Something fishy here....need help with statement credited to Graham

[madfloridian]

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2003308030386

Read this statement credited to Senator Graham, December 5, 2001:

SNIP....."Then from Sen. Bob Graham: "There is no doubt that . . . Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to refine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a . . . missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies....."

THEN read this statement written to the president, but NOT signed by Graham. Signed by Lott, Lieberman, McCain, Helms, Shelby, Brownback, Hyde, Ford, and Gilman. Posted at PNAC...I found it by googling the statement.

http://www.newamericancentury.org/congress-120601.htm
SNIP...."This December will mark three years since United Nations inspectors last visited Iraq. There is no doubt that since that time, Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf war status. In addition, Saddam continues to refine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies......"

First of all, this does not sound like Graham. I have searched his site for such statements, and I can not find anything. I realize this is a letter from a reader, but I still intend to question its veracity.

[Terwilliger]

1. I thought Graham was a PNAC supporter

He seems to be very hawkish most of the time...why do these quotes seem out of place?

Remember...the Dems have always pushed for regime change as well. Why does it seem strange that conservative Democrats would repeat this same misinformation? Especially for the purposes of future justification of going to war?

[madfloridian]

2. You did not read the post, did not get the question.

You did not read my post. Please read my post to see that the statement was not signed by him, but was credited to him in the letter.

Yes, I do know the Democrats were hawkish. MY point is did Graham say them....or were they written by the ones who signed the letter.

I think the remarks are miscredited.

I am not starting a pro or con Graham thread. I just wanted an answer.

[madfloridian]

3. I have not seen PNAC documents that bear his name.

He was a founder of the DLC, and is pretty conservative.

I just think that he was given credit for a statement made by others.

[lkinsale]

6. Ter, Graham has been against the Iraq war from the start

He distinguishes between Iraq, which he believes is the wrong target, and the terrorist groups like al Queda and Hezbollah. He is hawkish on the terrorist groups, however, he thought Iraq was a dangerous distraction.

You have to be able to hold those two thoughts simultaneously. ;) That he can be hawkish against a different target w/o justifying war in Iraq.

[madfloridian]

7. That was well put.

:hi:

[lkinsale]

4. I think the letter-writer has mixed up his Grahams (or Gramms)

Here's Senator Bob Graham's statement of Oct.13, Misfiring in the War on Terror:

The resolution that was passed last week in Congress erroneously suggests that Saddam Hussein is the ultimate bully in the world, and that taking him out now and for good is to be our nation's top priority. Hussein may be the baddest guy in the Middle East, but he is just one of the bad guys -- and he does not pose an immediate threat to our homeland, according to a recently declassified assessment from the CIA. Rather, that report suggests, Hussein might use his chemical and biological weapons in terrorist strikes on the United States in retaliation for a U.S.-led attack on Baghdad.

*****

Graham is not schizophrenic and I don't find any statements on either of his sites that are like what this person suggests.

Graham's Presidential Campaign site
Graham's Senate Site--Statements on Iraq

I suspect if you google the other Grahams (Phil Gramm and Lindsay Graham, both republicans) in congress, you might track this down.

[madfloridian]

5. Thanks, plan to check it out more.

Graham has been misquoted more than anyone I know. In this area there is a campaign against anything he says or does. I am getting suspicious.

We have always liked him, thought at times not agreed. He is a good guy, and someone or some group is misquoting him. We have heard it in conversations.

I would vote for him easily, and I get angry over quotes like this. I think he is being maligned.

[madfloridian]

8. Well, I wrote the paper, and I will call Graham's office tomorrow.

I think that is the least I can do. I don't know that papers really care anymore, but I told them I care. I also told the paper I was calling Graham's office.

[lkinsale]

10. Good idea about calling the office

They might want to send a rebuttal to the paper.

on edit: there is also an e-mail for press inquiries at [e-mail]

[madfloridian]

9. Just in case some Graham folks know more about this......

I am kicking it. It upsets me to see this statement so blatantly attributed to him, when it was Holy Joe and McCain, and Brownback et al.

I think his campaign ought to respond to this, so I will still call tomorrow.

[GBD4]

11. very fishy indeed

clearly, Graham did not sign the letter touted by neocon Bill Kristol according to the PNAC site you linked. not only does the letter Kristol attached leave Graham's name off the signature list, but Kristol notes there were nine co-authors of the letter, and all nine are accounted for with the list of names at the bottom of the letter (in other words, had Kristol said ten Congressmen and only nine were listed, it may be that Graham's name was mistakenly left off, but both Kristol and the signed letter show 9 co-authors) . . . as you say, it's a reader's letter, and it does seem to misquote Senator Graham. do look into it, though. I am not sure if the Lakeland Ledger has a policy on posting inaccurate readers' letters? doubt it

I hope the Graham Campaign provides some sort of response or writes a correction to the Lakeland Ledger, should the reader's statement prove to be false

[GBD4]

12. Graham on Face the Nation, December 8 2002

As said by the reader's letter, Graham made a comment on 12/8/02

On Face the Nation (CBS):

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/09/ftn/main532270.shtml

Graham says yes, Saddam has programs for production, but the question, he says, is when is it necessary for us to go so far as to use force to intervene? He does not say evidence shows Saddam has fully produced WMDs and that there is no imminent threat, he reiterates need to go after terrorists.

Hope this transcript solves the question!

On edit: Nevertheless, Graham should not be attributed to that December 5 2001 letter cited by the reader.

[madfloridian]

13. Thanks! I was looking for that.

Even there he does not approve of just attacking Iraq.