11 Lies in Bush's declaration of war 3 years ago (it was a short speech)

[burythehatchet]

THE PRESIDENT: My fellow citizens, at this hour, American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to (1)disarm Iraq, to (2)free its people and to(3) defend the world from grave danger.

On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war. These are opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign. More than 35 countries are giving crucial support -- from the use of naval and air bases, to help with intelligence and logistics, to the deployment of combat units. (4)Every nation in this coalition has chosen to bear the duty and share the honor of serving in our common defense.

To all the men and women of the United States Armed Forces now in the Middle East, the peace of a troubled world and the hopes of an oppressed people now depend on you. That trust is well placed.

The enemies you confront will come to know your skill and bravery. The people you liberate will witness the honorable and decent spirit of the American military. In this conflict, America faces an enemy who has no regard for conventions of war or rules of morality. Saddam Hussein has placed Iraqi troops and equipment in civilian areas, attempting to use innocent men, women and children as shields for his own military -- a final atrocity against his people.

I want Americans and all the world to know that (5)coalition forces will make every effort to spare innocent civilians from harm. A campaign on the harsh terrain of a nation as large as California could be longer and more difficult than some predict. And helping Iraqis achieve a united, stable and free country will require our sustained commitment.

(6)We come to Iraq with respect for its citizens, for their great civilization and for the religious faiths they practice. We have no ambition in Iraq, except to remove a threat and restore control of that country to its own people.

I know that the families of our military are praying that all those who serve will return safely and soon. Millions of Americans are praying with you for the safety of your loved ones and for the protection of the innocent. (7)For your sacrifice, you have the gratitude and respect of the American people. And (8)you can know that our forces will be coming home as soon as their work is done.

(9)Our nation enters this conflict reluctantly -- yet, our purpose is sure. The people of the United States and (10)our friends and allies will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder. We will meet that threat now, with our Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines, so that we do not have to meet it later with armies of fire fighters and police and doctors on the streets of our cities.

Now that (11)conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration is to apply decisive force. And I assure you, this will not be a campaign of half measures, and we will accept no outcome but victory.


My fellow citizens, the dangers to our country and the world will be overcome. We will pass through this time of peril and carry on the work of peace. We will defend our freedom. We will bring freedom to others and we will prevail.

May God bless our country and all who defend her.

[ChristianLibrul]

1. Doesn't matter...the war's over!

It's V-T Day! Chimpy celebrated the third anniversary of Shock-n-Awe today without using the word, "war."

http://tinyurl.com/re8x7

But...who won?

[BRLIB]

3. Exactly, I heard even garbage ABC news say Bushler did

not mention war once in his tirade, referring to Iraq in some nebulous freedom struggle context. Then we should demand accordingly that there be no more funding for troops in Iraq as there is no war! Get them the HELL out out now!!

[Oversea Visitor]

2. Elephants in plain sight

Was never about freeing Iraq
Was about his own interest.

Freeing Iraq simple
Biff Bang Boom Saddam gone
Mission over.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Actually, some of what he said was true

(1) disarm Iraq
(2) free its people and to
(3) defend the world from grave danger.
(4) Every nation in this coalition has chosen to bear the duty and share the honor of serving in our common defense.

All baldfaced lies. Moreover, Bush knew that there was no solid evidence that Iraq had banned weapons and knew he didn't give two bits about what happened to the Iraqi people as long as they didn't resist his stealing their mineral rights.


(5)coalition forces will make every effort to spare innocent civilians from harm.

No doubt many individuals doing the actual shooting and bombing made efforts not to kill noncombatants. However, if Mr. Bush really cared about them then he wouldn't have started the war.

(6)We come to Iraq with respect for its citizens, for their great civilization and for the religious faiths they practice. We have no ambition in Iraq, except to remove a threat and restore control of that country to its own people.

Place this one in the same class as statements 1 thru 4.

(7)For your sacrifice, you have the gratitude and respect of the American people.

This is for the most part true. It's Mr. Bush and his neoconservative friends who do not. They think American servicemen are cannon fodder, especially those who come from poor neighborhoods.

(8)you can know that our forces will be coming home as soon as their work is done.

This is more of a deception than a lie. What he didn't say is that the work will be done when the Iraqi people are too tired to resist armed robbery by transnational corporations.

(9)Our nation enters this conflict reluctantly

Again, true of the American people, but not of Bush and his aides.

(10)our friends and allies will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder.

This statement is obviously true. It should be regarded as true until the international community moves to indict Bush, Cheney and their aides for war crimes.

(11)conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration is to apply decisive force.

He just didn't know what he was talking about.

[Gman]

5. (12) this will not be a campaign of half measures

the whole thing has been half-assed