Well here we go again. Via
Holden we get yet another another example of the success of the memory hole.
But Saddam refused to open his country to inspections, Bush said. [update: see below]
"So I had a choice to make: either take the word of a madman or defend America. Given that choice I will defend America."
Truly stunning chutzpah, and the AP wire reporter obliging forgets about having to evacuate the UN inspectors so we could get our war on.
This is now the 4 1/2 [*] time that Bush has floated this tripe.
- "It was his choice to make, and he did not let us in." - Dubya on Jan 27, 2004
- "And we gave him a chance to allow the inspectors in, and he wouldn't let them in" - Dubya on July 14, 2003
- "The United Nations Security Council looked at the intelligence and it saw a threat. Saddam Hussein said, I'm not going to expose my weapons, I'm not going to get rid of my -- I'm not going to allow inspectors in, he said." - Dubya on Feb 26, 2004 (new via holden)
- "And so what did Saddam Hussein say to the world? He said, forget it, I'm not going to -- we're going to play games with the inspectors. Intelligence clearly says that he was gaming the system. He wasn't going to disclose. He wasn't about to show the world what he had. Inspectors like you had for years were denied access." - Dubya on July 9, 2003 (new via Holden)
I almost wonder if Cheney and Bush have a game going on between them.
BUSH: Watch me get away with Hussein "did not let us in" again.
CHENEY: You think that's something? I'm still claiming the "Atta met Iraqi spies in Prague" BS!
UPDATE: It looks like the lie told today is
slightly less egregious.
In 2002, the United Nations Security Council yet again demanded a full accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons programs. As he had for over a decade, *Saddam Hussein refused to comply.* In fact, according to former weapons inspector David Kay, Iraq's weapons programs were elaborately shielded by security and deception operations that continued even beyond the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom. So I had a choice to make: Either take the word of a madman, or defend America. Given that choice, I will defend America every time. (Applause.)
Still a lie, but now it's more weasely. There are 2 more quotes now making the lie being repeated 4 1/2 times (1/2 for today's lie).