SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY IRAQ AND IMMINENT THREAT

February 5, 2004
Press Release

MARCH 15, 2004

SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY -
IRAQ AND IMMINENT THREAT

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued today's "Bush Administration's Misstatement of the Day" on Iraq.

Appearing on CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday, March 14, 2004, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said:

. you [Host Bob Schieffer] and a few other critics are the only people I've heard use the phrase 'immediate threat.' I didn't.if you have any citations, I'd like to see 'em. (Sec. Rumsfeld, Face the Nation, 3/14/04)
In response, Thomas Friedman of the New York Times, who was also appearing on the program, presented the following "citation" from Secretary Rumsfeld from September 18, 2002:
Some have argued that the nuclear threat from Iraq is not imminent, that Saddam Hussein is at least five to seven years away from having nuclear weapons. I would not be so certain. (Sec. Rumsfeld before the House Armed Services Committee, 9/18/02)
Secretary Rumsfeld also added during that same 9/18/02 hearing:
.we should be just as concerned about the immediate threat from biological weapons. Iraq has these weapons. (Sec. Rumsfeld before the House Armed Services Committee, 9/18/02)
One day later, while testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Secretary Rumsfeld also said:
The President has made his position clear: the one thing that is not an option is doing nothing. There are a number of terrorist states pursuing weapons of mass destruction--Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, to name but a few. But no terrorist state poses a greater and more immediate threat to the security of our people, and the stability of the world, than the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. (Sec. Rumsfeld before the Senate Armed Services Committee, 9/19/02)