Bush Administration pronouncements re: Iraq.
Mission Accomplished, May 1, 2003:
"My fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."
New Iraqi Army, October 4, 2003:
"Today a new army is serving the Iraqi people. And less than a year from now, Iraq will have a 40,000-member military force, trained and dedicated to protecting their fellow citizens...More than half of the Iraqis under arms are police officers, instructed by professionals like New York City's outstanding former police chief, Bernard Kerik."
Saddam Hussein's Capture, December 14, 2003:
"In the history of Iraq, a dark and painful era is over. A hopeful day has arrived. All Iraqis can now come together and reject violence and build a new Iraq."
Interim Iraqi Government, June 1, 2004:
"The naming of the new interim government brings us one step closer to realizing the dream of millions of Iraqis--a fully sovereign nation with a representative government that protects their rights and serves their needs."
Transfer of Sovereignty, June 28, 2004:
"This day also marks a proud moral achievement for members of our coalition. We pledged to end a dangerous regime, to free the oppressed, and to restore sovereignty. We have kept our word."
Battle for Falluja, April 28, 2004:
"I have laid out a broad strategy that says that Iraq will be as secure as possible--that we will deal with those who want to stop the march to freedom. That's exactly what's happening in Falluja."
Battle for Falluja, November 9, 2004:
"Success in Falluja will deal a blow to the terrorists in the country and should move Iraq further away from a future of violence to one of freedom and opportunity for the Iraqi people. It's a tough business, and it's going to take time." - Donald Rumsfeld
Iraqi Elections, September 23, 2004:
"[The] most important step in our plan is to help Iraq conduct free national elections no later than next January."
Iraqi Elections, December 2, 2004:
"It's one of those moments in history where a lot of people will be amazed that a society has been transformed so quickly from one of tyranny and torture and mass graves, to one in which people are actually allowed to express themselves at the ballot."
Iraqi Elections, December 20, 2004:
"The elections in January are just the beginning of a process, and it's important for the American people to understand that."
Here's the reality check: As Bush spins delusions, the chaos on the ground has never been dicier. Iraq's Shiite defense minister, Hazem Shaalam, and Iraq's leading Sunni politician, Adnan Pachachi, this week called for a delay in Iraqi elections. Seventy Iraqi security officers--including the Governor of Baghdad Province--and five American soldiers were killed this week in thirteen different attacks. Iraq's national intelligence director, General Mohamed Abdullah Shahwani, says the Iraqi insurgency comprises 200,000 people, overwhelming the US military presence. When asked if the insurgents are winning, Shahwani replied, "I would say they aren't losing."
After lying his way into the war, Bush is now trying to lie his way out of the quagmire. Yet his baselessly optimistic pronouncements have only dug the troops deeper into harm's way.
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