wingnut talking point - WMD intelligence Clinton and Bush

[Mountainman]

I've heard several wingnuts state that Bush used the same intelligence that Bill Clinton used to determine that Saddam had WMDs so therefore Bush didn't lie.

Well how many months have passed and how many searches have been undertaken since Bush took office?

The UN was searching Iraq just before the invasion. New intelligence from the CIA said that they doubt that Saddam had WMDs.

The wingnuts still refuse to take any credit for the time that Bush has been in office.

If the poor intelligence is Clinton's fault. If the poor economy is Clinton's fault. If three years after the election Clinton's actions still have a baring on everything, then what kind of President has Bush been if he couldn't do anything about the problems that were left to him when he was elected?

To the right wingers I want to say, Clinton hasn't been in office since Jan 2001, get over it!

[Newsjock]

1. Makes one wonder if the radio callers are planted

Because twice in just the past 24 hours, I've heard callers on two stations far away (KIRO Seattle and KGO San Francisco) try to use exactly the same argument.

In this era of manipulating the media, I wouldn't be at all surprised if there's some amorphous right-wing group that pretends to be "John from Bellevue" and "Sarah from Oakland" and arranges to call talk shows across the country.

[NicoleM]

2. Did Clinton take us to war on that intelligence?

No. But I don't expect wingnuts to understand that teeny little difference between Clinton's Iraq policy and Bush's.

[Spentastic]

3. Exactly

What a dim argument to make.

Clinton did not invade Iraq and throw the middle east into turmoil alienating U.S.A allies and losing the all good will generated by 9/11.

It takes a Bush to fuck things up that badly.

[sandnsea]

4. Enough for inspections

The pre-1998 locations with new activity warranted inspections, not a unilateral war. I'll say it again, even Dennis Kucinich said Saddam was dangerous and that inspections ought to happen. Which does not mean there was cause for a unilateral invasion.

[nannygoat]

5. It's amazing that they think that intelligence that is 3-4 years

old is still accurate, isn't it?

[radwriter0555]

6. Donald Rumsfeld is THE source for BOTH presidents, to whit, the 1998

Rumsfeld Security Commission Report.

Google it. It's word for word the premise for the bush regime attacks.

"1998 Rumsfeld Security Commission Report". There are scores of commentaries and remarks and basis on it.

[NewJeffCT]

7. If it was the same intel, then why...

If it was the same intelligence, why are both Colin Powell & Condi Rice on the record in mid 2001 publically *bragging* that sanctions had neutered Saddam and that he had no WMD and was not even a conventional threat to his neighbors?

[bowens43]

8. So now they believe Clinton?

I expect to see apologies for the accusations that Clinton bombed Iraq to draw attention away from Lewinsky.

[ma4t]

9. some apropos quotes

"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program." Bill Clinton, 2-17-98

"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983." Sandy Berger, 2-18-98

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." Al Gore, 9-23-02