Los Angeles Times: Despite Findings, Bush Sees Iraq Tie to Al Qaeda

Dick(head) Cheney has been the most outspoken defender of supposed "ties" between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime. But now (Acting President) Bush has re-joined the chorus - even after the 9/11 commission recently found that there was no "collaborative relationship" between the two.

Here's what Bush had to say on the topic after a cabinet meeting yesterday:

"The reason I keep insisting that there was a relationship between Iraq and Saddam and al Qaeda: because there was a relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda."

During his infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech aboard an aircraft carrier in May 2003, President Bush crowed that, "We have removed an ally of al Qaeda and cut off a source of terrorist funding."

The administration has clearly attempted to manipulate vague "evidence" about Iraq and al Qaeda to fit their purposes. Even as Bush trumpeted the link between the two, he adamantly stated, "This administration never said that the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated between Saddam and al Qaeda."

Except for the fact that they did.

Here is an excerpt from Bush's letter to Congress from March 18, 2003, justifying the reasons for war in Iraq:

"[A]cting pursuant to the Constitution and [the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002] is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001."

It must really suck, getting caught lying ALL THE MOTHERFUCKING TIME.

Read it here (registration required).