WASHINGTON, Jan 22: The Bush administration on Tuesday released a 32-page document detailing, what it calls, “Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s deceptions on weapons, the exploitation of his people and attempts to portray Iraq as a victim of the United States.”

The document, “Apparatus of Lies: Saddam’s Disinformation and Propaganda 1990-2003,” comes as the United States gears up for possible war against Iraq despite widespread international opposition.

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage released the report as part of a speech. Later in the week, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz was scheduled to make remarks on Iraq, and President Bush is expected to make his case for possible war in his State of the Union address on Tuesday.

The report said that “in their disinformation and propaganda campaigns, the Iraqis use elaborate ruses and obvious falsehoods, covert actions and false on-the-record statements, and sophisticated preparation and spontaneous exploitation of opportunities.”

“Many of the techniques are not new, but this regime exploits them more aggressively and effectively — and to more harmful effect — than any other regime in power today,” the report said.

The report urged the world to “consider the regime’s words, deeds, and images in light of this brutal record of deceit.”

The report lists four broad categories it says Iraq has used in disinformation and propaganda. They range from placing military equipment and facilities near civilians in the hope of casualties from US and allied military action, to Saddam’s exploiting starvation and a medical crisis of his own making, to outright falsehoods and blaming the results of natural disasters on US military action.