Monday, November 14, 2005

Contradictions

President Bush calls criticism of his administration's selective use of intelligence in the lead-up to the US invasion of Iraq "deeply irresponsible," but claims that the decision to go to war was a responsible one, even though his administration did not share intelligence with Congress that cast doubt on damning allegations (WMDs, links to al Qa'ida, complicity in the 9/11 attacks).

In March of this year, George W. Bush said that "For the sake of our long-term security, all free nations must stand with the forces of democracy and justice that have begun to transform the Middle East," yet he criticizes Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez for being anti-democratic--even though Chavez was elected by a much bigger majority than Bush won in either of his elections.

In September of 2003, George W. Bush said that "All governments that support terror are complicit in a war against civilization," yet his administration has refused to extradite a man, Luis Posada Carriles, who recently declassified CIA documents show was behind the 1976 bombing of a Cuban airliner.

Speaking in Brazil last week, George W. Bush said, "We do not torture," on the same day that Vice President Dick Cheney testified in front of the Senate about the need for a CIA exemption to a bill banning the use of torture.

Astounding.

No comments: