American Prospect: Special Report on the SOTU

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What the president said about Afghanistan: "As of this month, that country has a new constitution, guaranteeing free elections and full participation by women. Businesses are opening, health care centers are being established, and the boys and girls of Afghanistan are back in school. With help from the new Afghan Army, our coalition is leading aggressive raids against surviving members of the Taliban and al-Qaida. The men and women of Afghanistan are building a nation that is free, and proud, and fighting terror and America is honored to be their friend."

The facts: A November 2003 report issued by a U.N. delegation , including U.S. ambassador John Negroponte, said that Afghanistan starkly contrasts with the President's optimistic assessment. The U.N. delegation reported that "insecurity caused by terrorist activities, factional fights and drug-related crime remain the major concern of Afghans today." Throughout the nation "individuals and communities suffer from abuses of their basic rights by local commanders and factional leaders." The problems are exacerbated in many areas of the country "by terrorist attacks from suspected members of the Taliban and Al Qaeda."

What the president said about Weapons of Mass Destruction: "We are seeking all the facts. Already the Kay Report identified dozens of weapons of mass destruction-related program activities and significant amounts of equipment that Iraq concealed from the United Nations. Had we failed to act, the dictator's weapons of mass destruction programs would continue to this day."

The facts: In nearly 10 months, " not a single item has been found in Iraq from a long and classified intelligence list of weapons of mass destruction." David Kay reported that we have not uncovered evidence that Iraq undertook steps to build nuclear weapons or produce fissile material." He also said there has not been evidence of "mobile biological production efforts" and that "Iraq did not have a large, ongoing, centrally controlled chemical weapons program after 1991."

http://www.prospect.org/webfeatures/2004/01/special-r-01-22.html