Don't blame Them. It was the talking points they were handed. They all stayed on message. New message coming soon (I bet.)
NEWSDESK
29 Mar 2003 18:35:06 GMT
US official comments about war's duration
WASHINGTON, March 29 (Reuters) - Following are quotations by U.S. officials and advisers before the start of the U.S.-led war on Iraq:
"I believe demolishing Hussein's military power and liberating Iraq would be a cakewalk. Let me give simple, responsible reasons: 1) it was a cakewalk last time; 2) they've become much weaker; 3) we've become much stronger; and 4) now we're playing for keeps." Kenneth Adelman, Defense Policy Board member, Washington Post article, Feb. 13, 2002.
"He rules by fear because he knows there is no underlying support. Support for Saddam, including within his military organization, will collapse after the first whiff of gunpowder." Richard Perle, then-Pentagon Defense Policy Board chairman, July 11.
"Military conflict could be difficult. An Iraqi regime faced with its own demise may attempt cruel and unusual measures. ... There is no easy or risk-free course of action." President Bush, speech in Cincinnati, Oct. 7.
"It is not knowable how long that conflict (to disarm Saddam Hussein) would last. It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months." Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to U.S. troops, Aviano, Italy, Feb. 7.
"On the brink of war with Iraq, Americans should be prepared for what we hope will be as precise and short a conflict as possible, but there are many unknowns. It could be a matter of some duration, we do not know." White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, March 19.
"I think things have gotten so bad inside Iraq, from the standpoint of the Iraqi people, my belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators." Vice President Richard Cheney, March 16, NBC's "Meet the Press."
"I think it will go relatively quickly.... Weeks rather than months." Cheney, same broadcast.
"We'll push as quickly as possible for an Iraqi interim authority to draw upon the talents of Iraq's people to rebuild their nation." President Bush, Iraqi crisis summit in the Azores, March 16.
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