Correcting the Persistent Lies - Updated

It appears that the terrorist sympathizers in the US and abroad will continue to claim "Bush lied" about weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Iraq. They will continue to claim "there is no connection between 9-11 and Iraq". They will claim that "Bush keeps changing the rationale for the war in Iraq". You might encounter some of them. I have compiled a list of sources that might help you counter these arguments. Of course, in the words of Hillary Clinton "it's hard to deal with people who have no respect for the truth," but at least you will know.

WMD
Look at this compilation of quotes by Democrats (including John Kerry, Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton) asserting that Iraq possessed WMD. Each quote has a link to the source (NOTE, however that the links to the actual web sites of the individuals have been removed. The news sources still remain.)
President Clinton, on Feb 4, 1998 and Madeline Albright (Secretary of State) pointed out the dangers of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. President Clinton even fired on Iraq in December 1998.

In his book, American Soldier , General Tommy Franks outlined the precautions and training in expectation that Saddam might use WMD.

Even the "smoking gun" Downing Street Memo worried about "For instance, what were the consequences, if Saddam used WMD on day one, or if Baghdad did not collapse and urban warfighting began?"

So, everyone thought Hussein both had and might use WMD. Nobody "lied" about it. Where are they? Who knows. We do know that several Foxbats were discovered buried in the sand.

According to the CIA Fact Book, Iraq has a land mass of 432,162 sq km and Aruba has a land area of 193 sq km. They have been searching full time for a missing girl there for over 40 days. Iraq is 2,239 times the size of Aruba. If the effort were proportional, 40 days in Aruba equates to 89,560 days (245 years) in Iraq. We have been "searching" Iraq (while conducting military operations, humanitarian missions, training and other distractions) for a little over two years. In another 240 years or so, we could conclude that Bush and all those Democrats lied. Or, looking another way, after searching for about one half day, the Aruba search would be where we are in Iraq. If "Bush lied" about WMD, maybe the Holloways lied about Natalie being in Aruba.

Connections between 9-11 and Iraq - Updated July 16 at 8:11 AM
Let me say right up front that there is no evidence that Saddam Hussein was directly connected to the attack on 9-11. That's what the 9-11 Commission Report says. That is even what President Bush said. However the Commission Report also clearly established connections between Al Qaeda operatives and Saddam Hussein. Hussein's Iraq was clearly a state sponsoring terrorism. Let's look at what the President actually said on September 11, 2001: Note the second sentence.
The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts. I've directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.

Following the successful military operation in Afghanistan, Abu Musab al Zarqawi fled to Iraq. He was "harbored" there. Let's hear the President on September 20, 2001: (Emphasis added)
Nor will we forget the citizens of 80 other nations who died with our own: dozens of Pakistanis; more than 130 Israelis; more than 250 citizens of India; men and women from El Salvador, Iran, Mexico and Japan; and hundreds of British citizens
...
Al Qaeda is to terror what the mafia is to crime. But its goal is not making money; its goal is remaking the world -- and imposing its radical beliefs on people everywhere.
...
Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated.
...
Our response involves far more than instant retaliation and isolated strikes. Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen. It may include dramatic strikes, visible on TV, and covert operations, secret even in success. We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or no rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. (Applause.) From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime.

Andrew McCarthy presents a long list of connections between Iraq and al Qaeda, which you can read yourself. And he answers questions about the list.

Update Lengthy article in the Weekly Standard details Iraqi connections to Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda from captured Iraqi intelligence documents.

Rationale for the War in Iraq
This usually goes like this: "First the rationale was WMD and when we found no WMD, it was deposing Saddam Hussein and then it was establishing a democracy in Iraq. Bush keeps changing the story. He lied."
On March 19, 2003, at the opening of hostilities in Iraq, the President said:
My fellow citizens, at this hour, American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger.

Hear the President on March 22, 2003 as he updates The War on Terror in Iraq:
Good morning. American and coalition forces have begun a concerted campaign against the regime of Saddam Hussein. In this war, our coalition is broad, more than 40 countries from across the globe. Our cause is just, the security of the nations we serve and the peace of the world. And our mission is clear, to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people.

And again on March 29, 2003:
And we have prevented the dictator from launching missiles from key sites in western Iraq. We are now fighting the most desperate units of the dictator's army. The fighting is fierce and we do not know its duration, yet we know the outcome of this battle: The Iraqi regime will be disarmed and removed from power. Iraq will be free.

In case you missed it, let me number the mission parts, which he said on all three occasions:

1. Disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.
2. End Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism.
3. Free the Iraqi people.

So, how are we doing? Two out of three at least. (if there are no WMD, then we are three for three). Saddam is incarcerated, the Iraqi's held a courageous election in January, and they are working on a plan for their own government. You might recall that it took us from 1776 to 1787 to have a Constitution. They are doing at least as well as we did. Oh, yes. What was the name of the operation in Iraq? Operation Iraqi Freedom
And did you notice how President Bush went "unilateral" with 40 nations in 2003 and 49 nations now?

Yet another update 9:12 PM on July 17, 2003
Right Wing News debunks eight anti-war myths.