Note On Bush’s Primetime Speech

Ken AshfordIraqLeave a Comment

(1)  Bush said:

Reconstruction efforts and the training of Iraqi Security Forces started more slowly than we hoped. … At this time last year, there were only a handful of Iraqi army and police battalions ready for combat.

And here’s what Rumsfeld said "at this time last year" (12/8/04, to be specific):

Their security forces, as I mentioned earlier, are – oh, they’re now up to something like 110[000], 120,000 — up from zero. And they are putting their lives at risk as well…they’re being trained rapidly

So basically, either Rumsfeld was lying then, or Bush is lying now.

(2)  Bush takes on a stupid straw man:

If you think the terrorists would become peaceful if only America would stop provoking them, then it might make sense to leave them alone.

Who thinks that terrorists would become peaceful if we leave them alone?  Who said this?

(3)  For those who misses the speech, Shakespeare’s Sister gives the abridged version:

Good evening…landmark day in the history of liberty…democracy at the heart of the Middle East…I know many Americans have questions about the cost and direction of this war (but I’m not going to answer them—quick, over there, look at the sparkly freedom!)…weapons of mass destruction…mass graves…global terrorist movement…perpetual war against America…9/11…(do they look scared again yet, Dick?)…stay the course…fight them over there…only two options before our country—victory or defeat…we remember the words of the Christmas carol, written during the Civil War: “God is not dead, nor [does] He sleep; the Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail, with peace on Earth, good-will to men.”