From the Cheney speech "The skill and courage of our military have brought a series of major successes in this war. With the best of allies at our side, America took the battle directly to the terrorists hiding in Afghanistan. The Afghan people have reclaimed their country from a depraved regime and the violent rule of the Taliban has been ended forever."
The Taliban was horrid, but where was the outrage weeks before 9/11 and subseqent invasion when they tore down those statues? They stopped the opium agriculture which we've reestablished. There's still unrest and from news accounts life isn't as good for women as it was under Russian rule. By many accounts, as Americans leave, the Taliban is regaining its foothold.
Cheney continues:
America and our allies have continued the relentless pursuit of the global terror network. Of those directly involved in organizing the September 11 attacks, many are now in custody or confirmed dead.
The leadership of Al Qaida has sustained heavy losses. We must recognize, however, that terrorism is a long-term challenge and fighting terror will require a long-term commitment.
.......
The terrorists intend to strike America again. Yet no one should doubt the intentions of our nation. One by one, in every corner of the world we will hunt the terrorists down and destroy them. In Iraq, we took another essential step in the war on terror. The United States and our allies rid the Iraqi people of a murderous dictator and rid the world of a menace to our future peace and security. Events leading to the fall of Saddam Hussein are fresh in memory, and do not need recounting at length. Every measure was taken to avoid a war, but it was Saddam Hussein himself who made war unavoidable. He had a lengthy history of reckless and sudden aggression. He bore a deep and bitter hatred for the United States. He cultivated ties to terrorist groups. He built, possessed and used weapons of mass destruction. He refused all international demands to account for those weapons. "
There's not even a legimate segue from "al qaeda" to Chenéy's far leap bringing Iraq into the fray. The al qaeda/Iraq connection has been successfully refuted. In fact, it's claimed, Saddam's continued support of Palestinians was his ultimate downfall. People in Iraq believe: Americans invaded for oil 43 percent; Americans invaded for Israel 46%, only 7 percent believe Americans invaded to help them.
Cheney: Last October, the director of Central Intelligence issued a National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq's continuing programs of weapons of mass destruction. That document contained the consensus judgments of the intelligence community, based upon the best information available about the Iraqi threat.
The NIE declared, quote, "We judge that Iraq has continued its weapons of mass destruction program in defiance of U.N. resolutions and restrictions. Baghdad has chemical and biological weapons, as well as missiles with ranges in excess of U.N. restrictions. If left unchecked, it probably will have a nuclear weapon during this decade," end quote.
Those charged with the security of this nation could not read such an assessment and pretend that it did not exist. Ignoring such information or trying to wish it away would be irresponsible in the extreme.
Clearly, Tenet of the CIA told Bush et al that the reports about yellow uranium from Niger were untrue. It's been widely reported Cheney dismissed this because it didn't support his position. The fact is that gobbledigook was bogus. John Dean, former counsel to Richard Nixon stated unequivocally that Bush's SOTU was replete with falsehoods, exaggerations, fabrications...In a word it was "phony".
What is the NIE?
Cheney: In the relief and reconstruction effort, we are renovating schools and restoring basic services. Coalition authorities are training Iraqi police forces to help patrol Iraqi cities and villages and will soon establish a new civilian defense force. Iraq will also have its own new army, a military force that defends the Iraqi people instead of bullying and terrorizing them. A governing council of Iraqis recognized by the United Nations is now operating, naming ministers and drawing up a budget for the country.
One can only hope this will come to fruition. But the first thing done was to get the oil running, not to get the people up and on their feet, greatful to their purported liberators. Just this past week, a 21 year old student was the victim of American troops. He was studying outside a cafe and accidentally gunned down. Obviously our troops are stressed. Conditions are as abysmal for them as they are for the "liberated" Iraqis. In fact, to date, five servicemen have committed suicide.
While I"m thinking of it, what about our own country. We went bankrupt in March. The world derides and hates us, and I'm referring to those with whom we are not at war. There's no money for schools. Unemployment is at a nine year high. There's been an unheard of fourth or fifth unemployment extension. Corporations are still not hiring in spite of tax breaks. etc, etc, etc. It's bad here. Oh, and the dollar is down against the Canadian dollar...
In Afghanistan and Iraq, and in other places where tyranny has been a fertile breeding ground for terror, we will help those who seek to build free, more tolerant and more prosperous societies.
Well, the fact still remains those skyjacking terrorists were Saudis, NOT Iraqis or Afghanis...
Cheney: America's commitment and generosity in rebuilding ravaged lands in Europe and Asia was a hallmark of our foreign policy in the 20th century. It was a good investment for America then, it is just as wise now.
The investment we made THEN paid off in spades. We enjoyed half a century of goodwill from our allies. In a year, Bush's ineptitude, his stupid comments have been offputting to even our most rabid allies. Although Blair supported Bush, the people of Britain don't support Blair. The French once loved us. If Cheney wants to go back in history, the French support is the reason we became a great republic in the first place. But now...he and Wolfowitz and others have said such horrid things about the French, whose moral character forbade them from participating in this immoral, illegal and unwarranted war, that they it will take much to rebuild that friendship. AND YET, did you know we are asking for the help of French troops in Iraq? What gall!!! The French were the first ones to help Americans in the recent Ivory Coast attacks. It just torques me that he has incurred such animosity.
Cheney: In the 22 months since that clear September morning when America was attacked, we have not lost focus or been distracted or wavered in the performance of our duties.
We will not rest until we have overcome the threat of terror. We will not relent until we have assured the freedom and security of the American people.
Yada yada, blah blah blah. As someone said, Cheney's is the worst example of disinformation ever delivered in a speech. |
