NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2006
Bob Woodward: Bush Misleads On Iraq
Tells 60 Minutes About His Book 'State Of Denial'
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State Of Denial
In an exclusive interview with "60 Minutes" correspondent Mike Wallace, veteran reporter Bob Woodward accuses the Bush Administration of failing to tell the truth about the level of violence in Iraq.
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Woodward On Iraq, Kissinger
Bob Woodward tells Mike Wallace the White House has misled the American public on the war in Iraq. He also reveals that Henry Kissinger regularly offers advice to President Bush.
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Wallace's Reporter's Notebook
Only On The Web: Mike Wallace talks about his interview with Bob Woodward. The veteran reporter said the Bush administration has not been honest about the level of violence in Iraq.
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Bob Woodward, left, talking with Mike Wallace. (CBS)
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Bob Woodward (CBS)
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Woodward spent more than two years, interviewed more than 200 people including most of the top officials in the administration and came to a damning conclusion. He tells Mike Wallace that for the last three years the White house has not been honest with the American public.
"It is the oldest story in the coverage of government: the failure to tell the truth," Woodward charges.
Asked to explain what he means that the Bush administration has not told the truth about Iraq, Woodward says, "I think probably the prominent, most prominent example is the level of violence."
Not just the growing sectarian violence — Sunnis against Shias that gets reported every day — but attacks on U.S., Iraqi and allied forces. Woodward says that’s the most important measure of violence in Iraq, and he unearthed a graph, classified secret, that shows those attacks have increased dramatically over the last three years.
"Getting to the point now where there are eight, 900 attacks a week," he says. "That’s more than 100 a day—that is four an hour. Attacking our forces."
Woodward says the government had kept this trend secret for years before finally declassifying the graph just three weeks ago. And Woodward accuses President Bush and the Pentagon of making false claims of progress in Iraq – claims, contradicted by facts that are being kept secret.
For example, Woodward says an intelligence report classified secret from the Joint Chiefs of Staff concluded in large print that "THE SUNNI ARAB INSURGENCY IS GAINING STRENGTH AND INCREASING CAPACITY, DESPITE POLITICAL PROGRESS."
And “INSURGENTS RETAIN THE CAPABILITIES TO…INCREASE THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE THROUGH NEXT YEAR.”
But just two days later a public defense department report said just the opposite. “Violent action, will begin to wane in early 2007,” the report said.
What does Woodward make of that?
"The truth is that the assessment by intelligence experts is that next year, 2007, is going to get worse and, in public, you have the president and you have the Pentagon [saying], 'Oh, no, things are going to get better,'" he tells Wallace. "Now there’s public, and then there’s private. But what did they do with the private? They stamp it secret. No one is supposed to know," says Woodward.
"Why is that secret? The insurgents know what they’re doing. They know the level of violence and how effective they are. Who doesn’t know? The American public," he adds.
"President Bush says over and over as Iraqi forces stand up, U.S. forces will stand down. The number of Iraqis in uniform today I understand is up to 300,000?" Wallace asks.
"They’ve stood up from essentially zero to 300,000. This is the military and the police," Woodward replies.
"But, U.S. forces are not standing down. The attacks keep coming," Wallace remarks.
"They’ve stood up and up and up and we haven’t stood down, and it’s worse," Woodward replies.
©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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See all 936 CommentsShocked, because we all know CBS would NEVER try to hurt a Republican just before a major election. Never
Thanks for helping the Republicans yet again.
And sorry wingnuts, but this is news only because Woodward drank the kool-aid long ago. His mewing is too little and too late to salvage his obsequious neocon-loving reputation.
If his mindnumbingly obvious observations about the mess in Iraq make your heads explode then I have fears for your general sanity. Because when we libs take over in November we intend on holding your crooked leaders responsible for their crimes.
Are either of you disputing the content of this piece? If so, let's hear your point and see the facts. It sounds as if the both of you are just repeating the talking points. As a registered Republician I'm ashamed and tired of the lies. I for one can't wait for the full report on Sunday. Thank you.
Or we could just pull out and let them kill each other. After we take the oil fields and pump all the oil we need to pay for this stupid war. That is our best option. Otherwise we will see WWIII and it will be based on religious beliefs.
Actually it already is.
Ask yourself, Did Dan Rather attempt to help or hurt Bush? Did Wallace look like a wimp interviewing Iran's dictator? He sat across from a man who denies the Holocaust. We know
his liberal bias. You're toast, Mike.
Republicans will carry the day in Nov America's smart thinking people know we are safe with Bush as our Watchman Simple as that
I have mixed feelings about this wat, but I cringe when I hear politicians say things like this. It makes them feel real tough, but it isn't Bush who will have his legs blown off by a roadside bomb. If he wants to talk like this, he should be required to send his daughters to fight in Iraq.
BTW - Of the 535 representatives on the Hill, only 5 have kids serving in Iraq. I don't think Bush or his cabinet have any.
also, the elder Wallace is appeasing fellow liberals who still seeth from his son's recent Clinton debacle
People are so blinded because Bush says he is a Christian, well the Bible also says judge a man by his fruit, does his life truly exemplify the Christian walk. I have my opinion, but the American public needs to wake up and truly see the big picture.
Even though we have a non-traditional enemy, we should handle this in a traditional manner. We will unilaterally pull out immediately, and I mean immediately. In return, we require a cease-fire. If we're attacked, we will attack in kind as we pull out. In return for withdrawal, we have the unilateral expectation of no attacks on US interests by Islamist Terrorists. If we're attacked, we'll blast them, no questions asked. We did not lose the war. We were assured by their own people that there was WMD, and that they could take over once Saddam was out. They failed. It's time to cut our losses. We proved that if you're a crazy dictator, we can take you out, note to Iran. Let's retool our Military and be prepared for the future.
Using the number 900/week this is 46,800 per year.
Come on now, there are enough anti-Bush media types to report this number just by observation.
2) We did lose a war in Vietnam because we didn't
stick to the SouthEast Treaty Organization (SEATO)
which we signed. (Anybody remember SEATO?) So much for our word which is what is what those gangsters in Iraq are and they've told us they are counting on. We show no guts to continue to support democratic efforts.
3) Please Woodward, CBS President Bush is not running again. Our deaths in Iraq are running less then 2 per day. Are you aware that all other non Iraq fatalities of the 1.3 million active US milatary is 3 per day? Homocides, suicides, illness, all run 3 per day vs 2 in Iraq. Acceptable numbers when it comes to keeping those gangsters from thinking they can exterminate the US.
4) What Rules of Engagement? and why should I?
CBS uses covert "pretexting" from Maples to Woodward, why should I be honest?
Kissinger and Rumsfeld--both have had their day... and now both are trying to re-do their younger days history as older men guiding the IRAQ war. Like Bush or not... I do like him in many ways... our military deserves better... and the American public needs more information... sure sounds like a repeat of the Viet Nam war by officials.. including Pat Buchanon calling last week (and in his book) for the President's impeachment (way out there, but Buchanon said it)... and for similar reasons.. mishandling of IRAQ.
I don't think I'm being the least bit cynical.
Cheney/Bush are the only two who actually think Iraq is a wise idea. Cheney is the 'decider'. Until Congress cuts the funds, as was done in Vietnam (remember the domino theory, if we lost Vietnam its the end of civilization as we know it ...) ... its only going to get worse.
Hopefully enough voters will overcome their disgust with politics to vote for change in November.
Hey amsjoe, 6000+ Americans have died because our "watchman" was asleep at the switch. Bush is so weak and ineffective it's laughable - absoulutely laughable. He's Barney Fife, cringing in fear of the "terraists".
I gave up on Bush long before his failure to capture Osama. His wimpyness was disgusting when he begged the Chinese to give back our spyplane. Remember that? "Oh please, oh please give it back"
Pathetic.
Even if he dislikes the Bush admin he should not give the enemy insurgents the pleasure of seeing him (Woodward) undermine HIS OWN President and country. This is a time of war Mr. Woodward we need to stick together..... not cause discord in our own ranks. Shame on you
And to whine about CBS 60 Minutes with the 24-hour a day Republican News Network (RNN or Fox News as its called) spewing the Repub agenda all day and all night is a joke. Hard to believe Chris Wallace and Mike Wallace are related. At least one of them hasn't sold out.
My only gripe with this report from Woodward is that he, along with Judith Miller, were pawns and accomplices to get us into this quagmire in the beginning...Bush must be saying to himself in his Texas drawl "Et Tu Woodward?"
Kissinger and Rumsfeld--both have had their day... and now both are trying to re-do their younger days history as older men guiding the IRAQ war. Like Bush or not... I do like him in many ways... our military deserves better... and the American public needs more information... sure sounds like a repeat of the Viet Nam war by officials.. including Pat Buchanon calling last week (and in his book) for the President's impeachment (way out there, but Buchanon said it)... and for similar reasons.. mishandling of IRAQ.
You're a sicko. So it's ok that Bush may be misleading us. It's ok that the war is supposed to get worse and cost more lives. It's ok that the reasons given to us for going to war have been constantly changing as each one was proven wrong. Just don't speak up, or you will be "giving comfort to the enemy".
You're an idiot.
Thought you faux conservatives believe in taking responsibility? Where is the accountability in this administration?
If Cheney and Rummy were in the private sector the shareholders would have had their heads by now.
No go run along-your Oxycontin pied piper is about to begin
If you really feel that by reporting facts that the media is helping the democrats, then I guess it just proves that we ought to vote for them. You certainly convinced me of it.
And Mike Wallace would do the interview, praising Bob for doing it.
Why doesn't CBS do something useful?
What's the point?
Er, Bob, we are fighting a war in Iraq, so isn't it reasonable to expect that we would be under constant attack? Duh!
As for Kissinger's statement that "we lost our will in Vietnam" so we lost, he is dead on. If you think I'm wrong lefties, go check out what General Giap of the NVA said. He said they were beaten as an armed force, but were banking on the American public to be worn down.
Eureka! It's happening again.
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