Bush lied to Congress. The proof.

Tom Tomorrow has the goods.

The Congressional resolution authorizing Bush's War required the president to certify to Congress that war was necessary. Part of that letter (the full one is at Tom's site):

(2) acting pursuant to the Constitution and Public Law 107-243 is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

In other words, Bush is certifying that Iraq had a role in the 9-11 attacks, thus justifying the subsequent invasion.

But today, Bush said:

"There's no question that Saddam Hussein had al-Qaida ties," the president said. But he also said, "We've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with September the 11th."

And notice his use of the past tense ("we've had no evidence"), precluding the posibility that they originall thought a link existed. The president's language is absolute -- "We've had no evidence".

Hence Bush's language in the certification letter to Congress is a blatant L-I-E.

We shouldn't be surprised. The surprises come when they tell the truth.

Update: dKos poster RG reluctantly gives the Bush defense:

There's evidence that Saddam funded Hamas. Any country that provides terrorist funding is itself a terrorist nation. INCLUDING does not mean ONLY. Iraq qualifies.

It should be obvious (to me, especially) that the Bush administration is masterful at crafting language that seems to say one thing while saying another.

Posted September 17, 2003 06:57 PM | Comments (286)