NYT: Bush "plainly dishonest"

[nostamj]

Of all the ways Mr. Bush persuaded Americans to back the invasion of Iraq last year, the most plainly dishonest was his effort to link his war of choice with the battle against terrorists worldwide. While it's possible that Mr. Bush and his top advisers really believed that there were chemical, biological and nuclear weapons in Iraq, they should have known all along that there was no link between Iraq and Al Qaeda. No serious intelligence analyst believed the connection existed; Richard Clarke, the former antiterrorism chief, wrote in his book that Mr. Bush had been told just that.

<snip>

This is not just a matter of the president's diminishing credibility, although that's disturbing enough. The war on terror has actually suffered as the conflict in Iraq has diverted military and intelligence resources from places like Afghanistan, where there could really be Qaeda forces, including Mr. bin Laden.

Mr. Bush is right when he says he cannot be blamed for everything that happened on or before Sept. 11, 2001. But he is responsible for the administration's actions since then. That includes, inexcusably, selling the false Iraq-Qaeda claim to Americans. There are two unpleasant alternatives: either Mr. Bush knew he was not telling the truth, or he has a capacity for politically motivated self-deception that is terrifying in the post-9/11 world.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/17/opinion/17THU1.html

[Wickerman]

1. nice, when I see that or similar in the Wash Post and the WSJ

I will know its over. Right now, the NYT is too often dismissed as part of the liberal media. :eyes:

[amber dog democrat]

2. Still, its nice to see this in print.

We may never see a WSJ concurrance until AFTER the chimp is voted out.
That is, if the next election is not stolen too.
Nice comment.

[neebob]

3. It doesn't say Bush is plainly dishonest

but that his effort to link Iraq with terrorism was the most plainly dishonest of all the ways he persuaded Americans to back the invasion.

[CWebster]

4. nice that the NYTimes was willing to be the megaphone

for the whitehouse sales pitch.

And so, the grey lady attempts to preserve her tarnished reputation.

[Art_from_Ark]

6. Her reputation's not just tarnished

It's corroded, discolored and flaking.

[Cat Atomic]

5. He was plainly dishonest before the invasion, too.

Not that anyone in the media will ever admit to being a mouthpiece for power, of course.

Still, it's nice to see that the obvious truth can sometimes be printed.