on the Senate floor, Levin told his colleagues, "With respect to Iraq's history, the Security Council noted Iraq's threat during the Gulf War to use chemical weapons in violation of its treaty obligations, Iraq's prior use of chemical weapons, Iraq's use of ballistic missiles in unprovoked attacks, and reports that Iraq attempted to acquire materials for a nuclear weapons program contrary to its treaty obligations."
Landmark Legal's director, Mark Levin [no relation], called on the Michigan Democrat to come clean on his intelligence sources.
"There are numerous other examples in which you've alleged unequivocally the existence of an Iraqi nuclear program (and other weapons of mass destruction) -- in the media, in committee hearings, and on the Senate floor - over the course of the last 4-5 years," the Landmark chief wrote, in an open letter addressed to Levin's office.
"As a key member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, when you make allegations of this kind, they are presumed to be credible and substantiated. Therefore, we ask that you immediately reveal the sources on which you relied to make your allegations."
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