Edwards accuses Bush of misleading nation on Saddam's ties to Sept. 11

[JI7]

<DETROIT (AP) -- Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards on Sunday accused President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney of misleading Americans by implying a link between deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

"Today, Secretary of State (Colin) Powell made clear that there is no connection between Saddam Hussein and the attacks on September the 11th," Edwards said before an AFL-CIO rally. "From this day forward, this administration should never suggest that there is."

The North Carolina senator was referring to Powell's comments on NBC's "Meet the Press" in which the Republican reiterated a statement made by Bush last September that the administration has no evidence that Saddam was involved in the attacks.


"We know that there had been connections and there had been exchanges between al-Qaida and the Saddam Hussein regime. And those have been pursued and looked at," Powell said. "But I have seen nothing that makes a direct connection between Saddam Hussein and that awful regime and what happened on 9/11."

"This attack by John Edwards is typically baseless and flailing and there is no contradiction," Schmidt said. "The reason for the attack is that John Kerry took his eighth distinct position on the war in Iraq this week and their position has receded into complete incoherence.">

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/09/13/election2004/20_57_329_12_04.txt

<Secretary Powell Comes Clean on Hussein and 9/11
John Kerry released the following statement today commenting on an interview with Secretary of State Colin Powell dealing with Iraq that was broadcast this morning.

“Today, Secretary Powell came clean with the American people about the lack of a connection between Iraq, Saddam Hussein and the September 11th attacks. Despite repeated claims from Vice President Cheney, including as recently as last Friday, Secretary Powell today told the American public in no uncertain terms that there is no evidence of a link between Saddam and al-Qaeda in the 9/11 attacks.


“Secretary Powell has told the truth. It’s wrong for others in this administration to continually mislead the American people about a link that doesn’t exist. Dick Cheney continues to intentionally mislead the American public by drawing a link between Saddam Hussein and 9/11 in an attempt to make the invasion of Iraq part of the global war on terror. The president needs to answer the question: Who do you think is right? Vice President Cheney or Secretary Powell? And if it’s Secretary Powell, will you direct your vice president to stop misleading the American people?
“On an issue of such importance where U.S. troops are bearing nearly 90 percent of the burden, and American taxpayers are paying $200 billion and counting, the administration has an especially solemn obligation to conduct itself in an honest and straightforward way. Unfortunately, in its desperate attempts to reinvent a rationale for the Iraq war, this White House has repeatedly chosen to mislead the American people.”>

http://blog.johnkerry.com/blog/archives/002794.html#more

[Spiffarino]

1. Guess Powell's trying to back away from the nutty neo-cons

Good luck, Colin. You're history.

I'm glad Edwards is doing the full-frontal assault on this garbage. There isn't a single administration official who can mention Iraq without mentioning 9/11. It's in the playbook: "Whenever you say 'Iraq' always find a way to squeeze in 9/11."

Rove's game is to turn the most egregious lie into the truth through repitition. Edwards is firing the first big shot at that strategy. Let's hope there are more soon and that they are effective enough to shut them down.

[rsmith6621]

2. Will Colin Powell Become

A member of those unemployed by weeks end???????...Or not be allowed to speak for the administration until after the elections....

Me Thinks the messenger has some credibility...

[VLC98]

3. Media not giving Edwards enough attention

I would like to see more of John Edwards. I know polls show that people don't vote for the VP, but I think he can do nothing but good for the ticket. I think he would've been the better presidential candidate and I honestly didn't think much of him at first. Just my humble opinion.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. Go get 'em

Time to start hammering this misadministration every way we can.

These are the real issues that the American people need to hear about and it is up to us to make sure they do.

[59millionmorons]

5. Who do you think is right? Vice President Cheney or Secretary Powell?

This will be a great question for Kerry to ask Bush at every debate. "Who do you think is right? Vice President Cheney or Secretary Powell?"

[liberal_in_GA]

6. This is EXACTLY what Edwards needs to be doing

KICK

:kick:

[Supersedeas]

7. This attack is baseless and flailing--how ironic when discussing IRAQ

The original justification for the invasion, occupation, and expenditure of our National Recourses (both blood and butter) is baseless and flailing.


Yet again, the Bush Apologist insisting on claiming Black is White, Up is Down, and 2=2=5, then taking credit for every disaster as if it were a stunning success...

Catastrophic Success.


Notice how rarely corporate media types utilize this description used by the President of the United States to describe the situation in Iraq.

And of course, the Edward's story will be BURIED.
Iraq is the last thing the MEDIA will be emphasizing as we approach election date.

KEEP TRYING JOHN--KEEP STRIVING