Bush Speech on Iraq War: A Reality Check on What He Said
by The troops here and across the world are fighting a global war on terror. This war reached our shores on September 11, 2001. The terrorists who attacked us – and the terrorists we face – murder in the name of a totalitarian ideology that hates freedom, rejects tolerance, and despises all dissent. Their aim is to remake the Middle East in their own grim image of tyranny and oppression – by toppling governments, driving us out of the region, and exporting terror. To achieve these aims, they have continued to kill – in Madrid, Istanbul, Jakarta, Casablanca, Riyadh, Bali, and elsewhere. The terrorists believe that free societies are essentially corrupt and decadent, and with a few hard blows they can force us to retreat. They are mistaken. After September 11, I made a commitment to the American people: This Nation will not wait to be attacked again. We will take the fight to the enemy. We will defend our freedom. Iraq is the latest battlefield in this war. Many terrorists who kill innocent men, women, and children on the streets of Baghdad are followers of the same murderous ideology that took the lives of our citizens in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. There is only one course of action against them: to defeat them abroad before they attack us at home. The commander in charge of Coalition operations in Iraq – who is also senior commander at this base – General John Vines, put it well the other day. He said: “We either deal with terrorism and this extremism abroad, or we deal with it when it comes to us.” Our mission in Iraq is clear. We are hunting down the terrorists. We are helping Iraqis build a free nation that is an ally in the war on terror. We are advancing freedom in the broader Middle East. We are removing a source of violence and instability – and laying the foundation of peace for our children and our grandchildren. The work in Iraq is difficult and dangerous. Like most Americans, I see the images of violence and bloodshed. Every picture is horrifying – and the suffering is real. Amid all this violence, I know Americans ask the question: Is the sacrifice worth it? It is worth it, and it is vital to the future security of our country. And tonight I will explain the reasons why. Some of the violence you see in Iraq is being carried out by ruthless killers who are converging on Iraq to fight the advance of peace and freedom. Our military reports that we have killed or captured hundreds of foreign fighters in Iraq who have come from Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Libya and other nations. Some wonder whether Iraq is a central front in the war on terror. Among the terrorists, there is no debate. Hear the words of Osama Bin Laden: “This Third World War … is raging” in Iraq. “The whole world is watching this war.” He says it will end in “victory and glory or misery and humiliation.” The terrorists know that the outcome will leave them emboldened, or defeated. So, they are waging a campaign of murder and destruction. And there is no limit to the innocent lives they are willing to take. We see the nature of the enemy in terrorists who exploded car bombs along a busy shopping street in Baghdad – including one outside a mosque. We see the nature of the enemy in terrorists who sent a suicide bomber to a teaching hospital in Mosul. And we see the nature of the enemy in terrorists who behead civilian hostages and broadcast their atrocities for the world to see. These are savage acts of violence – but they have not brought the terrorists any closer to achieving their strategic objectives. The terrorists – both foreign and Iraqi – failed to stop the transfer of sovereignty. They failed to break our Coalition and force a mass withdrawal by our allies. They failed to incite an Iraqi civil war. They failed to prevent free elections. They failed to stop the formation of a democratic Iraqi government that represents all of Iraq’s diverse population. The lesson of this experience is clear: The terrorists can kill the innocent – but they cannot stop the advance of freedom. The only way our enemies can succeed is if we forget the lessons of September 11 … If we abandon the Iraqi people to men like Zarqawi … and if we yield the future of the Middle East to men like Bin Laden. For the sake of our Nation’s security, this will not happen on my watch. A little over a year ago, I spoke to the Nation and described our Coalition’s goal in Iraq. I said that America’s mission in Iraq is to defeat an enemy and give strength to a friend – a free, representative government that is an ally in the war on terror, and a beacon of hope in a part of the world that is desperate for reform. I outlined the steps we would take to achieve this goal: We would hand authority over to a sovereign Iraqi government … We would help Iraqis hold free elections by January 2005 … we would continue helping Iraqis rebuild their nation’s infrastructure and economy We continued our efforts to help them rebuild their country. Rebuilding a country after three decades of tyranny is hard – and rebuilding while at war is even harder. Our progress has been uneven – but progress is being made. We are improving roads, and schools, and health clinics … and working to improve basic services like sanitation, electricity, and water. And together with our allies, we will help the new Iraqi government deliver a better life for its citizens. In the past year, the international community has stepped forward with vital assistance. Some thirty nations have troops in Iraq, and many others are contributing non-military assistance. Thus far, some 40 countries and three international organizations have pledged about 34 billion dollars in assistance for Iraqi reconstruction. Whatever our differences in the past, the world understands that success in Iraq is critical to the security of all our nations. As German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said at the White House yesterday, “There can be no question a stable and democratic Iraq is in the vested interest of not just Germany, but also Europe.” Finally, we have continued our efforts to equip and train Iraqi Security Forces. We have made gains in both the number and quality of those forces. Today Iraq has more than 160,000 security forces trained and equipped for a variety of missions. Iraqi forces have fought bravely – helping to capture terrorists and insurgents in Najaf, Samarra, Fallujah, and Mosul. And in the past month, Iraqi forces have led a major anti-terrorist campaign in Baghdad called Operation Lightning – which has led to the capture of hundreds of suspected insurgents. Like free people everywhere, Iraqis want to be defended by their own countrymen – and we are helping Iraqis assume those duties. The progress in the past year has been significant – and we have a clear path forward. To complete the mission, we will continue to hunt down the terrorists and insurgents. To complete the mission, we will prevent al-Qaida and other foreign terrorists from turning Iraq into what Afghanistan was under the Taliban – a safe haven from which they could launch attacks on America and our friends. The principal task of our military is to find and defeat the terrorists – and that is why we are on the offense. And as we pursue the terrorists, our military is helping to train Iraqi Security Forces so that they can defend their people and fight the enemy on their own. Our strategy can be summed up this way: As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down. I recognize that Americans want our troops to come home as quickly as possible. So do I. Some contend that we should set a deadline for withdrawing U.S. forces. .Let me explain why that would be a serious mistake. Setting an artificial timetable would send the wrong message to the Iraqis – who need to know that America will not leave before the job is done. It would send the wrong message to our troops And it would send the wrong message to the enemy – who would know that all they have to do is to wait us out. We will stay in Iraq as long as we are needed – and not a day longer. Some Americans ask me, if completing the mission is so important, why don’t you send more troops? If our commanders on the ground say we need more troops, I will send them. But our commanders tell me they have the number of troops they need to do their job. And sending more Americans would suggest that we intend to stay forever – when we are in fact working for the day when Iraq can defend itself and we can leave. The other critical element of our strategy is to help ensure that the hopes Iraqis expressed at the polls in January are translated into a secure democracy. The Iraqi people are emerging from decades of tyranny and oppression. Under the regime of Saddam Hussein, the Shia and Kurds were brutally oppressed – and the vast majority of Sunni Arabs were also denied their basic rights while senior regime officials enjoyed the privileges of unchecked power. The challenge facing Iraqis today is to put this past behind them, and come together to build a new Iraq that includes all its people. They are doing that by building the institutions of a free society – a society based on freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and equal justice under law. After a constitution is written, the Iraqi people will have a chance to vote on it. If approved, Iraqis will go to the polls again, to elect a new government under their new, permanent constitution. By taking these critical steps and meeting their deadlines, Iraqis will bind their multiethnic society together in a democracy that respects the will of the majority and protects minority rights. As Iraqis make progress toward a free society, the effects are being felt beyond Iraq’s borders. Before our Coalition liberated Iraq, Libya was secretly pursuing nuclear weapons. Today the leader of Libya has given up his chemical and nuclear weapons programs. We have more work to do, and there will be tough moments that test America’s resolve. We are fighting against men with blind hatred – and armed with lethal weapons – who are capable of any atrocity. They wear no uniform; they respect no laws of warfare or morality. They take innocent lives to create chaos for the cameras. They are trying to shake our will in Iraq – just as they tried to shake our will on September 11, 2001. They will fail. The terrorists do not understand America. The American people do not falter under threat – and we will not allow our future to be determined by car bombers and assassins. America and our friends are in a conflict that demands much of us. It demands the courage of our fighting men and women … it demands the steadfastness of our allies … and it demands the perseverance of our citizens. We accept these burdens – because we know what is at stake. And we fight today because terrorists want to attack our country and kill our citizens – and Iraq is where they are making their stand. So we will fight them there … we will fight them across the world – and we will stay in the fight until the fight is won. America has done difficult work before. From our desperate fight for independence, to the darkest days of a Civil War, to the hard-fought battles against tyranny in the 20th Century, there were many chances to lose our heart, our nerve, or our way. But Americans have always held firm, because we have always believed in certain truths. We know that if evil is not confronted, it gains in strength and audacity, and returns to strike us again. We know that when the work is hard, the proper response is not retreat, it is courage. And we know that this great ideal of human freedom is entrusted to us in a special way – and that the ideal of liberty is worth defending. In this time of testing, our troops can know: The American people are behind you. Next week, our Nation has an opportunity to make sure that support is felt by every soldier, sailor, airman, coast guardsman, and Marine at every outpost across the world. This Fourth of July, I ask you to find a way to thank the men and women defending our freedom – by flying the flag … sending letters to our troops in the field … or helping the military family down the street. The Department of Defense has set up a website – AmericaSupportsYou.mil. You can go there to learn about private efforts in your own community. At this time when we celebrate our freedom, let us stand with the men and women who defend us all. To the soldiers in this hall, and our servicemen and women across the globe: I thank you for your courage under fire and your service to our Nation. I thank our military families – the burden of war falls especially hard on you. In this war, we have lost good men and women who left our shores to defend freedom – and did not live to make the journey home. I have met with families grieving the loss of loved ones who were taken from us too soon. I have been inspired by their strength in the face of such great loss. We pray for the families. And the best way to honor the lives that have been given in this struggle is to complete the mission. I thank those of you who have re-enlisted in an hour when your country needs you. And to those watching tonight who are considering a military career, there is no higher calling than service in our Armed Forces. We live in freedom because every generation has produced patriots willing to serve a cause greater than themselves. Those who serve today are taking their rightful place among the greatest generations that have worn our Nation’s uniform. When the history of this period is written, the liberation of Afghanistan and the liberation of Iraq will be remembered as great turning points in the story of freedom. After September 11, 2001, I told the American people that the road ahead would be difficult – and that we would prevail. Thanks to Americanprogress.org for the quotes. He has now been exposed for what he is and his poll numbers are plummeting. Nothing short of the truth people, nothing short of the truth.
Anthony Wade
Read here original article by Anthony Wade, "The Nation Weeps as the President Lies."
June 28, 2005
George W. Bush knows no shame.
Having presided over the deaths of 1,700-7,000 American kids, for lies he propagated, President Bush used tonight’s message to extend his lies, and launch new, brazen mistruths.
George Bush proved one thing tonight. He cares not what the American people think, and he further thinks they are too stupid to realize when they are being repeatedly lied to.
The President’s lies are in bold, followed by the truth.
It is an honor to speak before you tonight. My greatest responsibility as President is to protect the American people, and that is your calling as well. I thank you for your service, your courage and your sacrifice. I thank your families, who support you in your vital work. The soldiers and families of Fort Bragg have contributed mightily to our efforts to secure our country and promote peace. America is grateful – and so is your Commander-in-Chief. Really? Let’s take a closer look at how much this President expresses his gratitude. This past week it was announced that the Bush administration is short by ONE BILLION DOLLARS for covering the needs at the Department of Veteran Affairs. The democrats have tried mightily to add monies to the budget that would cover our veterans, only to be shot down by this administration. This is after the Veterans lobby had to beat back two egregious attempts to burden vets by doubling the medical co-payment and trying to impose a $250 enrollment fee. Bush can talk a good game, but in the end, you have to look behind the rhetoric and see that he expresses his gratitude in one breath while his actions, paint quite a different picture.
Shameless, absolutely shameless. Bush recognized that he must continue to flog this dead horse connecting terrorism to 911. He is playing upon our fears. Reminiscing about images of death from 2001, and deftly connecting them to a country that HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH 911. By doing so, he dishonors the dead from 911, as well as the dead from the military, being sacrificed daily on the battlefield of lies.
Once again, Bush is correlating 911 to Iraq, even though this has been clearly proven to be untrue. The terrorist activities in the countries he listed, has nothing to do with Iraq and the internal struggles there.
Iraq is the latest battlefield because of the actions of this illegitimate war. It was not a harbor for terrorism before Bush crystallized the region by attacking a country in violation of international law.
The mission is clear??? If it was, he would not have had to give this speech. Note however, what he says here. His criteria for accomplishing the mission, is so vague, it can never be truly materialized. Hunting down the terrorists? That must be reassuring to the families of soldiers. Removing instability and replacing it with instability, is not a victory for stability.
Difficult? Sounds like someone is disagreeing with Dick Cheney who recently described the insurgency as in its “last throes”. When an administration lies so casually, it often will find itself caught in them. I said last time, not one life was worth the removal of a tinpot dictator who had no WMD, connections to al Qaeda, or 911.
The attempt here is to make it seem that the people fighting our troops are not Iraqis, when they most certainly are.
Hundreds. There are reports of upwards of 100,000 dead and they have caught hundreds of foreign fighters. If you examine closely enough, the truth is there.
No George, we know that Iraq is the central front. We also know that it is YOUR fault that is so.
And how many innocents are you willing to kill George? What are your limits?
Once again, defeating immorality with immorality is not a moral victory. Killing people to stop murder is still murder.
Recently, it has been postulated by Republican Senators, that we are LOSING this war.
The transfer has meant nothing and amounted to a PR stunt.
This is a lie. The coalition has been fragmented, countries have withdrawn, left and right, and besides England, there is no coalition.
This is also a lie. Iraq is essentially in a civil war or on the verge of it.
As he admits later, the Sunni’s did not participate in the elections and are on the outside looking in. Essentially, we have changed the minority and majority in the country politically.
Ugghh, stop it George, people are turning over in their graves. Bush knows no limits to his depravity.
Clever strategy starts to be revealed. Bush is pretending that the people, who want the kids home, want to leave Iraq to its own devices. This is completely untrue. We need to have the UN and other countries come in and take control of our mess. Bush brings up the specter of his second favorite boogeyman, in the hopes that the American people cannot see through the façade. Wanting our kids home and not dying does not mean we want to abandon the Iraqi people. Bush knows this, but lies anyway.
Yes, and now they want us to leave, but we are not.
Which alienated one third of the population.
Iraq’s economy is in shambles. It actually makes ours look good, and that is no small task. We lost BILLIONS of Iraq’s dollars when we were in control and no one is saying anything about it. The infrastructure is worse now than it was when Saddam was in control. There is no water, nor electricity, during the blistering summer. We have assured the oil is flowing, but not the water.
What he omitted is the crippling effect of the US imposed sanctions which assured the infrastructure would not recover. Those sanctions were summarily ignored when Bush wanted to justify the war.
Vague, vague, vague. Where are the specifics George? Saying you are improving something without proving it, is probably a lie.
This is the old “coalition of the willing” lie. There is no coalition. There is us, and England.
What Bush is lying about here, is that only 13 billion of the 34 billion is pledged from countries other than us. Bush tries to make it sound as if 34 billion has been pledged outside of the US, when it is only 13 billion, and only 3 billion of that has actually been realized. Distortions, plain and simple.
Yes, now that it has been screwed up, it does need to be corrected.
The 160,000 number is an old lie. The real number is like 13,000. The rest of them are untrained. Bush got caught in this lie once before so he qualifies it this time; by saying they are equipped for a “variety of missions”.
Look, cut through the rhetoric. If the progress has been significant and there was a clear path, then he would not have had to give this speech.
Starting to hit home the theme of an unfinished job, Bush fails to realize that this line flies right in the face of his infamous “mission accomplished” speech. Once again, if you lie reflexively, you eventually trip over yourself.
Raising the specter of our worst fears again, Bush never fails to come back to scaring the American people. What he omits is the Taliban is still playing an active role in Afghanistan, within the government, and through terrorism. The puppet leader installed by Bush, cannot leave Kabul without fearing for his life. Also, al Qaeda had nothing to do with Iraq, as has been proven already.
Long on rhetoric, short on details, just the way Bush likes it. HOW LONG GEORGE??? His people are saying as much as 12 -20 years. That is a long time to get someone to stand up.
No George, you clearly do not. You are lying and the American people will not back down from the mounting pressure about YOUR war.
The nerve of the American people to not want their kids to die for a lie
Once again, a lie. We are not saying leave them alone, but get the international community involved.
The absolute unmitigated gall of this President to use the troops as a reason to not bring them home. Keeping the troops in Iraq after it has now been exposed that the entire war was illegitimate and based on lies, THAT sends the wrong message.
Absolute nonsense. Again, we would not be leaving altogether, but rather bringing the rest of the world in to help clean up this mess.
WHEN GEORGE, WHEN? How much more blood do you want on your hands, for a war you did not need to wage?
It is a shame that every person interviewed on the ground disagrees with this assessment. There are not enough troops, and if that was not the case, Bush would not have made the pitch for more enlisting.
No George, the fact that you are building 14 military bases in Iraq gives us that impression:
Click here: 14 `enduring bases' set in IraqExcept the Sunnis are now not intricately involved.
Hmm, no free press? It is our form of government!
You cannot write jokes like these. Protects minority rights?????????? Bush will not do that in this country, but we think he will in Iraq?
This is a recycled lie. Libya gave up its weapons programs because of mounting political pressure on Gaddafi due to the years of sanctions. This proves that punitive measures outside of war do work, as it did in Iraq before we blew it up.
One last time Bush connecting Iraq to 911, despite the fact this is patently false.
The patriotic testosterone card. Bush is playing to our collective machismo, making it sound as if not wanting our kids to die, is somehow unmanly.
What it apparently does not demand, is the truth.
Yes, but they chose Iraq to make their stand because that is where Bush has chosen to take his war, no other reason.
If anyone knows about audacity, it is Bush. To compare such monumental historical wars, with this removal of a tinpot dictator based on lies, is unconscionable.
Irrelevant point since this war has nothing to do with liberty. Furthermore, bringing the troops home because this war was based on lies and turning it over to an international effort, is not retreat.
Yes, we want them to come home alive.
Positively unabashed attempt to play to everyone’s patriotism, as I indicated yesterday he would do. Wearing a yellow ribbon does not protect anyone. It does not stop anyone’s death. Wearing a yellow ribbon, but willing to allow more kids die for a lie, is NOT patriotic, it is disgusting.
Especially with a 1 billion budget shortfall for veterans. This is another example of Bush saying something his policies do not back up.
My dear Lord, no. The way you honor the dead who died for a lie, is to make sure that no more die for that same lie.
Hmm, sounds like someone was not being honest about not needing more troops on the ground.
Unfortunately, every generation has also produced people who wrap themselves up in the flag but do not honor anything it truly stands for.
Afghanistan has NOT been liberated. Iraq is looking like a decade long quagmire.
Why not wrap up with one more unashamed 911 reference, even though 911 had nothing to do with Iraq? Besides that, this is also, another lie. Yes, after 911, it was said the road would be tough, but here is what was said before the Iraq War:
“Major combat operations in Iraq have ended.” – President Bush, 5/1/03
The war “could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months.” – Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld [2/7/03]
“We will, in fact, be greeted as liberators. . . . I think it will go relatively quickly... (in) weeks rather than months.” – Vice President Cheney [3/16/03]
“What is, I think, reasonably certain is the idea that it would take several hundred thousand U.S. forces I think is far from the mark.” – Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld [2/27/03]
“The notion that it would take several hundred thousand American troops just seems outlandish.” Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, [3/4/03]
“The oil revenues of Iraq could bring between $50 and $100 billion over the course of the next two or three years…We're dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction, and relatively soon.” – Paul Wolfowitz, [Congressional Testimony, 3/27/03]
“Iraq, unlike Afghanistan, is a rather wealthy country. Iraq has tremendous resources that belong to the Iraqi people. And so there are a variety of means that Iraq has to be able to shoulder much of the burden for their own reconstruction.” – White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer, [2/18/03]
Iraq will be “an affordable endeavor” that “will not require sustained aid” and will “be in the range of $50 billion to $60 billion.” – Budget Director Mitch Daniels [Forbes 4/11/03, W. Post 3/28/03, NY Times 1/2/03, respectively]
“Costs of any such intervention would be very small.” - Top White House Economist Glen Hubbard [CNBC, 10/4/02]
Paul Wolfowitz “dismissed articles in several newspapers this week asserting that Pentagon budget specialists put the cost of war and reconstruction at $60 billion to $95 billion in this fiscal year.” [NY Times, 2/28/03]
“In terms of the American taxpayers contribution, [$1.7 billion] is it for the US. The rest of the rebuilding of Iraq will be done by other countries and Iraqi oil revenues…The American part of this will be 1.7 billion. We have no plans for any further-on funding for this.” – USAID Director Andrew Natsios, 4/23/03.
Tonight was only a surprise in the scope of the repulsive levels Bush will stoop to in continually pimping his war. What he did not address however, was the recently released Downing Street Memos which prove undeniably that George W. Bush lied to start his war. He lied to Congress and to the people, wholly impeachable crimes. Tonight’s smoke and mirrors did not change that in the slightest. His own words and those of his staff convict him.
“There can be no doubt that Saddam Hussein has biological weapons and the capability to rapidly produce more, many more…Our conservative estimate is that Iraq today has a stockpile of between 100 and 500 tons of chemical weapons agent. That is enough agent to fill 16,000 battlefield rockets.” – Colin Powell, 2/5/03
“[Saddam has] amassed large, clandestine stockpiles of biological weapons, including Anthrax, botulism, toxins and possibly smallpox. He's amassed large, clandestine stockpiles of chemical weapons, including VX, Sarin and mustard gas.” --Don Rumsfeld, 9/19/02
“Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt that he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us.” –Vice President Cheney, 8/26/02
“The Iraqi regime possesses biological and chemical weapons…And according to the British government, the Iraqi regime could launch a biological or chemical attack in as little as 45 minutes.” –President Bush, 9/26/02
“Our intelligence officials estimate that Saddam Hussein had the materials to produce as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent.” –President Bush, 1/28/03
“His regime has large, unaccounted-for stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons -- including VX, sarin, cyclosarin and mustard gas; anthrax, botulism, and possibly smallpox -- and he has an active program to acquire and develop nuclear weapons.” – Don Rumsfeld, 1/20/03
“We found the weapons of mass destruction. We found biological laboratories.”
-President Bush, on locating the mobile biological weapons labs, 5/29/03
“We know where the [WMD] are.” - Don Rumsfeld, 3/30/03
“Iraq has at least seven mobile factories for the production of biological agents - equipment mounted on trucks and rails to evade discovery.” –President Bush, 2/8/03
“I'm absolutely sure that there are weapons of mass destruction there and the evidence will be forthcoming. We're just getting it now.” - Colin Powell, 5/4/03
“Evidence indicates that Iraq is reconstituting its nuclear weapons program…Iraq could have a nuclear weapon in less than a year.” - President Bush, 10/7/02
“[Saddam] is actively pursuing nuclear weapons at this time.”- VP Cheney, 3/24/02
“We believe Saddam has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons.” - VP Cheney, 3/16/03
“We do know that [Saddam] is actively pursuing a nuclear weapon.”- National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, 9/10/02
“Iraqis were actively trying to pursue a nuclear weapons program.” - National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, 7/11/03
“The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.” – President Bush, 1/28/03
“We believe Saddam has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons.” – Vice President Cheney, 3/16/03
“We found the weapons of mass destruction.” – President Bush, 5/29/03
"We know where the WMDs are.” – Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, 3/30/03
“The people of the United States and our friends and allies will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder.” – President Bush, 3/19/03
There's overwhelming evidence there was a connection between al Qaeda and the Iraqi government. I am very confident that there was an established relationship there." - Vice President Cheney, 1/22/04
“The regime of Saddam Hussein cultivated ties to terror while it built weapons of mass destruction.” – President Bush's UN speech, 9/23/03
“Iraq [is] the central front in the war on terror.” – President Bush's UN speech, 9/23/03
“You can't distinguish between al-Qaida and Saddam.” – President Bush, 9/25/02
“There's no question that Saddam Hussein had al Qaeda ties.” – President Bush, 9/17/03
“There was a relationship between Iraq and al-Qaeda.” – Vice President Cheney, 9/14/03
You need to never forget these words uttered by our President and his team. The nation weeps, bathed in the blood of our children, sacrificed for these lies. The troops tonight in the crowd were silent all night long except for on moment when applause broke out.
The Fox News Channel gushed about this “spontaneous” explosion, until it was revealed that the applause was started by and coordinated by members of the White House Advance Team.
Stay the course. We cannot cut and run. We must finish the mission. Patriotism, mom, and apple pie.
You will hear all of this over the next few days in an attempt to stave the damage done already to Bush, as a result of the Downing Street Memo. You cannot allow that to happen.
In two weeks or two months, we will be right back here again if we do not continue to demand of the media and the elected officials that the Downing Street Memos be prosecuted against this President.
The Republican Party told us Bill Clinton had to be impeached for his lies about a personal sexual indiscretion. It was about the sacred rule of law.
Now it is time to apply the same standard to a man who has been exposed to lying to Congress to wage war, and actually start a war six months prior to asking Congress for permission.
Patriotism is not wearing a yellow ribbon.
It is honoring our dead.
It is demanding that our children are not sent off to die in the sands of a desert based on lies. Mom and apple pie mean little if there is no truth in this country.
George Bush LIED to us when he demanded his war.
In response, Karl Rove trotted out Bush to the American people again to restate the lies that got us all into this mess to begin with. With that, he expects that everyone will walk away and stop talking about the impeachable crimes he has committed.
He is wrong.
It is time to honor our dead, and keep the drumbeats going.
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Wendy Campbell is a documentary filmmaker and author specializing in Palestine, Israel, and US foreign policy in the Middle East.
