935 Lies

Just in case Scott McClellan wasn't keeping count, the Center for Public Integrity was: at least 935 falsehoods told by the president and his aides in the runup to the war. Need help remembering that number?

"935 Lies" is from Harry's upcoming CD, "Songs of the Bushmen," to be released July 1 on digital platforms including iTunes and Amazon. This poignant musical satire pays homage to cabinet members and advisors including Scooter Libby ("No Cooler for Scooter'), Condoleezza Rice ("Gym Buds") and Donald Rumsfeld ("Stuff Happens"), to name a few...

UPDATE: Why isn't this on the front page today? Quien sabe. But the long-awaited Phase Two of the Senate Intelligence Committee's report on intel and Iraq is out this morning, and the bipartisan majority reached some interesting conclusions:

The Committee's report cites several conclusions in which the Administration's public statements were NOT supported by the intelligence. They include:

Ø Statements and implications by the President and Secretary of State suggesting that Iraq and al-Qa'ida had a partnership, or that Iraq had provided al-Qa'ida with weapons training, were not substantiated by the intelligence.

Ø Statements by the President and the Vice President indicating that Saddam Hussein was prepared to give weapons of mass destruction to terrorist groups for attacks against the United States were contradicted by available intelligence information.

Ø Statements by President Bush and Vice President Cheney regarding the postwar situation in Iraq, in terms of the political, security, and economic, did not reflect the concerns and uncertainties expressed in the intelligence products.

Ø Statements by the President and Vice President prior to the October 2002 National Intelligence Estimate regarding Iraq's chemical weapons production capability and activities did not reflect the intelligence community's uncertainties as to whether such production was ongoing.

Ø The Secretary of Defense's statement that the Iraqi government operated underground WMD facilities that were not vulnerable to conventional airstrikes because they were underground and deeply buried was not substantiated by available intelligence information.

Ø The Intelligence Community did not confirm that Muhammad Atta met an Iraqi intelligence officer in Prague in 2001 as the Vice President repeatedly claimed.

Additionally, the Committee issued a report on the Intelligence Activities Relating to Iraq conducted by the Policy Counterterrorism Evaluation Group and the Office of Special Plans within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. The report found that the clandestine meetings between Pentagon officials and Iranians in Rome and Paris were inappropriate and mishandled from beginning to end. Deputy National Security Advisor Steve Hadley and Deputy Secretary Paul Wolfowitz failed to keep the Intelligence Community and the State Department appropriately informed about the meetings. The involvement of Manucher Ghobanifer and Michael Ledeen in the meetings was inappropriate. Potentially important information collected during the meetings was withheld from intelligence agencies by Pentagon officials. Finally, senior Defense Department officials cut short internal investigations of the meetings and failed to implement the recommendations of their own counterintelligence experts.

The 936th lie: the CIA made us do it.

Comments

[Michale32086]

"Your comments are offensive to the intellect, in that they appear to be designed to distract and divert those with whom you disagree."

Yea, ain't cold rational facts a biatch??? :D

Ahhhh The Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine is a political organization?? Says who??

"Your writing does not reflect the wisdom or breadth of experience usually accompanying age."

Again, says you...

The simple fact is that there is nothing factual with your responses beyond childish and immature ad hominem attacks

Perhaps you can answer one simple question in an adult and mature manner.

If Human Caused Climate Change is a real threat that is imminent, why has the global temp DROPPED in the last 10 years??

In Al Gore's book, ASSAULT ON REASON, he castigates the American people, government and media for their incessant march to war without ANY debate of the facts before us.

Yet, the Gore'acle insists on that EXACT SAME strategy when it comes to his HCCC religion!! Can you explain this blatant hypocrisy??

I won't even get into the "Do As I Say, Not As I Do" attitude that these so called environmentalists epitomize every day, nor all the blatant scientific mistakes that the HCCC hysterics have put forth over the years. That idiocy surely speaks for itself...

So, now you have two questions before you..

1. Show me one Bush lie that is provable..

2. Explain why Global Temps are dropping the last 10 years.

I'll be standing bi...

Michale...­..

[luziannagirl]

No, Michaele, I think this time I'll not play your game and honor you with a straightforward reply, to which you will likely respond by playing games.

After all, if 7+ years of Bush 2 have taught us anything useful, it's how to spot an attempt at distraction. Some of us have gotten fairly good at following the trick hand, you know?

My responses to your comments have not been an ad hominem attack, but simple observations on the nature of your comments. Take them any way you wish. When coming across comments by you in future (if I can remember your handle) I will either skip over them, as they do nothing to contribute to the discussion, or, if I do respond, it is likely to be with just a few words.

DISTRACTION ALERT! These comments appear to be an attempt at derailing this thread.

[Michale32086]

If you want to argue the merits (or in this case, lack thereof) of the Human Caused Climate Change fraud, here is a better thread to do it in...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stefan-roberts/lieberman-warner-bill-why_b_104493.html

Michale...­..

[Michale32086]

"but simple observations on the nature of your comments."

Exactly...

Rather than address the validity of my comments, you choose to address the NATURE of my comments.

In other words, you are not debating or discussing or refuting the message, you are capping on the messenger.

Thank you for your admission of what has become painfully obvious to all...

Michale...­..

[luziannagirl]

Michaele

I inadvertently hit the "flagged as abusive" button instead of the reply button, which for some reason was absent. In reflection, I'm not really sorry, though. Your comments are offensive to the intellect, in that they appear to be designed to distract and divert those with whom you disagree. Why? Perhaps in order to derail the conversation into a non-productive direction? To shield those in high places who may well be guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors? Maybe you are one of them; who really knows? Or cares.

Two additional comments:

1) Your assertion that 3100 Oregon scientists signed a petition [essentially] denying global warming is itself a lie.

A very quick google shows the group behind this stunt is not a part of the mainstream science community, and is known to champion intelligent design /creationism "science", home schooling, other anti-science, religious-based initiatives. Unfortunately, anyone, even Taro card readers, astrologers paranormal ghost-busters, can legally call themselves a scientist. Perhaps that will change in the near future.

Anyone truly interested in that topic (as opposed to you, Michaele) , go to the National Center for Science Education site.

2) In your profile, you mention getting on in years. Your writing does not reflect the wisdom or breadth of experience usually accompanying age.

[rbenjamin]

935 lies certainly seems like a lot to a layman, but many in the Pentagon's Office of Prevarication wanted to stockpile more. Rumsfeld pushed ahead without delay .... "you go to war with what you have."

[Dap]

@Michale..­...

Michale roe your boat a shore...

to a far far away shore... please. ..

Hallelujah

[Michale32086]

How quaint. :D

Been watching the DNC RBC all day. Really fascinating stuff.. They are slated to be back from lunch any minute now..

Betcha we see some fireworks this evening, eh? ;D

Michale...­..

[luziannagirl]

Or both.

[Michale32086]

@Necron99

"Secondly, how many log-ins does one person need?"

I don't know. How many do you have??

"While I agree with this sentiment, I know for a fact you don't."

You know this for a fact?? Ooo Do tell...

"said American is, gasp, a Muslim"

What does being a muslim have to do with anything???

"see how your values change depending on who you're trying to zing today."

I can see why you didn't want to stick around. Otherwise you might actually have to try and support the lame accusations you are making..

Michale...­..

[Michale32086]

@Marlyn
"The United States was sent to war based on LIES, yes garbage. And unless the liars are held accountable, nothing will change."

FINE..

HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABL­E...

Quit whining about it, quit talking about it and go DO IT!!

Michale...­..

[Michale32086]

"In other words, as I said before. Make your case or shut up... "

I must apologize. That came out much harsher than I intended..

I only meant to say that, if you can't make a case based on reason and logic, you do your own position grave harm by simply resorting to hysterical and irrational claims that have no legal basis..

Again, my apologies. It has never been, nor ever will be, my policy to encourage silence of dissent...

Michale...­.

[Steve]

Michale sez: "In other words, as I said before. Make your case or shut up... "

You know, you just can't argue with logic like that. Q.E.D.

[Michale32086]

Can you argue with the logic of asking you to make your case without hysterics, hearsay or irrational rantings?

Can you give me ONE example of a PROVEN lie made by Bush??

Standing bi.......

Michale...­..

[Steve]

timothe points out: "All I'm saying is that when you keep rehashing garbage like this, you're acting similar to the boy who cried wolf. Fair-minded people have a general understanding of run up to the invasion."

Is it "garbage" that our government led us into an unnecessary and apparently disastrous war over nonexistent WMDs and other hypothetical threats so diaphanously insubstantial as to be laughable, if the consequences were no so dire? Yeah, it's "garbage" all right.

There was ample evidence from our own weapons inspectors, such as Scott Ritter, a former Marine and no left wing whacko, that whatever WMDs Saddam Hussein might have had were destroyed years before.

The problem is that "fair-minded people" didn't and still don't have a "general understanding of run up to the invasion," inasmuch as the news industry completely dropped the ball on its reporting in the run up.

Don't believe me (and why should you?). Try CNN's Jessica Yellin:

"'The press corps was under enormous pressure from corporate executives, frankly, to make sure that this was a war presented in a way that was consistent with the patriotic fever in the nation and the president's high approval ratings,' Yellin said."

There's much more here:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0508/CNNs_Yellin_Network_execs_killed_critical_White_House_stories_.html

Maybe you're right, though. There weren't 935 lies. There was one lie, a great big one, repeated 935 times.

[Michale32086]

"Is it "garbage" that our government led us into an unnecessary and apparently disastrous war over nonexistent WMDs and other hypothetical threats so diaphanously insubstantial as to be laughable, if the consequences were no so dire? Yeah, it's "garbage" all right."

No....

It's "garbage" when ya'all use the same old hysterical crap over and over and never come up with any verifiable and examinationable FACTS...

THAT is what makes it "garbage".­..

"Don't believe me (and why should you?). Try CNN's Jessica Yellin:"

She has already recanted that statement.­.

But hay... Go with it.. Get it in a sworn affidavit and we'll have something to talk about..

Michale...­..

[Steve]

As opposed to repeating the same old "WMD! WMD! WMD!" in the run up to the war and never coming up with any "any verifiable and examinationable (sic) FACTS..."?

It seems that we have two sets of rules of evidence, one for the proponents of the war and one for the opponents (who, it turns out, were dead on right in virtually every instance). That's a curious standard.

What's "hysterical" about Scott Ritter's verifiable report that Iraq had *no* WMD of any sort when we invaded? Condoleezza Rice's "[b]ut we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud" statement, that's not hysterical. Again, curious.

_In re_ Yellin: Yes, and Galileo "recanted" his theory that the earth orbits the sun.

But let's go to Ms Yellin herself:

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/29/tv-news-under-the-microscope/

"No, senior corporate leadership never asked me to take out a line in a script or re-write an anchor intro. I did not mean to leave the impression that corporate executives were interfering in my daily work; my interaction was with senior producers. What was clear to me is that many people running the broadcasts wanted coverage that was consistent with the patriotic fever in the country at the time. [. . .]"

It's curious, as well, that you seem to require a sworn affidavit for this but are willing to accept the Administration's dubious rationale without question.

Curious indeed.

[Michale32086]

@Steve

""[a]n act or instance of lying; a false statement made with intent to deceive; a criminal falsehood," "

OK, fine.. That's a definition that we can agree on.

So, to make your case, all you have to do is PROVE that Bush "intended to deceive"..

Prove that and you have a case..

Barring that, you don't..

Why is this so difficult to comprehend??

Michale...­..

[Puzzles]

Hey,

It there a like some where of the 935 lies? I was hoping some one was compiling this and Id love to have access to it. A numerical layout as suggested by the video would be great.

[LeoMarvin]

Harry,

I guess this is about half off topic, but any chance you'll ever release compilations of either "Clinton-something" and/or the 41-43 phone calls? (Hint hint)

[raker]

I see a boxed set, featuring Continental Public Radio interviews and commentary by Ira Zipkin and Aviva Schlorman.

[timothe]

Oh...you'r­e referring to that study funded by George Soros, which weren't actually lies, but rather, statements that turned out not to be true.

Again, here is an example of a statement that turned out not to be true. (so you'll know the difference between a lie and a statement that turned out not to be true.)

The New England Patriots were crowned by many sports pundits as champions after they completed the season 16-0. They were again crowned as undefeated champions and the team of destiny after reaching the Super Bowl.

They lost.

Those pundits who predicted the Patriots as champions made statements that turned out not to be true. They didn't lie. But they were so interested in driving the story, they said things that turned out not to be true.

Again, we all knew that Saddam had used WMDs on his own people. We didn't find any. The statements Bush made about Saddam possessing WMDs turned out not to be true. He didn't lie any more than these sports pundits lied.

It's one thing to present evidence of wrongdoing­...and Lord knows, the Bush Administration has done some things really really wrong. But when you cite a study that was biased from the start and then twisted further to exaggerate the wrongdoings even further, then you've lost your credibility.

And you folks wonder why most of the American public stopped listening.

[Dap]

Oh... nevermind.­.. I 'm just laughing too hard to comment ROTF !

[Michale32086]

Nice rational response.

This is exactly why the Bush bashers have ZERO credibilit­y..

When asked for facts and rational discourse, they go off into flights of fancy..

Michale...­..

[Steve]

From my handy dictionary, Webster's 1913 edition:

Lie n. 1. A falsehood uttered or acted for the purpose of deception;
an intentional violation of truth; an untruth spoken with
the intention to deceive.
2. A fiction; a fable; an untruth.
3. Anything which misleads or disappoints.

Either the Bush Administration lied or it was the stupidest, most gullible bunch of dunderheads to ever hold public office.

Take your pick.

[Dap]

timothe, 935 unadulterated lies, "Any Questions?" TeeHeehe

[Michale32086]

You went back to 1913 to find a definition that you want!?? Could you possibly be more disingenuous???

Why not go with something current???

Regardless of that, your mission should be easy.

All you have to do is prove Bush's intent and you will have your criminal case.

Good luck with that... :^/

Michale...­..
Michale...­..

[wedgie]

You're so busy declaring the case as unwinnable it makes me think you're worried someone may try to prosecute it. "Nothing to see here folks....m­ove along."

Hmmmmmm.

[Johnniedog]

timothe,
When you tell the American people that there is an active Nuclear program, even though you have been told by all of your intelligence organizations that there is NOT, "you are lying". It does not compare to your example of the New England Patriots and the Sportscasters given above. You are listening to too much Republican BullShit. The people you are blogging too on this site actually have Brains....­.if you want to fool someone with this tripe, go to a Republican site...the­y fall for this shit all of the time.

[timothe]

When the Soros group counts "We know Saddam has WMDs" as not just one, but over 250 of their so called 935 lies, then it can be easily surmised that the Soros group is not credible.

That whole study was nothing more than filler for the 24/7 news cycle. If there were any teeth to it at all, it would be the subject of a CNN Special Report. (or Nightline, or PBS. etc.)

Bottom line: The Soros tripe did not fool the American public. Nice try, George.

[Marlyn]

"weren't actually lies, but rather, statements that turned out not to be true." ???

Are you suggesting that Bush believed all that crap?

[Michale32086]

I don't presume to know what is in Bush's mind..

You obviously do not follow such logical and rational strictures­..

Michale...­..

[Dap]

Dear Harry,

Been awhile since I last dopped in on ya, from the video I can see you are well and busy both, I really enjoyed the "935 Lies", it's quite a catchy little tune, keeps playing over and over in my head, great voice. Once again thanks for all your efforts, all the best. Agape.

[Dap]

Harry, I just can't express how tickled I am with your little diddy, as I lsten to the lirics, I just keep smiling, it's so spot-on. Kudos to you indeed.

[Dap]

Whopps...d­itty.