WASHINGTON - A study by two nonprofit journalism organizations found that President Bush and top administration officials issued hundreds of false statements about the national security threat from Iraq in the two years following the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The study concluded that the statements "were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanized public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses."

The study was posted Tuesday on the Web site of the Center for Public Integrity, which worked with the Fund for Independence in Journalism. White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said he could not comment on the study because he had not seen it.

The study counted 935 false statements in the two-year period. It found that in speeches, briefings, interviews and other venues, Bush and administration officials stated unequivocally on at least 532 occasions that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction or was trying to produce or obtain them or had links to al-Qaida or both.

"It is now beyond dispute that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction or have meaningful ties to al-Qaida," according to Charles Lewis and Mark Reading-Smith of the Fund for Independence in Journalism staff members, writing an overview of the study. "In short, the Bush administration led the nation to war on the basis of erroneous information that it methodically propagated and that culminated in military action against Iraq on March 19, 2003."

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Study: False statements preceded war

So the government lies - is it really that surprising? I come from a country where it goes without saying!

As for the weapons of mass destruction, M. Moore pointed out that it was a lie in Fahrenheit 9.11

Governments LIE? I don't believe it....I am going to move to Turkey....where NOBODY LIES!!!

Yes, governments lie, but in the US at least we can hate them for it!
Still.... this is a little bit of a shock to me. I trusted the democratic process, but it looks like those in power aren't subject to "checks and balances" at all. They can go to war just because they want to, based on lies! What kind of democracy is this??? How is this different then Pakistan???!!!!!