NOVEMBER 2001: McCain Echoed Bushs Case For War. As early as 2001 McCain was helping to make the case for war with Iraq alongside Donald Rumsfeld. During a November 2001 appearance on ABCs Nightline, McCain echoed Rumsfeld and CIA director James Woolsey on the case for invading Iraq, using the same misleading rhetoric. Rumsfeld claimed there were ties between the terrorists in the Philippines and the al-Qaeda and people in Iraq. Woolsey suggested Iraq had been involved in terrorist acts against the United States. And John McCain, given a chance to disagree, instead echoed both men and the Bush Administration, claiming there had been significant involvement on the part of the Iraqis and Saddam Hussein in the acts of terror that have been committed in the past. [ABC News, Nightline, 11/28/2001]
NOVEMBER 2001: McCain Said Iraqi Official Had Met With Atta In Prague And The Iraq Was Involved In Terrorism Against The US. When asked if theoretically there were many other countries we would be going after, McCain said, Well, I--I think that might be true. I also think it might be the case that these other countries Syria, Sudan, Somalia and others might change their behavior rather radically. We have already seen the Syrians return a--a wanted Egyptian terrorist back to Egypt. We're seeing a change in attitude in the so-called 'Arab Street' with our--as a result of our successes in Afghanistan's. So I'm not sure that you would have to go after each of these, but, look, there was a meeting between Iraqi intelligence and Mohamed Atta in Prague, according to Czech government sources. There has been significant involvement on the part of the Iraqis and Saddam Hussein in the acts of terror that have been committed in the past. And he is out of compliance with an agreement that he made as a result of the cease-fire that ended the Persian Gulf conflict. And at least we can demand a return of the inspectors as--as an opening in this--in this scenario that's going to play out, I think, in the next several months. [ABC, Nightline, 11/28/01]
NOVEMBER 2001: McCain Said US Had To Consider Military Options In Regards To Iraq. McCain was asked about Iraq, what do you think the threat actually means? I mean, we've been bombing Iraq for years now. We've had sanctions in place against Iraq for years now, so clearly it is something over and above and beyond that. What? McCain responded, Well, I think--I think first of all, we should demand meaningful inspections and return of the regime that was agreed to as a result of the cease-fire. We're not asking for anything new. I think, second of all, we should do everything that we can to encourage and sustain and support the resistance movement within and without Iraq. And then I think we have to consider other--other military options, and that's something that I think is going to be part of an overall strategy when we get to that point. But, look, there was recently two defectors who talked about Saddam Hussein's high priority that he places on--on--on biological weapons of mass destruction. We're--we're seeing what a little--not a little, but what anthrax can do in--in its--in its rather restricted version. There is no doubt as to his avid pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them. That, coupled with his relations with terrorist organizations, I think, is a case that the administration will be making as we move step by step down this road. [ABC, Nightline, 11/28/01]
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John Ashcroft on Nightline - October 11, 2001 pt 1by CheneyWatch1520 views
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