Helen Thomas: "Vietnam-sized Credibility Gap"

[Q]

Published on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Bush's Vietnam-sized Credibility Gap

by Helen Thomas

 http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0729-09.htm

WASHINGTON -- President Bush has a huge credibility gap stemming from his exaggerated rhetoric that led the United States to attack Iraq. The Bush hype recalls the Lyndon B. Johnson era when LBJ's misleading statements and deceptions led us deeper into the disastrous Vietnam War. Johnson later acknowledged that public mistrust had doomed his chances for re-election in 1968. Trust and truth still go a long way with the American people when it comes to war and peace.

To rally public support for an unprovoked U.S. invasion of Iraq, Bush laid it on with a shovel. There were scary warnings of an imminent, direct threat that Saddam Hussein would use nuclear, biological and chemical weapons of mass destruction against us. Throughout the buildup for war, Bush and his aides repeatedly claimed that there was a link between Iraq and the al-Qaida terrorists. So far, after almost four months of U.S. occupation of Iraq, none of those contentions has panned out.

The Iraqis deployed none of those feared weapons when U.S. forces invaded on March 20, despite warnings that had led many U.S. military men and women to spend uncomfortable hours decked out in protective moon suits. Likewise, the occupation has failed to turn up evidence of a link between Saddam and al-Qaida. This hasn't stopped the White House message machine. White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters again last week that the weapons will be discovered and that they were a "grave threat" to the United States and the rest of the world.

The administration should learn that mere repetition of a claim doesn't make it true.

[Q]

1. Plain and simple: BUSH IS A LIAR

...and nobody can deny it and be truthful at the same time.

[whoYaCallinAlib]

2. Love you Helen . . . keep up the HEAT!

No one says it any better.

[Skidmore]

3. Has anyone noticed that Poppy

hasn't surfaced as usual to defend his fair-haired beaming boy? Bet he and Cheney are in the back room off the Oval Office shredding documents fast and furiously.

[Boudicea]

4. Unfortunately ...

"The administration should learn that mere repetition of a claim doesn't make it true."

Sadly, it might not make it true, but it will make 85% of Americans believe it.