Bush on CIA snafu: "intent" + "capability "= "I did the right thing"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

President Bush Welcomes Iceland Prime Minister to White House
Remarks by President Bush and Prime Minister Oddsson of Iceland in a Photo Opportunity
The Oval Office

10:59 A.M. EDT



http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/07/20040706-2.html

Q: There's a story today that the CIA held back information from you that Iraq had abandoned its WMD programs. Is that true? And what's your timetable on nominating a new CIA director? Are you going to wait until after the election?

PRESIDENT BUSH: I haven't made up my mind on the nomination process. Secondly, I will wait for the report, the Senate report to come out. This is information from the report of the United States Senate, Chairman Roberts' committee. I will look at the whole report. I will tell you, however, that I know that Saddam Hussein was a threat. He was a threat to the neighborhood; he was a threat to the people of Iraq. He harbored terrorists. Mr. Zarqawi, who continues to kill and maim inside of Iraq, was in the country prior to our arrival. Saddam Hussein had the intent, he had the capability, and the world is better off without Saddam Hussein in power. And the world will be more peaceful when this Iraqi government, under Prime Minister Allawi, emerges and there are elections.

And that's what we're seeing. We're seeing a transformation in a part of the world that needs liberty and freedom. And so I look forward to the full report, and I'll react to it when I see it.

[lovedems]

1. How many times has he changed the rationale for war?

How do they call him steadfast? He has changed the lie multiple times! The only area is he resolute is sticking to a lie, it doesn't matter which one.

They are already using the "Tenet was from the Clinton administration" bullshit. Cliff May was on CNN pointing out who appointed Tenet.

[enough]

2. He looks terrified.

Eyes staring into something he would rather not see.

[peacetalksforall]

3. So all this time the real enemy was Zarqawi? All we had to do in the

world of operataives was to have one of hundred or so intelligence agencies take him out (with sarcasm) - we would have saved some deserving souls, limbs, organs, immunes systems, and mental stability, families, futures, hopes.

These people have blood on their hands - it wasn't our duty to take out all these families because of the actions of two leaders of one country in about 170 (?) countries.

He can't explain it because it was pure killing.

[displacedtexan]

4. Tony Blair is using the same words on C-SPAN 3 right now.

Amazing coincidence!

</sarcasm>

[aden_nak]

5. Does Bush Read?

And I ask that seriously. I can't ever remember him saying he's read a report or a brief when questioned by a journalist. Just what is he DOING all day long?