Impeach The President
By Michael P. Tremoglie (01/30/04)
Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts has accused President Bush of lying about the possession by Iraq of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD’s). Specifically, Senator Kennedy has accused President Bush of manipulating the intelligence data so he can justify invading Iraq. Kennedy believes Bush intended to invade Iraq from the day he was inaugurated. Essentially he is claiming that the president lied to start a war.
These are serious allegations - worthy of impeachment, if proven.
In order to ascertain the extent to which the president lied about the Weapons of Mass Destruction, I have listed quotes by the president, by members of his administration, and by members of his political party stating that Iraq possessed WMD’s. These quotes constitute evidence for impeachment. As such they are listed using the term “exhibit.” All italics are mine. As you will note they are a damning indictment of the efforts by the president, his administration, and his party to lie to the American people.
Exhibit A- "One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."[1]
Exhibit B -"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program." [2]
Exhibit C- "Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat" [3]
Exhibit D - "He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983." [4]
Exhibit E - "[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions … to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs."[5]
Exhibit F - "Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."[6]
Exhibit H -As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am keenly aware that the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons is an issue of grave importance to all nations. Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."[7]
Exhibit G - We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction. " [8]
These statements clearly misled the American people. They imply that Iraq was in possession of weapons of mass destruction and would use them. This is unquestionably an impeachable offense.
Unfortunately, impeachment of the president would be impossible in this instance. The president and the members of his administration who made these statements are no longer in office. The political party of the president who made these statements are no longer the majority party. The problem is that:
Exhibits A and B are statements made by President Clinton in February 1998.
Exhibit C is from a February 1998 statement by President Clinton’s Secretary of State, Madeline Albright.
Exhibit D is from a February 1998 statement by Clinton National Security Adviser Sandy Berger.
Exhibit E is an excerpt of a letter written by Senators Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, and John Kerry dated October 1998.
Exhibits F and G are from a statement made by Nancy Pelosi in December 1998.
Exhibit H is from a statement made by the accuser himself Senator Kennedy.
What is the maxim about people in glass houses not throwing stones? The Democrats live in a glass house.
There are some Democrats who do not vehemently condemn President Bush. Democratic Senator and presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman said August 10, 2003, “The case was there back as far as '98, as far as I was concerned, to get rid of Saddam--all the stronger after September 11th, because we would naturally say to ourselves, 'We don't want to look back after Saddam sponsors some horrific action against us and say why didn't we stop him when we had the chance? " Former New York Mayor Democrat Ed Koch has also stated he would vote for Bush.
Proof of Bush’s honesty comes from other sources as well - sources who now condemn him. A March 8 2003, New York Times article quoted a 173-page dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, by chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix. It said Baghdad may possess about 10,000 liters of anthrax, Scud missile warheads filled with deadly biological and chemical weapons, and drones capable of flying far beyond a 93-mile limit.
Author and researcher, Joseph Cirincione, who now says the president lied about the Iraq WMD’s wrote in page 7 of his June 2002 book, Deadly Arsenals: Tracking Weapons of Mass Destruction: “International inspectors destroyed most of Iraq’s nuclear program after the Gulf War, though it has most likely restarted since Iraq blocked inspections in 1998.” On page 8 he wrote, “there are approximately twelve nations suspected of having biological warfare programs… This includes... Iraq, Iran, Israel, Russia, North Korea, Syria.” Cirincione wrote in a page 10 paragraph titled, “BIOLOGICAL WEAPON PRODUCTION: “ Iraq remains the most serious proliferation threat.” In September 18, 2002 Ciricione wrote, “Iraq has chemical and biological weapons that would complicate any military actions.” [9]
The Democrats are doing their best to politicize this was and the security of the people of the United States of America. However, they will never attempt to impeach George Bush because they know that a trial will reveal their deceit. Instead the Democrats will imply and insinuate that Bush lied, thinking they can influence the presidential election and regain control of the White House, which is all they are truly concerned about doing.
It will not work. The American public is not as ignorant as they believe it is.
[1] President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998 fm snopes.com
[2] President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998. fm snopes.com
[3] Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998. fm snopes.com
[4] Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998 snopes.com
[5] Letter to Clinton by Sens. Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others Oct. 9, 1998.snopes.com
[6] Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998
[7] Nancy Pelosi, December 16, 1998
[8] Ted Kennedy, September 27, 2002
[9] Ret fm w/s http://www.ceip.org/files/publications/Globalist.asp 1-9-04
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