We don’t want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.
Condoleeza Rice, US National Security Advisor
CNN Late Edition
9/8/2002
But for those who say we haven’t found the banned manufacturing devices or banned weapons, they’re wrong, we found them.
George W. Bush, President
Interview with TVP Poland
5/30/2003
How the United States should react if Iraq acquired WMD. “The first line of defense…should be a clear and classical statement of deterrence–if they do acquire WMD, their weapons will be unusable because any attempt to use them will bring national obliteration.”
Condoleeza Rice, US National Security Advisor
January/February 2000 issue of Foreign Affairs
2/1/2000
We are greatly concerned about any possible linkup between terrorists and regimes that have or seek weapons of mass destruction…In the case of Saddam Hussein, we’ve got a dictator who is clearly pursuing and already possesses some of these weapons.. A regime that hates America and everything we stand for must never be permitted to threaten America with weapons of mass destruction.Dick Cheney, Vice PresidentDetroit, Fund-Raiser6/20/2002
Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction.Dick Cheney, Vice PresidentSpeech to VFW National Convention8/26/2002
There is already a mountain of evidence that Saddam Hussein is gathering weapons for the purpose of using them. And adding additional information is like adding a foot to Mount Everest.Ari Fleischer, Press SecretaryResponse to Question From Press9/6/2002
Right now, Iraq is expanding and improving facilities that were used for the production of biological weapons.George W. Bush, PresidentSpeech to UN General Assembly9/12/2002
Iraq has stockpiled biological and chemical weapons, and is rebuilding the facilities used to make more of those weapons. We have sources that tell us that Saddam Hussein recently authorized Iraqi field commanders to use chemical weapons — the very weapons the dictator tells us he does not haveGeorge W. Bush, PresidentRadio Address10/5/2002
The Iraqi regime . . . possesses and produces chemical and biological weapons. It is seeking nuclear weapons. We know that the regime has produced thousands of tons of chemical agents, including mustard gas, sarin nerve gas, VX nerve gas.George W. Bush, PresidentCincinnati, Ohio Speech10/7/2002
And surveillance photos reveal that the regime is rebuilding facilities that it had used to produce chemical and biological weapons.George W. Bush, PresidentCincinnati, Ohio Speech10/7/2002
After eleven years during which we have tried containment, sanctions, inspections, even selected military action, the end result is that Saddam Hussein still has chemical and biological weapons and is increasing his capabilities to make more. And he is moving ever closer to developing a nuclear weapon.George W. Bush, PresidentCincinnati, Ohio Speech10/7/2002
We’ve also discovered through intelligence that Iraq has a growing fleet of manned and unmanned aerial vehicles that could be used to disperse chemical or biological weapons across broad areasGeorge W. Bush, PresidentCincinnati, Ohio Speech10/7/2002
Iraq, despite UN sanctions, maintains an aggressive program to rebuild the infrastructure for its nuclear, chemical, biological, and missile programs. In each instance, Iraq’s procurement agents are actively working to obtain both weapons-specific and dual-use materials and technologies critical to their rebuilding and expansion efforts, using front companies and whatever illicit means are at hand.John Bolton, Undersecretary of State for Arms ControlSpeech to the Hudson Institute11/1/2002
We estimate that once Iraq acquires fissile material — whether from a foreign source or by securing the materials to build an indigenous fissile material capability — it could fabricate a nuclear weapon within one year. It has rebuilt its civilian chemical infrastructure and renewed production of chemical warfare agents, probably including mustard, sarin, and VX. It actively maintains all key aspects of its offensive BW [biological weapons] program.John Bolton, Undersecretary of State for Arms ControlSpeech to the Hudson Institute11/1/2002
Iraq could decide on any given day to provide biological or chemical weapons to a terrorist group or to individual terrorists,…The war on terror will not be won until Iraq is completely and verifiably deprived of weapons of mass destruction.Dick Cheney, Vice PresidentDenver, Address To Air National Guard12/1/2002
If he declares he has none, then we will know that Saddam Hussein is once again misleading the world.Ari Fleischer, Press SecretaryPress Briefing12/2/2002
The president of the United States and the secretary of defense would not assert as plainly and bluntly as they have that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction if it was not true, and if they did not have a solid basis for saying itAri Fleischer, Press SecretaryResponse to Question From Press12/4/2002
We know for a fact that there are weapons there.Ari Fleischer, Press SecretaryPress Briefing1/9/2003
I am absolutely convinced, based on the information that’s been given to me, that the weapon of mass destruction which can kill more people than an atomic bomb — that is, biological weapons — is in the hands of the leadership of Iraq.Bill Frist, Senate Majority LeaderMSNBC Interview1/10/2003
What is unique about Iraq compared to, I would argue, any other country in the world, in this juncture, is the exhaustion of diplomacy thus far, and, No. 2, this intersection of weapons of mass destruction.Bill Frist, Senate Majority LeaderNewsHour Interview1/22/2003
The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa. Our intelligence sources tell us that he has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons production.George W. Bush, PresidentState of the Union Address1/28/2003
Our intelligence officials estimate that Saddam Hussein had the materials to produce as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent.George W. Bush, PresidentState of the Union Address1/28/2003
We know that Saddam Hussein is determined to keep his weapons of mass destruction, is determined to make more.Colin Powell, Secretary of StateRemarks to UN Security Council2/5/2003
There can be no doubt that Saddam Hussein has biological weapons and the capability to rapidly produce more, many more. And he has the ability to dispense these lethal poisons and diseases in ways that can cause massive death and destruction. If biological weapons seem too terrible to contemplate, chemical weapons are equally chillingColin Powell, Secretary of StateAddresses the U.N. Security Council2/5/2003
We have sources that tell us that Saddam Hussein recently authorized Iraqi field commanders to use chemical weapons — the very weapons the dictator tells us he does not have.George W. Bush, PresidentRadio Address2/8/2003
In Iraq, a dictator is building and hiding weapons that could enable him to dominate the Middle East and intimidate the civilized world — and we will not allow it.George W. Bush, PresidentSpeech to the American Enterprise Institute2/26/2003
If Iraq had disarmed itself, gotten rid of its weapons of mass destruction over the past 12 years, or over the last several months since (UN Resolution) 1441 was enacted, we would not be facing the crisis that we now have before us . . . But the suggestion that we are doing this because we want to go to every country in the Middle East and rearrange all of its pieces is not correct.Colin Powell, Secretary of StateInterview with Radio France International2/28/2003
I am not eager to send young Americans into harm’s way in Iraq, or to see innocent people killed or hurt in military operations. Given all of the facts and circumstances known to us, however, I am convinced that if we wait, a threat will continue to materialize in Iraq that could cause incalculable damage to world peace in general, and to the United States in particular.Bill Frist, Senate Majority LeaderLetter to Future of Freedom Foundation3/1/2003
Iraq is a grave threat to this nation. It desires to acquire and use weapons of mass terror and is run by a despot with a proven record of willingness to use them. Iraq has had 12 years to comply with UN requirements for disarmament and has failed to do so. The president is right to say it’s time has run out.Bill Frist, Senate Majority LeaderSenate Speech3/7/2003
So has the strategic decision been made to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction by the leadership in Baghdad? . . . I think our judgment has to be clearly not.Colin Powell, Secretary of StateRemarks to UN Security Council3/7/2003
Getting rid of Saddam Hussein’s regime is our best inoculation. Destroying once and for all his weapons of disease and death is a vaccination for the world.Bill Frist, Senate Majority LeaderWashington Post op-ed3/16/2003
Let’s talk about the nuclear proposition for a minute. We know that based on intelligence, that [Saddam] has been very, very good at hiding these kinds of efforts. He’s had years to get good at it and we know he has been absolutely devoted to trying to acquire nuclear weapons. And we believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons.Dick Cheney, Vice PresidentMeet The Press3/16/2003
Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.George W. Bush, PresidentAddress to the Nation3/17/2003
The United States . . . is now at war “so we will not ever see” what terrorists could do “if supplied with weapons of mass destruction by Saddam Hussein.”Bill Frist, Senate Majority LeaderSenate Debate3/20/2003
Well, there is no question that we have evidence and information that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, biological and chemical particularly . . . all this will be made clear in the course of the operation, for whatever duration it takes.Ari Fleischer, Press SecretaryPress Briefing3/21/2003
There is no doubt that the regime of Saddam Hussein possesses weapons of mass destruction. And . . . as this operation continues, those weapons will be identified, found, along with the people who have produced them and who guard them.General Tommy Franks, Commander in Chief Central CommandPress Conference3/22/2003
One of our top objectives is to find and destroy the WMD. There are a number of sites.Victoria Clark, Pentagon SpokeswomanPress Briefing3/22/2003
I have no doubt we’re going to find big stores of weapons of mass destruction.Kenneth Adelman, Defense Policy Board memberWashington Post, p. A273/23/2003
We know where they are. They’re in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat.Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of DefenseABC Interview3/30/2003
We simply cannot live in fear of a ruthless dictator, aggressor and terrorist such as Saddam Hussein, who possesses the world’s most deadly weapons.Bill Frist, Senate Majority LeaderSpeech to American Israel Political Action Committee3/31/2003
We still need to find and secure Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction facilities and secure Iraq’s borders so we can prevent the flow of weapons of mass destruction materials and senior regime officials out of the country.Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of DefensePress Conference4/9/2003
You bet we’re concerned [concerned that those weapons might have been shipped out of the country]about it. And one of the reasons it’s important is because the nexus between terrorist states with weapons of mass destruction … and terrorist groups — networks — is a critical link. And the thought that … some of those materials could leave the country and [get] in the hands of terrorist networks would be a very unhappy prospect. So it is important to us to see that that doesn’t happen.Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of DefensePress Conference4/9/2003
Obviously the administration intends to publicize all the weapons of mass destruction U.S. forces find — and there will be plenty.Robert Kagan, Neocon scholarWashington Post op-ed4/9/2003
I think you have always heard, and you continue to hear from officials, a measure of high confidence that, indeed, the weapons of mass destruction will be found.Ari Fleischer, Press SecretaryPress Briefing4/10/2003
But make no mistake — as I said earlier — we have high confidence that they have weapons of mass destruction. That is what this war was about and it is about. And we have high confidence it will be found.Ari Fleischer, Press SecretaryPress Briefing4/10/2003
Were not going to find anything until we find people who tell us where the things are. And we have that very high on our priority list, to find the people who know. And when we do, then well learn precisely where things were and what was done.Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of DefenseMeet the Press4/13/2003
I have absolute confidence that there are weapons of mass destruction inside this country. Whether we will turn out, at the end of the day, to find them in one of the 2,000 or 3,000 sites we already know about or whether contact with one of these officials who we may come in contact with will tell us, “Oh, well, there’s actually another site,” and we’ll find it there, I’m not sure. General Tommy Franks, Commander in Chief Central CommandFox News4/13/2003
We are learning more as we interrogate or have discussions with Iraqi scientists and people within the Iraqi structure, that perhaps he destroyed some, perhaps he dispersed some. And so we will find them.George W. Bush, PresidentNBC Interview4/24/2003
There are people who in large measure have information that we need . . . so that we can track down the weapons of mass destruction in that country.Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of DefensePress Briefing4/25/2003
We’ll find them. It’ll be a matter of time to do so.George W. Bush, PresidentRemarks to Reporters5/3/2003
I’m absolutely sure that there are weapons of mass destruction there and the evidence will be forthcoming. We’re just getting it just now.Colin Powell, Secretary of StateRemarks to Reporters5/4/2003
We never believed that we’d just tumble over weapons of mass destruction in that country.Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of DefenseFox News Interview5/4/2003
I’m not surprised if we begin to uncover the weapons program of Saddam Hussein — because he had a weapons program.George W. Bush, PresidentRemarks to Reporters5/6/2003
U.S. officials never expected that “we were going to open garages and find” weapons of mass destruction.Condoleeza Rice, US National Security AdvisorReuters Interview5/12/2003
I just don’t know whether it was all destroyed years ago — I mean, there’s no question that there were chemical weapons years ago — whether they were destroyed right before the war, (or) whether they’re still hidden.Maj. Gen. David Petraeus, Commander 101st AirbornePress Briefing5/13/2003
We said all along that we will never get to the bottom of the Iraqi WMD program simply by going and searching specific sites, that you’d have to be able to get people who know about the programs to talk to you.Paul Wolfowitz, Deputy Secretary of DefenseInterview with Australian Broadcasting5/13/2003
Before the war, there’s no doubt in my mind that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, biological and chemical. I expected them to be found. I still expect them to be found.Gen. Michael Hagee, Commandant of the Marine CorpsInterview with Reporters5/21/2003
It’s going to take time to find them, but we know he had them. And whether he destroyed them, moved them or hid them, we’re going to find out the truth. One thing is for certain: Saddam Hussein no longer threatens America with weapons of mass destruction.George W. Bush, PresidentSpeech at a weapons factory in Ohio5/25/2003
Given time, given the number of prisoners now that we’re interrogating, I’m confident that we’re going to find weapons of mass destruction.Gen. Richard Myers, Chairman Joint Chiefs of StaffNBC Today Show interview5/26/2003
They may have had time to destroy them, and I don’t know the answer.Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of DefenseRemarks to Council on Foreign Relations5/27/2003
For bureaucratic reasons, we settled on one issue, weapons of mass destruction (as justification for invading Iraq) because it was the one reason everyone could agree on.Paul Wolfowitz, Deputy Secretary of DefenseVanity Fair interview5/28/2003
The President is indeed satisfied with the intelligence that he received. And I think that’s borne out by the fact that, just as Secretary Powell described at the United Nations, we have found the bio trucks that can be used only for the purpose of producing biological weapons. That’s proof-perfect that the intelligence in that regard was right on target.Ari Fleischer, Press SecretaryPress Briefing5/29/2003
We have teams of people that are out looking. They’ve investigated a number of sites. And within the last week or two, they have in fact captured and have in custody two of the mobile trailers that Secretary Powell talked about at the United Nations as being biological weapons laboratories.Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of DefenseInfinity Radio Interview5/30/2003
You remember when [Secretary of State] Colin Powell stood up in front of the world, and he said Iraq has got laboratories, mobile labs to build biological weapons …They’re illegal. They’re against the United Nations resolutions, and we’ve so far discovered two…And we’ll find more weapons as time goes on.George W. Bush, PresidentPress Briefing5/30/2003
It was a surprise to me then — it remains a surprise to me now — that we have not uncovered weapons, as you say, in some of the forward dispersal sites. Believe me, it’s not for lack of trying. We’ve been to virtually every ammunition supply point between the Kuwaiti border and Baghdad, but they’re simply not there.Lt. Gen. James Conway, 1st Marine Expeditionary ForcePress Interview5/30/2003
Do I think we’re going to find something? Yeah, I kind of do, because I think there’s a lot of information out there.Maj. Gen. Keith Dayton, Defense Intelligence AgencyPress Conference5/30/2003
Q: The fact that there hasn’t been substantial cache of weapons of mass destruction — is that an embarrassment? Wolfowitz: No. Is it an embarrassment to people on the other side that we’ve discovered these biological production vans, which the defector told us about?Paul Wolfowitz, Deputy Secretary of DefenseCNN Interview5/31/2003
This wasn’t material I was making up, it came from the intelligence community.Colin Powell, Secretary of StatePress Briefing6/2/2003
We know that some of them, especially the biological weapons, were being destroyed,” Hastert said, adding that it would “take a little while to find weapons of mass destruction… and we’re going to continue to do it.Dennis Hastert, House Speaker R-ILPress Briefing6/4/2003
We recently found two mobile biological weapons facilities which were capable of producing biological agents. This is the man who spent decades hiding tools of mass murder. He knew the inspectors were looking for them. You know better than me he’s got a big country in which to hide them. We’re on the look. We’ll reveal the truthGeorge W. Bush, PresidentCAMP SAYLIYA, Qatar6/5/2003
I would put before you Exhibit A, the mobile biological labs that we have found. People are saying, “Well, are they truly mobile biological labs?” Yes, they are. And the DCI, George Tenet, Director of Central Intelligence, stands behind that assessment. Colin Powell, Secretary of StateFox News Interview6/8/2003
No one ever said that we knew precisely where all of these agents were, where they were stored.Condoleeza Rice, US National Security AdvisorMeet the Press6/8/2003
What the president has said is because it’s been the long-standing view of numerous people, not only in this country, not only in this administration, but around the world, including at the United Nations, who came to those conclusions…And the president is not going to engage in the rewriting of history that others may be trying to engage in.Ari Fleischer, Press SecretaryResponse to Question From Press6/9/2003
Iraq had a weapons program…Intelligence throughout the decade showed they had a weapons program. I am absolutely convinced with time we’ll find out they did have a weapons program.George W. Bush, PresidentComment to Reporters6/9/2003
The biological weapons labs that we believe strongly are biological weapons labs, we didn’t find any biological weapons with those labs. But should that give us any comfort? Not at all. Those were labs that could produce biological weapons whenever Saddam Hussein might have wanted to have a biological weapons inventory.Colin Powell, Secretary of StateAssociated Press Interview6/12/2003
Those documents were only one piece of evidence in a larger body of evidence suggesting that Iraq attempted to purchase uranium from Africa … The issue of Iraq’s pursuit of uranium in Africa is supported by multiple sources of intelligence. The other sources of evidence did and do support the president’s statement.Sean McCormack, National Security Council SpokesmanStatement to press6/13/2003
My personal view is that their intelligence has been, I’m sure, imperfect, but good. In other words, I think the intelligence was correct in general, and that you always will find out precisely what it was once you get on the ground and have a chance to talk to people and explore it, and I think that will happen.Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of DefensePress Briefing6/18/2003
I have reason, every reason, to believe that the intelligence that we were operating off was correct and that we will, in fact, find weapons or evidence of weapons, programs, that are conclusive. But that’s just a matter of time…It’s now less than eight weeks since the end of major combat in Iraq and I believe that patience will prove to be a virtueDonald Rumsfeld, Secretary of DefensePentagon media briefing.6/24/2003
MS. BLOCK: There were no toxins found in those trailers. SECRETARY POWELL: Which could mean one of several things: one, they hadn’t been used yet to develop toxins; or, secondly, they had been sterilized so thoroughly that there is no residual left. It may well be that they hadn’t been used yet.Colin Powell, Secretary of StateAll Things Considered, Interview6/27/2003
That was the concern we had with Saddam Hussein. Not only did he have weapons — and we’ll uncover not only his weapons but all of his weapons programs — he never lost the intent to have these kinds of weapons.Colin Powell, Secretary of StateAll Things Considered, Interview6/27/2003
I think the burden is on those people who think he didn’t have weapons of mass destruction to tell the world where they are.Ari Fleischer, Press SecretaryPress Briefing7/9/2003
Thanks to this BRILLIANT dKos diary.
