Then you are conceding on your first “quote”? As to the second, different quote, just about every politician of either stripe, except Cynthia McKinney and Pat Buchanan, can be quoted saying similar things. And all Cheney is saying is that they are (were) pursuing nukes and seeking to enhance bio and chem weapons – a far cry from  we know for a fact that Saddam has reconstituted his nuclear weapons.

Dugger

CHENEY (8/26/02): The case of Saddam Hussein, a sworn enemy of our country, requires a candid appraisal of the facts. After his defeat in the Gulf War in 1991, Saddam agreed to U.N. Security Council Resolution 687, to cease all development of weapons of mass destruction. He agreed to end his nuclear weapons program. He agreed to destroy his chemical and his biological weapons. He further agreed to admit U.N. inspection teams into his country, to insure that he was in fact complying with these terms. In the past decade Saddam has systematically broken each of these agreements. The Iraqi regime has in fact been very busy enhancing its capabilities in the field of chemical and biological agents, and they continue to pursue the nuclear program they began so many years ago.

These are not weapons for the purpose of defending Iraq. These are offensive weapons for the purpose of inflicting death on a massive scale, developed so that Saddam can hold the threat over the head of anyone he chooses in his own region or beyond. On the nuclear question, many of you will recall that Saddam’s nuclear ambitions suffered a severe setback in 1981, when the Israelis bombed the Osirik reactor. They suffered another major blow in Desert Storm and its aftermath. But we now know that Saddam has resumed his efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. Among other sources, we’ve gotten this from firsthand testimony from defectors, including Saddam’s own son-in-law, who was subsequently murdered at Saddam’s direction.

Based on what we now know, Cheney’s words had no basis in reality. He was makin’ shit up.

Never fear. The Doc can fix things when you get confused. Cheney said “believe” not “know” (even veteran Cheney hater Kristoff got that detail right) and was referring to “programs” in context.

And for you, no charge for the goods doc’s therapy.

Oliver

Actually, I give the general more weight on this than Cheney (whether he is a draft dodger like Durbin or Clinton or not) . That does not at all mean Cheney is lying when he states his OPINION(!).

Dugger, Everybody! Lets here it!!

(are you honestly giving the opinion of a draft dodger like Dick Cheney the same weight as a General? Come on.)

Remember, Cheney is the one who told us “we know for a fact that Saddam has reconstituted his nuclear weapons.”

Could this be tad harsh and divisive? The General voices an opinion, one aspect of which is that the situation is progressing well. The Vice President has a more optimistic opinion, a different one to be sure from the General. Now we all have opinions about things. You may think the Red Sox are the best team, but your brother thinks the Yankees are best. Does it follow that one of you is lying? No, of course not. Just differing opinions.
Now, see, the General and the Veep had different opinions. No lies. One might be right and one may be wrong, but thats just their opinions. To tell if someone is lying you have to show conscience intent to fabricate – you have to know what they are thinking. Merely staing an opinion that disagrees with you or someone else does not at all constitute lying.

Dr. Dugger, Cyber Therapist