Charlie Crystle Blog: Condi Rice Says Bush Never Claimed a Link Between Al Quaeda and Saddam

September 17, 2003

Condi Rice Says Bush Never Claimed a Link Between Al Quaeda and Saddam

"We have never claimed that Saddam Hussein ... had either direction or control of 9/11," Rice said when asked about the public perception of a link.

Mr. Bush:

As they campaigned for support to oust Saddam, Bush and aides accused the former Iraqi president of being linked to al Qaeda, often in ways that recalled the suicide hijackings that killed about 3,000 people.

"You can't distinguish between al Qaeda and Saddam when you talk about the war on terror," Bush said in September 2002.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said in congressional testimony, "There have been a number of contacts between Iraq (news - web sites) and al Qaeda over the years. We know Saddam has ordered acts of terror himself."

Which is it going to be? They sold us on a connection between Iraq and al Quaeda, among other things. When the polls start dropping they suddenly change their tunes, saying they never claimed a connection. This feels like somoene is lying to us. Maybe they think it's technically not a lie. Let's just say their current position is highly inconsistent with their prior ones. It depends on what "is" is, perhaps.

Posted by Charlie Crystle at September 17, 2003 07:15 AM | TrackBack

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Posted by: texas holdem at September 2, 2004 01:12 PM

Hmmmmm interesting

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Posted by: dzwonki at June 18, 2004 08:21 PM

Fair analysis, Brian, but I think you're parsing here. Condi was asked specifically about a link, and she chose to not use the word link in addressing the question. She did not deny a link, and Bush himself defined one multiple times. Either there was a link or there wasn't, and I'd appreciate a straight answer from the administration about what they believe, what they know to be factual. 70% of the public thinks there was a link between the two, and if they are now denying that, I believe it is misleading and irresponsible.

Posted by: Charlie Crystle at September 18, 2003 01:41 AM

Perhaps it deponds on what "link" is. When Rice says they never claimed Saddam had control or direction of 9/11 it is a very narrow comment - it does not claim that there is no link, as you state in the headline.

Let's say you and I both have software companies. We make similar products, but target different markets, so are not in competition, but the public may not see the dinstinction between us. I'm a religious guy, you're not, but we have a lot of similar interests. You're company is longer established, and has deeper pockets. I send some of my guys over for training, and you float me some loans, assist me with documents, etc.

It is clear that we have links and contacts - but does that mean that you've had any direction or control over my latest and greatest software release?

Denying control does not deny any connection at all. Please pay close attention to the actual wording you are commenting on.

Posted by: Brian L Cartwright at September 17, 2003 07:01 PM