Blame Bush For Lies That Led To War

Interesting stats from a new Post-ABC Poll: Americans Say War in Iraq Has Not Made U.S. Safer



Link courtesy of Kos, who (good to see) is also staying on the case of the Downing Street Memo. That memo was dated July 23, 2002. Here are some revealing Bush quotes folloing the meeting:

Bush: "Of course, I haven’t made up my mind we’re going to war with Iraq." [1 Oct 02]

Bush:"Hopefully, we can do this peacefully – don’t get me wrong. And if the world were to collectively come together to do so, and to put pressure on Saddam Hussein and convince him to disarm, there’s a chance he may decide to do that. And war is not my first choice, don’t – it’s my last choice." [7 Nov 02]

Bush: "This is our attempt to work with the world community to create peace. And the best way for peace is for Mr. Saddam Hussein to disarm. It’s up to him to make his decision." [4 Dec 02]

Bush: "You said we’re headed to war in Iraq – I don’t know why you say that. I hope we’re not headed to war in Iraq. I’m the person who gets to decide, not you. I hope this can be done peacefully." [31 Dec 02]

Bush: "First of all, you know, I’m hopeful we won’t have to go war, and let’s leave it at that." [2 Jan 03]

Bush: "But Saddam Hussein is – he’s treated the demands of the world as a joke up to now, and it was his choice to make. He’s the person who gets to decide war and peace." [7 Feb 03]

Bush:"I’ve not made up our mind about military action. Hopefully, this can be done peacefully.” [6 Mar 03]

Bush: "I want to remind you that it’s his choice to make as to whether or not we go to war. It’s Saddam’s choice. He’s the person that can make the choice of war and peace." [6 Mar 03]

Bush: "We are doing everything we can to avoid war in Iraq. But if Saddam Hussein does not disarm peacefully, he will be disarmed by force." [8 Mar 03]

Bush: "Should Saddam Hussein choose confrontation, the American people can know that every measure has been taken to avoid war, and every measure will be taken to win it." [17 Mar 03]

I watched an interesting documentary on SBS TV's "The Cutting Edge" program last night, DEAD OR ALIVE: THE HUNT FOR BIN LADEN (sorry, can't find a URL link). It traced the USA's efforts to capture or kill Bin Laden back since the day's of Clinton. With candid interviews from all those closely involved, it becomes clear that something went VERY wrong with the whole operation as soon as the focus shifted to Iraq.

There is a direct link between Bush's lies about Saddam's WMDs and the USA's failure to catch bin Laden. The Iraq War has made the USA a more dangerous place, fuelled support for Al Quaeda and similar anti-US fundamentalist groups. Bush should be impeached, if not imprisoned, for making not just the USA but the whole world a more dangerous place.