Bush's War Plans Are a Cover-Up, Byrd Says

Charleston Gazette ^ | September 21, 2002 | Paul J. Nyden

[syriacus]

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., said President Bush’s plans to invade Iraq are a conscious effort to distract public attention from growing problems at home.

“This administration, all of a sudden, wants to go to war with Iraq,” Byrd said. “The [political] polls are dropping, the domestic situation has problems.... So all of a sudden we have this war talk, war fervor, the bugles of war, drums of war, clouds of war.

“Don’t tell me that things suddenly went wrong. Back in August, the president had no plans.... Then all of a sudden this country is going to war,” Byrd told the Senate on Friday.

“Are politicians talking about the domestic situation, the stock market, weaknesses in the economy, jobs that are being lost, housing problems? No.”

Byrd warned of another Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Passed on Aug. 7, 1964, that resolution handed President Lyndon Johnson broad powers to escalate the war in Vietnam, a conflict that cost 58,202 American lives and millions of Asian lives.

“Congress will be putting itself on the sidelines,” Byrd told the Senate. “Nothing would please this president more than having such a blank check handed to him.”

Byrd said his belief in the Constitution will prevent him from voting for Bush’s war resolution. “But I am finding that the Constitution is irrelevant to people of this administration.”

Sens. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., both praised Byrd after he spoke.

“It is the height of patriotism to ask such hard questions,” Clinton said. “No one exemplifies that more than the senior senator from West Virginia.”

Byrd said, “Before the nation is committed to war, before we send our sons and daughters to battle in faraway lands, there are critical questions that must be asked. To date, the answers from the administration have been less than satisfying.”

Byrd repeatedly said Bush has failed to give members of Congress any evidence about any immediate danger from Iraq. Byrd also criticized his speech to the United Nations.

“Instead of offering compelling evidence that the Iraqi regime had taken steps to advance its weapons program, the president offered the U.N. more of a warning than an appeal for support.

“Instead of using the forum of the U.N. General Assembly to offer evidence and proof of his claims, the president basically told the nations of the world that you are either with me, or against me,” Byrd said.

“We must not be hell-bent on an invasion until we have exhausted every other possible option to assess and eliminate Iraq’s supposed weapons of mass destruction program. We must not act alone. We must have the support of the world.”

Byrd said Congress needs solid evidence and answers to several specific questions, including: * Does Saddam Hussein pose an imminent threat to the U.S.? * Should the United States act alone? * What would be the repercussions in the Middle East and around the globe? * How many civilians would die in Iraq? * How many American forces would be involved? * How do we afford this war? * Will the U.S. respond with nuclear weapons if Saddam Hussein uses chemical or biological weapons against U.S. soldiers? * Does the U.S. have enough military and intelligence resources to fight wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, while mobilizing resources to prevent attacks on our own shores?

Byrd said the proposed resolution Bush sent Congress on Thursday would be the “broadest possible grant of war powers to any president in the history of our Republic. The resolution is a direct insult and an affront to the powers given to Congress.”

Byrd also criticized Bush’s request for power to carry out “pre-emptive attacks” and send troops to Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, the West Bank and anywhere else in the Middle East.

“I cannot believe the gall and the arrogance of the White House in requesting such a broad grant of war powers,” Byrd said. “This is the worst kind of election-year politics.”

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

If it has not been done I would like to point out that Byrd supported the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.

[RightOnline]

"...Byrd said. “This is the worst kind of election-year politics.”"

Well, at least this senile old fool got one thing right.

[God is good]

That would be money well spent.

[God is good]

Does Saddam Hussein pose an imminent threat to the U.S.?

Does the ongoing violation of a cease fire in the midst of a war mean anything to this extremist liberal? What part of threat do this cartoon character not understand?

[Sabertooth]

“Instead of using the forum of the U.N. General Assembly to offer evidence and proof of his claims, the president basically told the nations of the world that you are either with me, or against me,” Byrd said.

“We must not be hell-bent on an invasion until we have exhausted every other possible option to assess and eliminate Iraq’s supposed weapons of mass destruction program. We must not act alone. We must have the support of the world.”

Hamas Agrees!

Hamas "Freedom Fighters" demonstrate their solidarity with
Senator Robert Byrd (D-W. VA) for his "courageous remarks"
on behalf of Saddam Hussein, the Butcher of Baghdad.

A Hamas field general prepares to deliver
the Key to Gaza City to a glowing Senator Byrd.

[syriacus]

president basically told the nations of the world that you are either with me, or against me,” Byrd said.

I thought the President basically told the nations of the world you are either with us, or against us.

There is quite a difference between the two sentences.

Byrd is pushing the "Bush is a lone cowboy" image way too far.

[lavaroise]

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., said President Bush’s plans to invade Iraq are a conscious effort to distract public attention from growing problems at home.

And Byrd is not covering up for terrorists???

[MHGinTN]

Byrd is so senile he is an embarrassment to himself and his state. Sadly, if senator Byrd was senile we could give him a begrudging pass for his near-treasonous rhetoric, politicizing the war against terrorism. He is far from senile and his criminal enterprise party has positioned him to pound this anti-administration rhetoric toward the country because he is 'untouchable', either because he's about to retire or the dimocrats are certain West Virginians agree with his politicization and stalling tactics which enhance terrorists' future capabilities. I would hate to think West Virginians would agree to Byrds politicization/delaying tactics if they understood the gravity of such. ... But they do appear to keep electing the old coot, so what are we to conclude about West Virginians?

[FreeLibertarian]

Did you catch the President's speech at the UN?

No, do you have a link to the speech.

[FreeLibertarian]

Did you catch the President's speech at the UN?

No, do you have a link? That's the kind of information I have been asking for.

[MJY1288]

[MJY1288]

press HERE for the video of speech to U.N

[The Wizard]

bryd is the drooler of the senate

[j271]

If Byrd was a Republican, there's no way the media could resist slipping in the Klan connection on a regular basis. Something like this, perhaps...

“Don’t tell me that things suddenly went wrong. Back in August, the president had no plans.... Then all of a sudden this country is going to war,” Byrd, a former member of the Klu Klux Klan, told the Senate on Friday.

[Poohbah]

[j271]

Please try the FR search engine. The link is at the top of the page.

Search on "case against Iraq" and you'll get a lot of matches, including dissenting opinions.

[rogue yam]

Dude! What on Earth are you talking about? I have seen where members of the Administration have answered all of these questions and more time and time again. One recent example was Rummy's testimony to Congress last week. He just ticked the answers off one after another. This whole "unanswered questions" routine is old, old, old. It has long since passed the point where a person of any intelligence whatsoever can reasonably claim not to know the Administration's position on these questions. One may disagree, of course. But to claim that the Administration has not offered their answers is just a flat-out lie. One expects such lies from the likes of Dashle, Hillary, etc. The question I have is why are you, FreeLibertarian, lying like a flithy, ratty rug? Why?

[VaBthang4]

[lonestar]

“This administration, all of a sudden, wants to go to war with Iraq,” Byrd said. “The [political] polls are dropping, the domestic situation has problems.... So all of a sudden we have this war talk, war fervor, the bugles of war, drums of war, clouds of war.

Beats sending a $2 million missile up a camel's butt.

[NorCoGOP]

“Are politicians talking about the domestic situation, the stock market, weaknesses in the economy, jobs that are being lost, housing problems? No.”

Gee, don't you just hate someone taking all the bullets out of your gun?

By the way, Mr. Byrd, I still await receipt of your $600 tax rebate check that you claimed you would return to sender...I believe I was the first FReeper to claim dibs.