Cheney: No link between Hussein and 9/11

[Moby Dick]

well no shit??

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Monday that he does not believe Saddam Hussein was involved in the planning or execution of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney says Saddam Hussein "provided sanctuary ... and resources to terrorists."

Former Vice President Dick Cheney says Saddam Hussein "provided sanctuary ... and resources to terrorists."

He strongly defended the Bush administration's decision to invade Iraq, however, arguing that Hussein's previous support for known terrorists was a serious danger after 9/11.

Cheney, in an appearance at the National Press Club, also said he is intent on speaking out in defense of the Bush administration's national security record because "a clear understanding of policies that worked [in protecting the United States] is essential."

"I do not believe and have never seen any evidence to confirm that [Hussein] was involved in 9/11. We had that reporting for a while, [but] eventually it turned out not to be true," Cheney conceded.

But Hussein was "somebody who provided sanctuary and safe harbor and resources to terrorists. ... [It] is, without question, a fact."

Cheney restated his claim that "there was a relationship between al Qaeda and Iraq that stretched back 10 years. It's not something I made up. ... We know for a fact that Saddam Hussein was a sponsor -- a state sponsor -- of terror. It's not my judgment. That was the judgment of our [intelligence community] and State Department."

The former vice president said in 2004 that the evidence was "overwhelming" that al Qaeda had a relationship with Hussein's regime in Iraq, and that media reports suggesting that the commission investigating the 9/11 attacks reached a contradictory conclusion were "irresponsible."

"There clearly was a relationship. It's been testified to. The evidence is overwhelming," Cheney said at the time.

"It goes back to the early '90s. It involves a whole series of contacts, high-level contacts with Osama bin Laden and Iraqi intelligence officials."

On Monday, though, Cheney identified former CIA Director George Tenet as the "prime source of information" on the relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda.

Tenet "testified, if you go back and check the record, in the fall of [2002] before the Senate Intelligence Committee -- in open session -- that there was a relationship," Cheney said.

Hussein was captured by U.S. forces in Iraq in December 2003. In November 2006, the former Iraqi leader was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death. He was executed the following December.

Cheney said on June 17, 2004 that the evidence was "overwhelming" that al Qaeda had a relationship with Hussein's regime in Iraq, and said media reports suggesting that the 9/11 commission has reached a contradictory conclusion were "irresponsible."

Among other things Monday, Cheney also called the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detention center a "good facility ... if you are going to be engaged in a world conflict, such as we are, in terms of global war on terrorism. You know, if you don't have a place where you can hold these people, the only other option is to kill them. And we don't operate that way." Video Watch what Cheney has to say about the detention facility »

He reiterated his call for President Obama to declassify documents detailing the results of "enhanced interrogations" of high-value detainees.

Since Obama has already released memos detailing the interrogation methods, Cheney said, it is important to share the results of those interrogations with the public as well.

"I would not ordinarily be leading the charge to declassify classified information, otherwise they wouldn't call me Darth Vader for nothing," Cheney said.

But "once the [Obama] administration released the legal memos that gave the opinions that were used to guide the interrogation program, they'd given away the store. ... I [therefore] thought it was important to have the results that were gained from that interrogation program front and center as well."

On May 14, the CIA rejected the former vice president's request to declassify the documents. CIA spokesman Paul Gimigliano, in a written statement, said the two documents are the subject of pending lawsuits and therefore cannot be declassified.

Cheney said Monday that the memos previously released also were the subject of ongoing lawsuits. He said Obama can release the additional documents with "the stroke of a pen."
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On May 21, Cheney gave a full-throated defense of the Bush administration's enhanced interrogations of al Qaeda prisoners during an appearance at the conservative American Enterprise Institute.

He has said that the interrogations saved the lives of "thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands." He called the techniques the Bush administration approved "legal, essential, justified, successful and the right thing to do."


http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/01/ ... index.html

[Onions]

He never said there was, dumbfuck.

if you believe in the war so much, why don't you offer your life to the cause

[Cuda]

you're just itching to get off a black cock blast, aren't you, FUBU?

[LTS TRN 2]

He never said there was, dumbfuck.

We had that reporting for a while, [but] eventually it turned out not to be true," Cheney conceded.


Seriously, Avi, are you in some constant cocoon of perpetual denial? You're a total joke.

[BSmack]

He never said there was, dumbfuck.

You mean other than the time he claimed that the leader of the 9/11 hijackers met with a senior Iraqi intelligence official before the attacks, in April 2000 in Prague?

[LTS TRN 2]

Yeah, so without claiming an actual connection he just rammed on with full force to attack Iraq. See what Imean? You're a fucking joke, Avi, and now you're done.

[LTS TRN 2]

Avi, you're a fucking joke, and getting bitch sillier by the moment. The notion of the U.S. being attacked by Iraq, regardless of 9/11, is so pathetically absurd that it's not even worth discussing. Cheney and PNAC had no such concerns. The fact that he's backpedaling like a circus monkey is no surprise because that's what paranoid lunatics do when exposed as all-time war criminals, etc.

[Tom In VA]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/wmdquotes.asp

[LTS TRN 2]

Gee, Tom, do ya suppose that maybe Israel had long wanted to undermine the most vibrant and educated Arab nation for a long time as they pushed every button in their AIPAC rolodex like 8,000 times an hour for years--and are still pushing for the same FAKE demonization of Iran? Well wake the fuck up if you are actually standing by that PR romp during the Clinton years as some sort of justification for the shameless cherry picking and manipulation of intelligence that led up to the Worst Foreign Policy Decision Ever.

[Van]

That whole Louisiana Purchase thing ended up being a bit of a negatory for France, methinks.

Russia would probably like to have Alaska back.

[Van]

That whole Louisiana Purchase thing ended up being a bit of a negatory for France, methinks.

Not really. Nappy was going to lose it one way or another.

And it was always going to be a bit of a negatory for France, regardless of when or how it happened. Losing a chunk of pristine land in the New World that's larger than your entire country (I'm guessing on that one, but I'm fairly confident in that guess) was never going to be a good thing.

Hell, France should've given up France, first.

[Tom In VA]

Gee, Tom, do ya suppose that maybe Israel had long wanted to undermine the most vibrant and educated Arab nation for a long time as they pushed every button in their AIPAC rolodex like 8,000 times an hour for years--and are still pushing for the same FAKE demonization of Iran? Well wake the fuck up if you are actually standing by that PR romp during the Clinton years as some sort of justification for the shameless cherry picking and manipulation of intelligence that led up to the Worst Foreign Policy Decision Ever.

I don't need to justify anything. It is what it is.

[Moving Sale]

(I'm guessing on that one, but I'm fairly confident in that guess)

:xxxl: alert!



France: 220,668 Sq Miles
LP: 800,000 Sq Miles

I guess you can't always be wrong, but we have mvskkkal for that so it's all good.

[Van]

Dammit, I like you much better when you get and initiate humor. We already have one Terry.

[LTS TRN 2]

You idiots are spinning like Mexican kids hoping to bash the pinata. Quit your tedious quibbling. Invading Iraq was an utter disaster based on lies--and it's getting worse. Worst Foreign Policy Decision Ever refers of course to American actions. Israel remains a demented and ruthless apartheid state experiment which has proven disastrous on a variety of levels. And if you think the Ponzi boys aren't in the mix, you might as well be sucking ghat in the market square at noon.

[Moving Sale]

You can argue a case that it was France which got over on the deal.

This from a guy who thinks invading Iraq was a good idea. STFU you retarded racist cockcloset.

[Terry in Crapchester]

He never said there was, dumbfuck.

Bull. Shit.

His Administration mentioned Iraq and 9/11 in the same breath at every possible opportunity. Interesting to note that only 3% of the people thought Iraq was responsible for 9/11 in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, but in the runup to the Iraq War that number had risen to 41%. Not to mention that a majority of people believed that "all or most" of the 9/11 hijackers were Iraqi (correct number: 0). Granted, nobody ever starved to death by misunderestimating the collective intelligence of the American public, but the American public isn't so stupid that public opinion will shift so dramatically to a position that is so demonstrably false without something pushing it in that direction.

That something was the Bush Administration.

shutyomouth,

Nearly half the quotes you cite occurred a good four years or more before the Iraq War. And none of the post-9/11 quotes mentioned 9/11. Therein lies the difference between these quotes and the Bush Administration, not to mention that the Democratic Senators making those comments in '02 and '03 were being lied to by the Bush Administration.

[smackaholic]

Nearly half the quotes you cite occurred a good four years or more before the Iraq War. And none of the post-9/11 quotes mentioned 9/11. Therein lies the difference between these quotes and the Bush Administration, not to mention that the Democratic Senators making those comments in '02 and '03 were being lied to by the Bush Administration.

So, I guess they were being lied to by the Clinton administration then, huh? Why, from those quotes, apparently bubba was such a good liar, he even believed them himself.

You know god damn well what happened, as did every last democrat. After 9/11, if Bush or any other president had sat on his hands while Sadaam played his little bullshit games, they would have been crucified for it as well they should.

Every fukking last bit of the dems phony opposition is treasonous political bullshit. Unfortunately, being in power is more important that defending our interests.

[Cuda]

He never said there was, dumbfuck.

Bull. Shit.

His Administration mentioned Iraq and 9/11 in the same breath at every possible opportunity.

Should be no problem then for you to come up with a shit load of quotes or links or something, right?

[Terry in Crapchester]

He never said there was, dumbfuck.

Bull. Shit.

His Administration mentioned Iraq and 9/11 in the same breath at every possible opportunity.

Should be no problem then for you to come up with a shit load of quotes or links or something, right?

If I really have to dumb it down for you . . .

[Terry in Crapchester]

Nearly half the quotes you cite occurred a good four years or more before the Iraq War. And none of the post-9/11 quotes mentioned 9/11. Therein lies the difference between these quotes and the Bush Administration, not to mention that the Democratic Senators making those comments in '02 and '03 were being lied to by the Bush Administration.

So, I guess they were being lied to by the Clinton administration then, huh? Why, from those quotes, apparently bubba was such a good liar, he even believed them himself.

You know god damn well what happened, as did every last democrat. After 9/11, if Bush or any other president had sat on his hands while Sadaam played his little bullshit games, they would have been crucified for it as well they should.

Saddam probably did have WMD's at one time. But to use quotes from 1998 and 1999 to suggest that WMD's were present in 2003 . . .

And nobody was suggesting that nothing should be done or that Saddam Hussein was a swell guy who should be trusted completely (in contrast to Rumsfeld offering him the hand of friendship). That's why weapons inspectors were in Iraq prior to the war. Smirky the warmonger didn't like the results of those inspections, though, so he kicked out the weapons inspectors and started a war.

[Mikey]

...Rumsfeld offering him the hand of friendship.

Would that be one of these?

[Smackie Chan]

[Moving Sale]

After 9/11, if Bush or any other president had sat on his hands while Sadaam played his little bullshit games, they would have been crucified for it ...

By braindead fuckholes like you no doubt.

[Moving Sale]

That's why weapons inspectors were in Iraq prior to the war. Smirky the warmonger didn't like the results of those inspections, though, so he kicked out the weapons inspectors and started a war.

Remember before the war how you and I and a few others we saying that the Inspectors had it right, which they did, and how the braindead locksteps said we were wacked and how WMDs were never found and how the locksteps said it didn't matter and that it was still a good idea to invade? Good times... not.

[smackaholic]

Saddam probably did have WMD's at one time. But to use quotes from 1998 and 1999 to suggest that WMD's were present in 2003 . . .

wtf else were we supposed to think? He had them and he was giving the inspectors the run around.

And nobody was suggesting that nothing should be done or that Saddam Hussein was a swell guy who should be trusted completely (in contrast to Rumsfeld offering him the hand of friendship). That's why weapons inspectors were in Iraq prior to the war. Smirky the warmonger didn't like the results of those inspections, though, so he kicked out the weapons inspectors and started a war.

So wtf exactly was "nobody" suggesting we do? Continue the laughable embargos? The rummie handshake red herring is really getting tired. Smirky didn't like the results because the fukking inspections were not happening as proscribed, dumbass.

[smackaholic]

That's why weapons inspectors were in Iraq prior to the war. Smirky the warmonger didn't like the results of those inspections, though, so he kicked out the weapons inspectors and started a war.

Remember before the war how you and I and a few others we saying that the Inspectors had it right, which they did, and how the braindead locksteps said we were wacked and how WMDs were never found and how the locksteps said it didn't matter and that it was still a good idea to invade? Good times... not.

Are you suggesting that the inspectors had free reign of the country? Have another sip of kool aid.

[Moving Sale]

Smirky didn't like the results because the fukking inspections were not happening as proscribed, dumbass.

Huh?

[Moving Sale]

Are you suggesting that the inspectors had free reign of the country? Have another sip of kool aid.

Hey dumbass. They were right and you were wrong. That tells you nothing right?

[Mikey]

Smirky didn't like the results because the fukking inspections were not happening as proscribed, dumbass.

Huh?

LOL...Yogi Berra much?

[Felix]

The real problem is that we knew absolutely nothing about Saddam's intentions or capabilities. Zilch. Nada.

of course that was the case, but that's not what they portrayed

If you'd like me to hook you up to the Donald Rumsfeld interview where he said they knew EXACTLY where he stored his WMD's(north, south, east, and west of Tikrit), I'll be more than happy to

why do you keep sticking up for these disgraced fucking losers that broke the law (tortured), took us to war under completely false pretenses (imminent threat).....can you honestly answer yes to the question of whether the United States is better off for having invaded Iraq?....

keyrist, even some most of the hardline Repubs that initially supported the invasion have essentially said that Bush and Cheney were full of shit

[Terry in Crapchester]

The rummie handshake red herring is really getting tired.

If it bothers you that much, maybe I should try to figure out how to resize it and make it my avatar.

[Moving Sale]

This work?

[Mikey]

This work?

Still photographs can be very deceiving, you know.

This may look like a handshake, but Rummy was actually initiating the hand of friendship maneuver, which is supposed to result in Saddam on his back with a broken wrist and Rummy sitting on his chest with his dick in his mouth.

Not sure if it actually worked that time.

[Van]

Rummy sitting on his chest with his dick in his mouth.

Rummy was a Chinese contortionist? Cool.

[Mikey]

Rummy sitting on his chest with his dick in his mouth.

Rummy was a Chinese contortionist? Cool.

You'd do it yourself if you could.
Don't even try to deny it.

[Van]

Not only do I not deny it, I would go one step further and submit that you wouldn't even know I exist, were that the case. I'd have no use for the internet, other than as a vehicle to collect income from my monthly subscription porn site.

Okay, come to think of it, you probably would know I exist.

[Felix]

collect income from my monthly subscription porn site.

link and password please :D

[Van]

See, Mikey, you wouldn't be alone. Felix wants to watch me too.

[Mikey]

Maybe we could sit together.