Bush Speech: Nothing Has Changed
See my remarks, written directly after hearing almost the same speech from Bush on September 7, 2003.
Excerpt:I had ended with my hope, which is an unrealized two-year-old hope:
BUSH:
"Two years ago [in 2001], I told the Congress and the country that the war on terror would be a lengthy war, a different kind of war, fought on many fronts in many places. Iraq is now the central front. Enemies of freedom are making a desperate stand there -- and there they must be defeated."
BACK THEN, I RESPONDED:
"The central front of a war on terror? Do you mean Pakistan? Saudi Arabia--where most of the 9-11 hijackers came from? Are you speaking of the Phillipines? Indonesia? Iran? Georgia? Azerbijan?
Are you saying the heart of terror was or is in Iraq?
Or are you saying you carefully CHOSE Iraq because she was the weakest nation, knowing you would "bring on" the terrorists from all these other regions once the pre-emptive attack began?
If that is the case, and it appears it IS the case from all you have said, then you were immoral and the cause of the Iraq war was unjust.
You told us, Mr. Bush, that Iraq's regime posed an "imminent threat". That is what you said.
You lied."
The U.S. needs UN and international cooperation to lighten the overwhelming economic and military burdens.See my comments from the same day, "HOW MANY "NEW EXPLANATIONS" WILL THERE BE FOR MAKING WAR UPON IRAQ?"
Mr Bush, you also need desperately to counter these perceptions of U.S. unilateralism. Swallow this dangerous pride, Mr. Bush.
It's getting late.
I feel hopeless after hearing the
Bush said "We will stay in Iraq as long as we are needed — and not a day longer." According to Donald Rumsfeld, that could be twelve years from now. Twelve more years - and not a day longer.
TRANSCRIPT HERE