--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Americans were told repeatedly by…" description: "\"Americans were told repeatedly by President Bush and Vice President Cheney that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. None were ever found.\" — John Olver" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/john-olver-26593_destruction_americans-were-told-repeatedly-by-presid_2000591.png" --- # Americans were told repeatedly by President Bush and Vice… ![“Americans were told repeatedly by President Bush and Vice President Cheney that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. None were ever found.” quote by John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/john-olver-26593_destruction_americans-were-told-repeatedly-by-presid_2000591.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/john-olver-26593_destruction_americans-were-told-repeatedly-by-presid_2000591.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/john-olver-26593_destruction_americans-were-told-repeatedly-by-presid_2000591.png) > “Americans were told repeatedly by President Bush and Vice President Cheney that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. None were ever found.” [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. President Bush and Vice President Cheney repeatedly claimed Iraq possessed WMDs, but none were discovered. **In simple terms:** Bush and Cheney asserted false WMD claims about Iraq. Key Takeaway Question political narratives critically. Themes politics war misinformation Mood cautious critical Type analytical historical When to use this quote - policy analysis - media literacy - historical research - government oversight Key Concepts intelligence failure public trust Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens verify government claims? - What safeguards prevent future intelligence errors? A Different Perspective Public skepticism may erode necessary security measures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [Weapons of mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-of-mass-destruction/) ## Related quotes > [Mission accomplished? The mission in Iraq, as laid out by President Bush and Vice President Cheney, has failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/mission-accomplished-the-mission-in-iraq-as-laid-out-by-president/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [Under the leadership of President Bush and Vice President Cheney, the United States has given up the moral high ground that we used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-meehan/under-the-leadership-of-president-bush-and-vice-president-cheney-the/) [Marty Meehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-meehan/) > [Any country on the face of the Earth with an active intelligence program knows that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/any-country-on-the-face-of-the-earth-with-an-active-intelligence/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [I said in October of 2008 that there was no proof that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction or had the intention or capability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/i-said-in-october-of-2008-that-there-was-no-proof-that-iraq-had/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) > [If Iraq's weapons are weapons of mass destruction, surely ours are weapons of growth and nurturing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-proops/if-iraq-s-weapons-are-weapons-of-mass-destruction-surely-ours-are/) [Greg Proops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-proops/) > [ We know where they are \[Iraq's weapons of mass destruction\]. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/we-know-where-they-are-iraq-s-weapons-of-mass-destruction-they-re-in/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [I share the administration's goals in dealing with Iraq and its weapons of mass destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/i-share-the-administration-s-goals-in-dealing-with-iraq-and-its/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [The president of the United States and the secretary of defense would not assert as plainly and bluntly as they have that Iraq has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-fleischer/the-president-of-the-united-states-and-the-secretary-of-defense-would/) [Ari Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-fleischer/) > [ I believe that President \[George W.\] Bush was correct. I thought that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, and I supported him steadfastly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/i-believe-that-president-george-w-bush-was-correct-i-thought-that/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [Our goal is to defend the American people, and to eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and to liberate the Iraqi people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/our-goal-is-to-defend-the-american-people-and-to-eliminate-iraq-s/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [Well, there is no question that we have evidence and information that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, biological and chemical particularly . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-fleischer/well-there-is-no-question-that-we-have-evidence-and-information-that/) [Ari Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-fleischer/) > [Change of regime with respect to Iraq had nothing to do with this; it had everything to do with the fact that Iraq had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/change-of-regime-with-respect-to-iraq-had-nothing-to-do-with-this-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/if-saddam-rejects-peace-and-we-have-to-use-force-our-purpose-is-clear/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [So has the strategic decision been made to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction by the leadership in Baghdad?... I think our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/so-has-the-strategic-decision-been-made-to-disarm-iraq-of-its-weapons/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The President is Bush, the Vice President's a Dick, so a whole lot of fucking is what we gon' get. They don't wanna raise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/the-president-is-bush-the-vice-president-s-a-dick-so-a-whole-lot-of/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) ## More by John Olver > [So a truthful assessment of how America is doing in the war on terror as a result of President Bush's war on Iraq is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/so-a-truthful-assessment-of-how-america-is-doing-in-the-war-on-terror/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [Clearly, a stable, unified and democratic Iraq cannot be achieved militarily by the U.S.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/clearly-a-stable-unified-and-democratic-iraq-cannot-be-achieved/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [In this age of globalization, instant real time media and television, everyone all over the world realizes that high energy usage equates with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/in-this-age-of-globalization-instant-real-time-media-and-television/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [In the remaining months, we should focus on achieving more robust international involvement in training of Iraqi soldiers, police officers, judges, teachers, and doctors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/in-the-remaining-months-we-should-focus-on-achieving-more-robust/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [Since 1850, burning of fossil fuels, coal, oil and natural gas has increased 100 times to produce energy as the world has industrialized to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/since-1850-burning-of-fossil-fuels-coal-oil-and-natural-gas-has/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [We all know that China is industrializing at a growth rate of 8 to 10 percent per year. China is on track to pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/we-all-know-that-china-is-industrializing-at-a-growth-rate-of-8-to-10/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [We need to make it clear that we will withdraw from Iraq within 6 to 9 months - so that the Iraqis will know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/we-need-to-make-it-clear-that-we-will-withdraw-from-iraq-within-6-to/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [As this body of knowledge has evolved, a much more critical job for researchers and scientists has evolved into explaining and educating policy makers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/as-this-body-of-knowledge-has-evolved-a-much-more-critical-job-for/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [President Bush's war on Iraq is viewed broadly in Islamic communities as an attack on Islam, and thus the President has alienated a large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/president-bush-s-war-on-iraq-is-viewed-broadly-in-islamic-communities/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [The military's own report says that one-third of deaths and casualties could have been avoided if proper body armor and vehicle armor had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/the-military-s-own-report-says-that-one-third-of-deaths-and/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [The scientists who do climate research understand that much of the ever increasing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere since 1850 must be attributed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/the-scientists-who-do-climate-research-understand-that-much-of-the/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [America has also forever lost the service of thousands of good soldiers who are now disabled as a result of battle wounds in Iraq.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/america-has-also-forever-lost-the-service-of-thousands-of-good/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [The industrialization of China alone would increase by 90 percent the concentration of CO2 in our atmosphere and would at least increase the atmospheric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/the-industrialization-of-china-alone-would-increase-by-90-percent-the/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [The most extreme individuals and factions in Islamic countries are now more motivated than ever to kill Americans, and the number of potential terrorists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/the-most-extreme-individuals-and-factions-in-islamic-countries-are/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [Yet, if we accept the solution offered today by this bill to explore and develop for oil on the coastal plain of ANWR, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/yet-if-we-accept-the-solution-offered-today-by-this-bill-to-explore/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) [Explore all 21 John Olver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) ## More Destruction quotes > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are no white lies, there is only the blackest of destruction, and a white lie is the blackest of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-are-no-white-lies-there-is-only-the-blackest-of-destruction-and/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [Perhaps the greatest and least visible form of impoverishment caused by the Corporate State is the destruction of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/perhaps-the-greatest-and-least-visible-form-of-impoverishment-caused/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hundreds of millions of human beings on our planet increasingly suffer from unemployment, poverty, hunger, and the destruction of their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-kung/hundreds-of-millions-of-human-beings-on-our-planet-increasingly/) [Hans Kung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-kung/) > [Away with you, water, destruction of wine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/away-with-you-water-destruction-of-wine/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [Some voluntary castaways there will always be, whom no fostering kindness and no parental care can preserve from self-destruction; but if any are lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/some-voluntary-castaways-there-will-always-be-whom-no-fostering/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [“You are a lawmaker in your own right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-are-a-lawmaker-in-your-own-right/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [ No visiting angel, or explorer from another planet, could have guessed that this bland orb \[Earth\] teemed with vermin, with world-mastering, self-torturing, incipiently angelic… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/no-visiting-angel-or-explorer-from-another-planet-could-have-guessed/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [As far as I know, the question of whether and how it could be strategically or morally justified was never the subject of open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-far-as-i-know-the-question-of-whether-and-how-it-could-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Is there some lesson on how to be friends? I think what it means is that central to living a life that is good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/is-there-some-lesson-on-how-to-be-friends-i-think-what-it-means-is/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [“We're on the eve of destruction. Men have lost all sense of honor. Power has become their faith instead of faith being their power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atiq-rahimi/we-re-on-the-eve-of-destruction-men-have-lost-all-sense-of-honor/) Atiq Rahimi [Browse all 3,161 Destruction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Americans were told repeatedly by President Bush and Vice President Cheney that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. 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