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Rumsfeld on Iraq's WMDs: OK, So We 'Misstated'

Weapons of mass destruction in Iraq were only 'suspected,' he concedes

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 8, 2011 3:21 AM CST | Updated Feb 8, 2011 7:38 AM CST

(Newser) – You know those weapons of mass destruction that triggered the US war on Iraq? Their existence, which turned out to be nonexistent, was only "suspected," Donald Rumsfeld has finally admitted in his new book, Known and Unknown. OK, so "I made a misstatement," he says. At the time he was asked on a news program about the suspected sites, and "I replied: 'We know where they are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad," he recalls.

Comments like that have been repeated "to try to depict the administration as purposefully misrepresenting the intelligence," he writes. But such misstatements "were not common and certainly not characteristic," he adds. One thing Rummy definitely regrets is his cavalier response—"stuff happens"—after the Baghdad museum was looted as US troops invaded, notes the Guardian. "I vented some annoyance by uttering a few ill-chosen words," he concedes.


Former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld is interviewed at his office in Washington.
Former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld is interviewed at his office in Washington.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Donald Rumsfeld talks last month about his new book in his office in Washington.
Donald Rumsfeld talks last month about his new book in his office in Washington.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 72 comments
Louis Lynge
Feb 13, 2011 11:42 PM CST
Why the hell don't they put him on trial for treason? they want to put Assinage on trial for treason, but Rumsfield is the tyrranous F@#K who intentionally lies to his government and people. This is disgraceful, him and Bush should be hung by their toes for this!!!
Ivan
Feb 10, 2011 10:29 AM CST
so do we get to chop off his head? "opps, Guillotine happens" To bad he can grow another.
hwoodude
Feb 9, 2011 10:02 AM CST
Rummie casually down plays or dismisses the many mistakes and lies he foisted off on Americans and the world during the murderous and deadly reign of the Bush empire. None of them, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Bremmer, Wolfowics, et al have been indicted. Instead these criminals write books and make speeches and wander around excusing, ignoring or dismissing their ineptness that caused the death and injury to thousands and thousands of innocent civilians plus soldiers who didn't have to die. WHY HAVEN'T THERE BEEN INVESTIGATIONS INTO BUSH'S WARS!??
 

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