Quotes of the Morning: And to Think that I Saw It on Downing Street

“Earlier this month, the Times of London published the minutes of a meeting of top British officials in mid-2002, including Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush's staunchest ally in the Iraq war.”
-CNN, May 17, 2005

“There was a perceptible shift in attitude. Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD”
-Downing Street Memo, July 23, 2002

“We are doing everything we can to avoid war in Iraq. But if Saddam Hussein does not disarm peacefully, he will be disarmed by force”
-George ‘Dubya’ Bush, March 8, 2003

“No decisions had been taken, but he thought the most likely timing in US minds for military action to begin was January, with the timeline beginning 30 days before the US Congressional elections.”
-Downing Street Memo, July 23, 2002

“I think that that presumes there's some kind of imminent war plan. As I said, I have no timetable.”
-George ‘Dubya’ Bush, August 10, 2002

“But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy”
-Downing Street Memo, July 23, 2002

“Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised. This regime has already used weapons of mass destruction against Iraq's neighbors and against Iraq's people.
The regime has a history of reckless aggression in the Middle East. It has a deep hatred of America and our friends. And it has aided, trained and harbored terrorists, including operatives of al Qaeda.”
- George ‘Dubya’ Bush, March 17, 2003

“Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD”
-Downing Street Memo, July 23, 2002

"I want you to keep focused on what you are doing here.
[…]
This war came to us, not the other way around."
-Condoleeza Rice, May 15, 2005

“There was little discussion in Washington of the aftermath after military action.”
-Downing Street Memo, July 23, 2002

"Any military presence, should it be necessary, will be temporary and intended to promote security and elimination of weapons of mass destruction; the delivery of humanitarian aid; and the conditions for the reconstruction of Iraq."
-The White House, March 16, 2003, Statement of the Atlantic Summit

"Liberated people don't misbehave."
-Former Secretary of Army Thomas White, on Cheney and Rumsfeld's post-war views leading up to the war, July 7, 2003

“Bush had made up his mind to take military action, even if the timing was not yet decided. But the case was thin. Saddam was not threatening his neighbours, and his WMD capability was less than that of Libya, North Korea or Iran.”
-Downing Street Memo, July 23, 2002

"The President has made no decisions about what the next step will be. Clearly, we will continue to talk to the United Nations about the inspection process."
-Ari Fleischer, October 10, 2002

"This is about disarmament and this is a final opportunity for Saddam Hussein to disarm. If he chooses not to do so peacefully, then the United States is prepared to act, with our friends, to do so by force. And we will do so forcefully and swiftly and decisively, as the President has outlined. But the President continues to seek a peaceful resolution. War is a last resort."
-Scott McClellan, November 12, 2002

“He cautioned that many in the US did not think it worth going down the ultimatum route.”
-Downing Street Memo, July 23, 2002

"And now they must demonstrate that commitment to peace and security is the only effective way, by supporting the immediate and unconditional disarmament of Saddam Hussein.
The dictator of Iraq and his weapons of mass destruction are a threat to the security of free nations. He is a danger to his neighbors. He's a sponsor of terrorism. He's an obstacle to progress in the Middle East."
-George ‘Dubya’ Bush, March 16, 2003