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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"He was the ambassador there in Iraq and now he sees all the intelligence," Woodward says. "I report he believes that we’ve always going almost back to the beginning, miscalculated and underestimated the nature of the insurgency."
Why?
"There’s this feeling, 'How can a bunch guys running around putting improvised explosive devices in dead animals and by the side of the road in cars, cause all this trouble," Woodward says.
Woodward reports that a top general says Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has so emasculated the joint chiefs that the chairman of the chiefs has become “the parrot on Rumsfeld’s shoulder.”
And, according to Woodward, another key general, John Abizaid, who’s in charge of the whole Gulf region, told friends that on Iraq, Rumsfeld has lost all credibility.
"What does that mean, he doesn’t have any credibility anymore?" Wallace asks.
"That means that he cannot go public and articulate what the strategy is. Now, this is so important they decide," Woodward explains. "The Secretary of State Rice will announce what the strategy is. This is October of last year." She told Congress the U.S. strategy in Iraq is "clear, hold and build."
"Rumsfeld sees this and goes ballistic and says, 'Now wait a minute. That’s not our strategy. We want to get the Iraqis to do these things.' Well it turns out George Bush and the White House liked this definition of the strategy so it’s in a presidential speech he’s gonna give the next month," Woodward tells Wallace. "Rumsfeld sees it. He calls Andy Card, the White House chief of staff and says 'Take it out. Take it out. That’s not our strategy. We can’t do that.' Card says it’s the core of what we’re doing. That’s two and a half years after the invasion of Iraq. They cannot agree on the definition of the strategy. They cannot agree on the bumper sticker."
"General John Abizaid, commander of all U.S. forces in the Middle East, you quote him as saying privately a year ago that the U.S. should start cutting its troops in Iraq. You report that he told some close Army friends, quote, 'We’ve gotta get the f out.' And then this past March, General Abizaid visited Congressman John Murtha on Capitol Hill," Wallace says.
"John Murtha is in many ways the soul and the conscience of the military," Woodward replies. "And he came out and said, 'We need to get out of Iraq as soon as it’s practical' and that sent a 10,000 volt jolt through the White House."
"Here’s Mr. Military saying, 'We need to get out,'" Woodward continues. "And John Abizaid went to see him privately. This is Bush’s and Rumsfeld’s commander in Iraq," Woodward says.
"And John Abizaid held up his fingers, according to Murtha, and said, 'We’re about a quarter of an inch apart, said, 'We’re that far apart,'" Woodward says.
"You report that after George W. Bush was reelected, his chief of staff, Andy Card, tried for months to convince the president to fire Don Rumsfeld. Why?" Wallace asks.
"To replace him. Because it wasn’t working. Card felt very strongly that the president needed a whole new national security team," Woodward says.
"You write Laura Bush was worried that Rumsfeld was hurting her husband. Andy Card told her the president seemed happy with Rumsfeld. And the first lady replied, quote, 'He’s happy with this but I’m not.' And later she said, 'I don’t know why he’s not upset,'" Wallace remarks.
"What’s interesting, Andy Card, as White House chief of staff every six weeks set up a one on one meeting with Laura Bush. Set aside an hour and a half to talk about what’s going on, what are the president’s anxieties? Smart meeting," Woodward explains. "And in the course of these sessions the problem with Rumsfeld came up. And she voiced her concern about the situation."
But Dick Cheney wanted Rumsfeld to stay. Why?
"Well, Rumsfeld’s his guy," Woodward says. "And Cheney confided to an aid that if Rumsfeld goes, next they’ll be after Cheney."
©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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