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White House: Bush Knew in August Iran Had Halted Nuclear Weapons Program

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December 05, 2007 6:57 PM

ABC News' Martha Raddatz Reports: The White House made a stunning admission Wednesday that appeared to suggest President Bush has directly contradicted himself about when he learned U.S. intelligence that Iran had halted its nuclear weapons program.

During a press conference on Tuesday, the President told reporters that he was briefed that there was new intelligence information about Iran,  but nothing specific. 

"I was made aware of the NIE last week," Bush said Tuesday. "In August, I think it was [Director of National Intelligence] Mike McConnell came in and said, we have some new information.  He didn't tell me what the information was; he did tell me it was going to take a while to analyze." 

However today the White House is saying the President was told much more.

After taking a reporters' question earlier today about exactly what the President was told, White House press secretary Dana Perino provided a response to reporters Wednesday night.

Perino stated Bush had been told in August that Iran suspended it's covert nuclear weapons program.

"In August, DNI Director McConnell advised President Bush that the intelligence community would not be able to meet a congressionally imposed deadline requiring a National Intelligence Estimate on Iran because new information had been obtained just as they were about to finalize the report," Perino wrote in an emailed response.

"He said that if the new information turns out to be true, what we thought we knew for sure is right. Iran does in fact have a covert nuclear weapons program, but it may be suspended," Perino's email said.

Perino also said McConnell told the President the new information might cause the intelligence community to change its assessment of Iran's covert nuclear program.

The latest National Intelligence Estimate -- declassified excerpts of which were released on Monday --  found that Iran actually shelved it's nuclear weapons program in 2003.

Despite the fact that Bush was told in August that U.S. intelligence agencies believed Iran's nuclear weapons program had been halted, the Bush administration continued to raise the rhetoric against Iran, calling for a third round of United Nations sanctions.

The President even warned publicly in October about a World War III if Iran didn't cease their weapons program.

"I've told people that if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them (Iran) from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon," Bush said in October.

December 5, 2007 in Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (157)

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Can you blame Bush for the skepticism? After all the bs of the WMD's in Iraq that Intel provided, and look what happened. They were sitting on information that should've been looked at skeptically. Remember, Iran was BRAGGING about their nuclear program and have no intentions to stop. I think the Intel is bogus

Posted by: cbeargal | Dec 5, 2007 9:05:21 PM

Start the impeachment proceedings!

Posted by: bob | Dec 5, 2007 9:11:36 PM

Hmmm, once again, we're doomed. Thank you for putting this irresponsible, sub par, conundrum of a man into office....again...

Posted by: Wise Investment | Dec 5, 2007 9:14:18 PM

hmmm... you give the Bush haters a valid history lesson of what happens when stick your head up your butt and you get threats in return. What does this say about the feeble minded intellect of these people.

Posted by: You Are All Idiot's | Dec 5, 2007 9:18:49 PM

Easy for all you numskulls to scream impeachment. You're being duped by the Iranian president.

Posted by: cbeargal | Dec 5, 2007 9:23:51 PM

I am so glad that I never voted for him. And from the first time seeing him and hearing speak, knew he is is not playing with a full deck. Now it's over seven years later, and he has proven my first impression was right on. I am a Vet and have friends in Iraq, and they can not wait for him to go back to Texas for good. I can not wait for the end of 2008 to come.

Posted by: Flasher | Dec 5, 2007 9:26:32 PM

It's funny to see someone who still supports this dolt, call someone else an idiot. This shouldn't surprise anyone. This diversion merely takes people's attention off Iraq and the real reason for this war. Re-distribution of this nations wealth.

Posted by: rewire1 | Dec 5, 2007 9:33:41 PM

Why is it that George W Bush has still not been impeached and removed from office? In fact, why are Bush and Cheney not arraigned before the War Crimes Tribunal at The Hague? US Intelligence (an oxymoron if there ever was one) fed Bush the baloney that Iran did have a nuclear weapons program prior to 2003. Bush threatened and bullied Iran on the basis of this fantasy. Iran has never admitted to having a nuclear weapons program at all and there was no evidence of it either. But that didn't stop the threats of war. Now the same US Intelligence has admitted that Iran does not have a nuclear weapons program but Bush is still raging about some perceived Iranian threat. Let's get some perspective here. Iran has the unfettered right to enrich uranium and that is set in concrete in the NPT. Neither the USA nor any other nation, nor the UNSC has the right to demand that Iran abrogate its legal rights. Bush has deliberately lied and misled not only the USA, but his allies in the Group of Six and engineered two sets of sanctions against Iran that had no basis for being placed. Now that idiot is still saying that Iran is a threat. The only threat to world peace is the USA, which has made war on so many nations, assassinated or deposed their elected leaders and governments, not complied with its international treaty obligations and is still doing so. It is high time that the USA was dealt with by a special UN commission and the best remedy would be if the UN removed the USA from the UNSC and removed its veto powers. The USA is far too dangerous, especially with what seems to be a certifiable imbecilic pathological liar as President. The quicker he is charged with war crimes, the better for this planet.

Posted by: Ziggy | Dec 5, 2007 9:35:50 PM

Bush lies--let us impeach.

Posted by: Kenneth | Dec 5, 2007 9:36:21 PM

Bush and his followers have tried to portray all the anti-war peace lovers as anti-Americans. Now, as it finally turns out that Bush, Cheney and all the neo-cons that believe and follow his outright lies are the worst traitors this country has ever experienced. You neo-con traitors better dig yourself a hole or get out of our country, we don't want your kind!

Posted by: kenny | Dec 5, 2007 9:37:51 PM

All the plays on words do not change the bottom line. Another opportunity for diplomacy thwarted by either the president's ego or a calculated plan to further the cause for war.

I cannot beleive that any American president, any professed Christian, would miss the wide open opportunity to pursue diplomacy and perhaps if diplomacy succeded, a more permanent, more verifiable, nuclear monitoring program.

All it requires is an "I'm sorry, I was mistaken about your nuclear ambitions." We have issue with them and they have issues with us. There is a great deal to settle. An olive branch in a moment of opportunity can save much bloodshed in the long run, and if it fails, the most powerful weapons of mass destruction in the world are in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean flying American flags.

I would not want to be an Iranian with a such an aggressive man in the White House.

Posted by: Tom | Dec 5, 2007 9:39:12 PM

Bush is such a lying SCUMBAG......

Posted by: Joe | Dec 5, 2007 9:40:02 PM

Actually impeaching does not go far enough -- Bush should be put in jail!

Posted by: bob | Dec 5, 2007 9:46:28 PM

Is anyone really surprised?????? No one
believes Bush.

Posted by: Marie | Dec 5, 2007 9:49:22 PM

It is incredulous to me that the Bush haters are so weak minded in their thinking about what Bush has done for us. What their feeble minds fail to comprehend is that everything he has done was to protect us from another 911!! What will it take for you haters to see the light? Maybe another jet flying into your personal residence will help.

Here is some more history for you weak minders to ponder... Chamberlain believed that Germany had been badly treated by the Allies after it was defeated in the First World War. He therefore thought that the German government had genuine grievances and that these needed to be addressed. He also thought that by agreeing to some of the demands being made by Adolf Hitler of Germany and Benito Mussolini of Italy, he could avoid a European war.

Posted by: You Are All Idiot's | Dec 5, 2007 9:51:34 PM

Has anyone thought of the obvious? Why did they stop the program? They had a change of heart? or they bought them from North Korea? And why do you belive this report but not the other ones? Alot of hypocrits out there!!!

Posted by: Dennis | Dec 5, 2007 9:51:49 PM

Kenny...you obviously supported a president who never served a day in his life in the military and better yet protested and openly stated on foreign soil how he despised our military! Guess who that was...your beloved Clinton!!! Who's the real traitor, and look at the mess Bush inherited from his lack of doing anything about terrorism. You all disbelieve Intel's WMD story...so why are you believing Intel now? Because it serves your agenda also known as Bush Derangement Syndrome. Bush was right not to make any decisions based on this information. The "facts" are very questionable and can't be trusted at this point, especially with Ahmedinejad shooting off his mouth all the time about how their "peaceful" nuclear program is moving forward. Seems the hole has been dug by the libs and their unwillingness to acknowledge any kind of threats aimed at America and their allies.

Posted by: cbeargal | Dec 5, 2007 9:53:06 PM

What ever happened to that story about the President trying to start a war with Iran before the end of his term so he can use a loophole in the law and remain President along with his doomsday buddies Cheney and Rice. They have got to be brain washed to stay by his side.

Posted by: newsi4c | Dec 5, 2007 9:58:18 PM

What a liar! This man our sacred "leader and President" will wind up getting us all killed if given enough time. How can a man of such so-called integrity and religious righteousness continue to lie like he does and people still support him? He and his administration seem intent on destroying as much of America as they possibly can: Our armed forces are about worn out by the misguided, poorly executed and unending wars in Irag and Afganistan, our economy is worn out by near $100/barrel oil and the lowest value of the US dollar in modern history, our welcome is worn out in more countries now than it ever has been as hatred toward us increases seemingly unabated, our society is wearing itself out as we the citizens fight each other with such animosity in support of our precious political beliefs and whether or not we support the President and his policies. Yet, the lies continue (he knew in August, yet persisted in his accusations????) This is a guy who has become a victim of his own power and the "yes" men/women surrounding him who don't have the guts to challenge him on his ideas. Unfortunately, this guy is the leader of our country, so as he goes down, so do we all.

Posted by: tired of this BS | Dec 5, 2007 10:01:49 PM

Bet all you neocons feel pretty stupid now huh? How dare you look down your noses at those of us who have opposed this lunatic all along. He has been wiping his bum with our constitution for his entire presidency, trampling our civil rights, raping our stock markets, and he has completely enabled the robberbarrons to re-emerge with his tax cuts for the elite. It is sick that he prayed on the faithfull to gain political clout, but all we need now is to see the 666 he has on his forehead and everything will all make sense.

Posted by: Jay | Dec 5, 2007 10:02:16 PM

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