White House: Bush Erred on Mustard Gas

AP ^ | April 15, 2004

[Leroy S. Mort]

(AP) - Once again, President Bush misspoke on a weapons issue, telling the nation that 50 tons of mustard gas were found in Libya - twice the amount actually uncovered.

The White House moved quickly Wednesday to correct the record, with press secretary Scott McClellan seeking out reporters to point out the mistake. The president should have said in his Tuesday night address and press conference that 23.6 tons of mustard gas were found in Libya, instead of 50 tons, McClellan said.

Bush used the 50-ton figure twice.

The first time, he was making the case that his decision to go to war in Iraq has produced foreign policy successes elsewhere. The president argued that Libya's agreement last December to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction programs was the result of the U.S.-led war to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

``Colonel Gadhafi made the decision, and rightly so, to disclose and disarm for the good of the world,'' Bush said, referring to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. ``By the way, they found, I think, 50 tons of mustard gas, I believe it was, in a turkey farm, only because he was willing to disclose where the mustard gas was. But that made the world safer.''

The second time, Bush was using the example of the Libyan mustard gas disclosure to suggest that weapons of mass destruction could still turn up in Iraq. Though Bush's prewar allegations of Saddam's alleged weapons were his main rationale for going to war, none has yet been found.

``They could still be there,'' Bush said Tuesday of the Iraq weapons. ``They could be hidden, like the 50 tons of mustard gas in a turkey farm.''

The White House's fast acknowledgement of this error was sharply different from its handling of Bush's now-discredited claim in his January 2003 State of the Union address that Iraq had sought uranium from Africa for weapons.

It wasn't until July 2003 that the White House said the statement, largely based on evidence of Iraqi activities in Niger that turned out to be forged and that had been doubted beforehand by some in the intelligence community, should not have been included in the speech.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I have 5 tons of Honey Mustard gas if you need some. I have 50 tons of Hunt's Ketchup Gas and 30 Tons Of Helmans Mayonaise Gas too.

Condiments give you gas, I take it?

[kimmie7]

Ya know, when you're talking tons...it's just not that big of a difference.

Of course, my reasoned mind says that. Libs just say AHA!

[af_vet_1981]

Look at it this way. People will just ignore it as nothing new. His numbers should not be affected by this.

His numbers should go up. 50 tons of Mustard Gas is not significantly different than 23.6 tons of Mustard Gas. It will only refocus public attention on the WMDs that Libya had and gave up after we overthrew the regime of Saddam Hussein.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Down here we call em Possums. They can survive anything that does not involve crossing a road.

[retrokitten]

I have 5 tons of Honey Mustard gas if you need some. I have 50 tons of Hunt's Ketchup Gas and 30 Tons Of Helmans Mayonaise Gas too.

We get the 50 Ton Hunt's Ketchup Gas at Costco or Sams. Those stores have everything.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Bean Burritos give me gas. But condiments don't bother me.

[deport]

The president should have said in his Tuesday night address and press conference that 23.6 tons of mustard gas were found in Libya, instead of 50 tons, McClellan said.

---

President Bush was just taking into account Inflation.....

[Califelephant]

AP's next bombshell: "Bush Erred on Turkey Farm -- 23 Tons of Mustard Gas Actually Found Buried Beneath Goat Ranch".

[NavyCaptain]

Well if they can round to 3 million jobs lost, George can round to 50 tons!

[Conspiracy Guy]

The convenient 1 ton cans at Sams is how I buy.

[spodefly]

The first two words of this piece out it as an opinion piece rather than reporting.

[an amused spectator]

Media Shenanigans ping - Bush Lied, & They'll Only Have 23 Tons Of Mustard For The Hotdogs At The Fall White House Correspondents Picnic (BYO French's!)

On, Off, or grab it for a Media Shenanigans/Schadenfreude/PNMCH ping:
http://www.freerepublic.com/~anamusedspectator/

[netmilsmom]

By the way, I just wanted to tell you that there are still no wedding pictures on your profile page.

[cyncooper]

Once again, President Bush misspoke on a weapons issue,

As long as the AP sticks to straight reporting. /sarcasm

The White House's fast acknowledgement of this error was sharply different from its handling of Bush's now-discredited claim in his January 2003 State of the Union address that Iraq had sought uranium from Africa for weapons.

IT HAS NOT BEEN DISCREDITED, YOU COMPLETELY VILE CLYMERS

[Conspiracy Guy]

They will be ready early next week per the photographer. They aren't Polaroids.

[joeyGibson]

Geez, I hate liberals. So it was only 23 tons of mustard and not 50. Big F'ing deal! You can still do a hell of a lot of damage with 23 tons.

[cyncooper]

Cheney certainly did NOT pick Wilson and he was never briefed on Wilson's trip.

A sub-group in the CIA sent him on their own initiative (read, without Tenet's OK).

[cyncooper]

Be sure not to miss reading this completely off the charts hit piece.

[netmilsmom]

>>They aren't Polaroids.<<

And THAT'S a good thing!

[Conspiracy Guy]

A freeper who came to the wedding forgot his digital camera. He has been sacked by all who know him for that. I won't name him here and expose him to further scorn.