Yes, we can.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I don't see that as much more of a fiction than, say, telling the Iraqi citizenry that we were there to liberate them and protect them from the terrorist threats that are trying to turn their country into a hive of evil.

Anyone (or government) that is willing to make the decision to begin a war is fully capable of lying. Once you've decided that you're so right that you give the thumbs up to action that is going to kill people who are not currently threatening your life to achieve your goal, lying is hardly going to keep you up at night. It's the reason that I automatically take credibility points away from anyone who advocates unprovoked acts of military aggression.