Dean's Statement on Capture

[Rose Siding]

Statement by Governor Dean on the Capture of Saddam Hussein
WEST PALM BEACH-- Governor Dean issued the following statement this morning:

"This is a great day for the Iraqi people, the US, and the international community.

"Our troops are to be congratulated on carrying out this mission with the skill and dedication we have come to know of them.

"This development provides an enormous opportunity to set a new course and take the American label off the war. We must do everything possible to bring the UN, NATO, and other members of the international community back into this effort.

"Now that the dictator is captured, we must also accelerate the transition from occupation to full Iraqi sovereignty."

http://blog.deanforamerica.com/

[Walt Starr]

1. That was done well

That was the best thing Dean could have said here. Also, he knows damn well and good, things are going to get uglier in Iraq now that Saddam has been captured.

My guess is they had no choice but to take him. It was probably common knowledge in the region where Saddam was hiding and the Iraqis were wondering why the hell the Americans didn't just pick his ass up.

Based upon how he looked in the pictures, he's been holed up in that hole since day one of the war.

[Rose Siding]

3. He took the opportunity

to speak as if we no longer have *any* need to hold on to control- nothing is stopping us from ceding control at this point. VERY good.

[carrowsboy]

5. agreed

Mission completed.

However the bloodshed will continue because it is our occupation, not Hussein supporters, that is causing all the attacks.

[rocktivity]

6. Exactly--we have no reason to be there anymore

Let the Iraqis decide how they want to be governered, and how to use their oil reserves to get the things they need. The very fact that nothing less than the capture of Saddam could possibly set Dean back is a compliment to him within itself.


rocknation

[LizW]

11. Every reason for being there is gone now

The ever-shifting rationals for the Iraq ivasion are all gone.

WMDS? None found.

Connection to 9/11? None.

Saddamm gone? Check.

Every day we stay will be about two things: Iraqi oil and funneling taxpayer dollars to Halliburton, et al, through open ended, no bid contracts.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for the Iraqi people who lived in fear of Saddam. But it doesn't change the fact that this invasion was based entirely on lies, and it doesn't excuse the atrocities we committed there.

[ldoolin]

7. I suspect

I suspect B*s* was going to try and put off the capture of Saddam until right before the general election next November, wanting to time it for maximum effect on the election, but for whatever reason his advisors now convinced him it couldn't wait.

Believe me, this capture is so far before the general election that it will have *no* effect on the election.

[izzie]

14. I am sure they would have if they could have.

I read they had a force of 600 men and you can hardly gag that many people.Three old men with 2 guns was a shock I bet. At his age he is starting to wear out and he sure looked beat up and out of it. I do not see how we could shame him any more than what we put on TV. Makes Aljazeera look like they have some taste in what they show. All this shame on the Arabs, even if he is hated, comes back to bite us. It is not something an American should be proud of. We did the TV show badly just as showing the dead sons was done badly. That is my way of thinking anyhow.

[xultar]

2. Nice, well said Govenor Dean. n/t

[Cheswick2.0]

4. perfect

and so less tortured and didactic than some of the other candidates.

[okieinpain]

8. I saw an earlier post where clark spoke on this issue both are

very good. clark's was better, but they are both good. now the rest of the dems need to get on this message. they need to bring it up at every opportunity, we got saddam, bush did good (to tie him to the event), now bring our troops home. then sit back and watch the repugs squirm.

[pruner]

9. here's some more quotes…

"It is a great day of celebration. President Bush deserves a day of celebration," Dean said during a brief news conference in West Palm Beach. "We have our policy differences but we won't be discussing those today."

"This, I hope, will change the course of the occupation of Iraq but I think the first order of business is to say this is a great day. I congratulate the Iraqi people," Dean said.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031214/APN/312140638

[Rose Siding]

12. "This, I hope, will change the course of the occupation"

This is THE point to make.

[phirili]

16. Against the IWR yet ready to have a day of celebration for Bush

Nothing on the WMD. Is Dean thinking?

[underpants]

10. Well done

Clark and Dean both hit the nail on the head today. Kerry apparently didn't.

[incapsulated]

13. Very well done!

He put the ball right back in Bush's court.

[phirili]

15. Dean sounded like he supported the IWR. Nothing on WMD.

[Hep]

18. Dean sounded like nothing of the sort.

YOU try using this news as a reason to sound like you wish he HADN'T been captured.

[seventhson]

17. Well Said

Cautious but wise

[RandomKoolzip]

19. A very gracious statement from Dean.

Nicely done, Howie! Now, let's get back to the business of cleaning up the messes the Bush administration has made.....

[Rose Siding]

23. Big foreign policy speech tomorrow too

Time to shine

[bearfartinthewoods]

20. sheesh..six hours after the fact. well at least he beat bush.

[beawr]

21. Yep, Yep, Yep

Well Put Dr. Dean. I like you more every day

[bobthedrummer]

22. I agree with the foreign policies as stated, but I think we'll see a show

trial during an election year. I think the insurgency will continue to grow the longer we are still in the role that Bush ordered-lying all the time to US and the world.

[realFedUp]

24. Great statement

Why does Dean sound like the sanest man on the planet to me.

[Rose Siding]

25. Cuts to the chase, doesn't he?

[neebob]

26. Another good statement

I still like DK's better, but this is exactly what Dean needed to say.

[Jack Rabbit]

27. This is a good statement

Democratic presidential candidates should not let Bush off the hook for the failures of the colonial occupation.

Dean stresses the need to go forward with a different plan than the one presented by the Bushies. The US occupation must end as soon as possible.

[slinkerwink]

28. that's a very gracious statement!

[mzmolly]

29. Very Presidential... I wonder how many Prez candidates are gonna

be "suddenly" pro war again?