Facts!

It should not matter what a person's position on the Iraq war is. Everyone should be concerned with knowing the truth! Lies, exaggeration, and propaganda should be rejected by everyone. The problem is trying to find the truth. Those for the war and those opposed to it both have a viewpoint they want to promote. Therefore, they both tend to give facts that support their view.
Yesterday I came across an NPR story that attempts to Fact-Check the White House on Iraq. We need to be honest from the beginning. Any honest person would have to admit that NPR is more liberal than maybe other news services. So, the reader needs to understand where the information is coming from. I would challenge everyone to check out their claims. If you find information that either confirms or denies the claims, please send the information to me.
Here is what NPR has found:

www.npr.org
Day to Day, March 24, 2006
· Throughout this week, President Bush and other administration officials have delivered speeches, held news conferences and appeared on network television political roundtable shows -- all in an effort to convince a wary American public that in fact, progress is being made in Iraq. Which statements are true, and which are false? And which lie somewhere in between? Here is our brief guide for the bewildered

The 'Last Throes' of the Insurgency
STATEMENT -- Vice President Cheney, May, 2005:
"The level of activity that we see today from a military standpoint, I think, will clearly decline. I think they're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency."
True or False?
False -- Asked about this comment this past Sunday, Cheney said it "reflected reality." But by almost any measure -- attacks per day, casualties, etc. -- the insurgency shows no sign of waning.

Related NPR Stories
July 1, 2005Scoring the War in Iraq: Who's Winning?


Comparing Iraq to Japan
STATEMENT -- President Bush, in Wheeling, W.V., on March 22:
"Remember, they [Japan] attacked us, too. And yet today, the president says we're going to keep the peace. And what happened? It's an interesting lesson that I hope people remember. Something happened. What happened was Japan adopted a Japanese-style democracy."
True or False?
True -- Japan, once a sworn enemy of the United States, is now one of its closest allies.
What he didn't say:
Japan, unlike Iraq, is a homogenous society with hardly any ethnic tension. And in Japan, the U.S. occupation forces never dismantled the local police.

Related NPR Stories
March 22, 2006Bush Hopes to Rally Public Opinion on Iraq War
March 22, 2006Bush Challenges Eavesdropping Detractors
March 22, 2006Troops to Stay in Iraq Beyond Bush Presidency


A 'Battle-Ready' Iraq
STATEMENT -- Vice President Dick Cheney, speaking on the CBS show Face The Nation, on March 19, 2006:
"We've seen major progress in terms of training and equipping Iraqi forces "
True or False?
True -- The number of Iraqi troops being trained is on the rise.
What he didn't say:
The number of "battle-ready" Iraqi troops is still inadequate -- the Iraqi forces depend heavily on U.S. troops. In addition, the Iraqi security forces have been infiltrated by members of various militia.

Related NPR Stories
March 20, 2006Our Guys in Ohio Weigh in
March 20, 2006Monday's NPR News Agenda


Iraq's Political Deadlines
STATEMENT -- Vice President Dick Cheney, speaking on the CBS show Face The Nation on March 19, 2006:
"The Iraqis have met every single political deadline that's been set for them. They haven't missed a single one."
True or False?
Basically true -- With only a bit of fudging, Iraq has indeed met its political deadlines.
What he didn't say:
These political milestones have not yet borne fruit. So while elections have been held, those elected have yet to form a government. And while a constitution has been written, it has yet to take effect.

Related NPR Stories
Aug. 24, 2005Iraq Update: Another Constitution Deadline Looms
Aug. 22, 2005Iraq Gets Draft Constitution, Edging Deadline
Aug. 15, 2005Impasse Delays Draft of Iraqi Constitution
Aug. 15, 2005Iraqis Miss One Deadline, Set Another
Aug. 1, 2005Iraqis Say They Will Meet Constitution Deadline




Saddam's Terrorist Links
STATEMENT -- President Bush, speaking in Cleveland on March 20, 2006:
"I don't think we ever said -- at least I know I didn't say -- that there was a direct connection between September the 11th and Saddam Hussein."
True or False?
True -- President Bush has never explicitly linked Saddam Hussein with the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
What he didn't say:
President Bush has called Iraq "an ally of al-Qaida" and often speaks of the war in Iraq being part of the military effort his administration calls the "global war on terror."

Related NPR Stories
March 20, 2006Bush Upbeat on Third Anniversary of Iraq War
March 20, 2006Bush Urges Americans to Look Beyond Iraq Violence
March 20, 2006Slate's Politics: Re-Selling the War in Iraq