Bush Acknowledges Absence Of Al Qaeda In Pre-Occupation Iraq With A 'So What?'

Reality-based observers have long known that the Bush administration's attempts to connect al Qaeda with pre-invasion Iraq have been nothing more than a campaign of misinformation. Al Qaeda had no presence in Iraq prior to the 2003 invasion, and even afterward, the so-called "al Qaeda in Iraq" never amounted to anything more than a "microscopic terrorist organization" with "850 full time fighters." But regardless of the facts, one theme has been constant from this administration. The presence of al Qaeda, terrorists, "special groups," and foreign fighters (typically from Iran) is sold as justification for the invasion and occupation, when it is actually the result of the invasion and occupation.

That's what makes this part of the interview between President George W. Bush and ABC News' Martha Raddatz, highlighted by Ali Frick at Think Progress, so extraordinary.

BUSH: One of the major theaters against al Qaeda turns out to have been Iraq. This is where al Qaeda said they were going to take their stand. This is where al Qaeda was hoping to take-

RADDATZ: But not until after the U.S. invaded.

BUSH: Yeah, that's right. So what? The point is that al Qaeda said they're going to take a stand. Well, first of all in the post-9/11 environment Saddam Hussein posed a threat. And then upon removal, al Qaeda decides to take a stand.

Wow. "That's right. So what?" That's how he admits that the repeatedly mentioned links between the September 11 attacks, al Qaeda, and Iraq were just manipulations?

I believe President Bush just threw both his shoes at our intelligence. Duck!

[WATCH.]

Comments

[rodnacious]

09:23 PM on 12/19/2008

Oh what a web weave, when first we practice to deceive!

[imfedup]

11:03 AM on 12/17/2008

To paraphrase Forest Gump: Some days there just aren't enough shoes . . .

[reuvain]

08:22 AM on 12/17/2008

*interesti­ng that Bush says he attacked Iraq because Al Qaeda SAID Iraq is where they will take a stand, Yet when Al Qaeda said in Aug 2001 that they would attack with planes inside the USA, Bush and his team took no notice of that and Bush went on vacation.
Lies never work Georgie boy. Better think again even though I am aware that thinking is not something you do very often.

[deschl]

07:53 AM on 12/17/2008

I wish I had a good throwing arm and some shoes to spare.

[rodnacious]

09:24 PM on 12/19/2008

Use bricks!!

[lookingforintegrity]

02:42 AM on 12/17/2008

"There have been no attacks since I've been the President, since 9/11."
He often says this, and it is paraded out by his supporters as proof of
his successful defense of our security.

What is not said, is that there were no attacks before he was the President.
The only recent attack has been under his watch.

[LaurenMarie984]

06:50 PM on 12/16/2008

Wow. He uttered the words that Iraq posed no threat of al-Qaeda before we invaded; and like the existence of WMDs, which there were none, the invasion actually caused al Qaeda presence..­.....wow. Bushisms are one thing. Bush logic is seizure inducing.

[Craniumdude]

06:26 PM on 12/16/2008

No George, the world will be better off without YOU!

[wordvarc]

05:46 PM on 12/16/2008

"Ouch."

The thrown shoes are especially painful to all of us in the US as a symbol of our Iraq failure and must hurt w and his family deeply.

[VioletDatura]

11:45 PM on 12/16/2008

Seriously? I don't think so.

Bush also said "So What?" when the shoes were thrown at him:

This is the "So What?" Presidency of George W. Bush.

[Chaimirija]

11:32 AM on 12/17/2008

Yep..the " What, Me Worry?" president

[cashaww]

05:36 PM on 12/16/2008

From everything I know, this is a man who has ruined every business has has own or run, why would the US be any different?

[Avembe]

05:19 PM on 12/16/2008

This man is evil!

[Avembe]

05:18 PM on 12/16/2008

4200 dead soldiers=s­o what
30000 wounded soldiers=s­o what
100 000 civilians killed=so what
612,429,30­0,000 dollars=so what
this man is....

[GuidedByEwoks]

04:30 PM on 12/16/2008

Wow. A reporter who doesn't turn off their brain when the interviewe­e is talking. Amazing.

[rmc53x]

04:03 PM on 12/16/2008

this is like when Donald Rumsfeld said "OK, so there were no WMDs; fair enough."

the Neocon Mafioso always try to shrug off pertinent questions and inquiry with some lame childish comment that they think will put a stop to it all, the basic message being "End of Discussion­!"

I'm waiting for Cheney to shut down a reporter's questions with a "whatever!­"

[zizizzi]

03:57 PM on 12/16/2008

"SO WHAT"????

I'll tell you so what... Where is my shoe?

[tandrmcdonald]

03:16 PM on 12/16/2008

The Obama administra­tion is being compared to Lincoln's Team of RIvals; what about an appropriat­e moniker for the Bush administra­tion? How about A Confederac­y of Dunces? It has a nice "So What?" sound to it, don'tcha think?
Gramma Rose

[research]

03:19 PM on 12/16/2008

The Greatest Criminal Enterprise in History.

[sjm752003]

11:16 PM on 12/16/2008

You Betcha!