Do you think that Bush deliberately played down...
- Thread starter p_p_man
- Start date
Propagandist
Really Experienced
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2003
- Posts
- 230
It'll be over by Christmas
p_p_man
The 'Euro' European
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2001
- Posts
- 24,253
Yes you're all correct...wrong drafting by me.
As a penance I'll post some quotes from various people about the war...
Interesting and soon to be learnt in schools everywhere as part of the History Course...
Quotes: Words About Possible War
CBC News Online | September 9, 2002
U.S. President George W. Bush’s government recently intensified calls for the world to help oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
But many countries, including Canada, have said they want Washington to provide proof that Iraq poses an immediate threat to the planet before they will back a military strike.
Here are some quotations from the first two weeks of September, 2002:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We can't allow the world's worst leaders to blackmail, threaten, hold freedom-loving nations hostage with the world's worst weapons."
George W. Bush
U.S. President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The threat from Saddam Hussein and weapons of mass destruction – chemical, biological, potentially nuclear weapons capability – that threat is real."
Tony Blair
British Prime Minister
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We have no such weapons at all, no chemical weapons, no biological weapons."
Mohammed Aldouri
Iraqi Ambassador to the U.S.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The problem here is that there will always be some uncertainty about how quickly he (Saddam) can acquire nuclear weapons. But we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud."
Condoleezza Rice
U.S. National Security Adviser
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We challenge them to present one piece of evidence, a single piece of evidence for these accusations."
Naji Sabri
Iraqi Foreign Minister
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"There is already a mountain of evidence that Saddam Hussein is gathering weapons for the purpose of using them. And adding additional information is like adding a foot to Mount Everest."
Ari Fleischer
U.S. White House spokesman
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"A proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof. And when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven."
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
(His remarks were made after reporters asked what kind of “proof” Canada wanted to see before backing a U.S. attack against Iraq.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It is a grotesque absence of leadership on the part of the prime minister to just kind of shrug and say, 'Sure Bush, bring on the evidence and then count us in on a war.'"
Alexa McDonough
NDP Leader
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"If we have reason to believe someone is preparing an attack against the U.S., has developed that capability, harbours those aspirations, then I think the U.S. is justified in dealing with that, if necessary, by military force."
Dick Cheney
U.S. Vice-President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"They are telling lies and lies to make others believe them."
Taha Yassin Ramadan
Iraqi Vice-President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"There are lots of countries around that have weapons of mass destruction. We can't presumably attack them all."
Bill Graham
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This is not Vietnam – a kind of war where not joining up is seen as maybe a difference of political opinions. This is the defence of the United States. And I think that the American public in particular would look badly on a Canadian disavowal of the war if it was too public and too strident."
Christopher Sands
U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We should not be breaking international law just to appease the Americans. And I think the prime minister should have the guts to say that, and stick with it."
Raja Khouri
President of the Canadian Arab Federation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Imagine, a September 11 with weapons of mass destruction. It's not 3,000. It's tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children."
Donald Rumsfeld
U.S. Defense Secretary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Saddam Hussein didn't kill 3,100 people on Sept. 11. Osama bin Laden did, and as far as we know he's still alive."
Bill Clinton
Former U.S. President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"As soon as one nation claims the right to take preventive action, other countries will naturally do the same. If we go down that road, where are we going?"
Jacques Chirac
French President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We all say no to war, we are all for justice and peace. But sometimes in order to maintain peace, armed action is necessary. But we hope it won't be the case."
Silvio Berlusconi
Italian Prime Minister
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The question is the morning after. What sort of Iraq do we wake up to after the bombing? What happens in the region? What impact could it have? These are questions leaders I have spoken to have posed."
Kofi Annan
UN Secretary General
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We can't impose the law of the jungle."
Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran
Vatican Foreign Minister
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We believe that it (a U.S. attack against Iraq) would open the gates of hell in the Middle East."
Amr Moussa
Secretary general of the Arab League"
ppman
As a penance I'll post some quotes from various people about the war...
Interesting and soon to be learnt in schools everywhere as part of the History Course...
Quotes: Words About Possible War
CBC News Online | September 9, 2002
U.S. President George W. Bush’s government recently intensified calls for the world to help oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
But many countries, including Canada, have said they want Washington to provide proof that Iraq poses an immediate threat to the planet before they will back a military strike.
Here are some quotations from the first two weeks of September, 2002:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We can't allow the world's worst leaders to blackmail, threaten, hold freedom-loving nations hostage with the world's worst weapons."
George W. Bush
U.S. President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The threat from Saddam Hussein and weapons of mass destruction – chemical, biological, potentially nuclear weapons capability – that threat is real."
Tony Blair
British Prime Minister
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We have no such weapons at all, no chemical weapons, no biological weapons."
Mohammed Aldouri
Iraqi Ambassador to the U.S.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The problem here is that there will always be some uncertainty about how quickly he (Saddam) can acquire nuclear weapons. But we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud."
Condoleezza Rice
U.S. National Security Adviser
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We challenge them to present one piece of evidence, a single piece of evidence for these accusations."
Naji Sabri
Iraqi Foreign Minister
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"There is already a mountain of evidence that Saddam Hussein is gathering weapons for the purpose of using them. And adding additional information is like adding a foot to Mount Everest."
Ari Fleischer
U.S. White House spokesman
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"A proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof. And when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven."
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
(His remarks were made after reporters asked what kind of “proof” Canada wanted to see before backing a U.S. attack against Iraq.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It is a grotesque absence of leadership on the part of the prime minister to just kind of shrug and say, 'Sure Bush, bring on the evidence and then count us in on a war.'"
Alexa McDonough
NDP Leader
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"If we have reason to believe someone is preparing an attack against the U.S., has developed that capability, harbours those aspirations, then I think the U.S. is justified in dealing with that, if necessary, by military force."
Dick Cheney
U.S. Vice-President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"They are telling lies and lies to make others believe them."
Taha Yassin Ramadan
Iraqi Vice-President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"There are lots of countries around that have weapons of mass destruction. We can't presumably attack them all."
Bill Graham
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This is not Vietnam – a kind of war where not joining up is seen as maybe a difference of political opinions. This is the defence of the United States. And I think that the American public in particular would look badly on a Canadian disavowal of the war if it was too public and too strident."
Christopher Sands
U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We should not be breaking international law just to appease the Americans. And I think the prime minister should have the guts to say that, and stick with it."
Raja Khouri
President of the Canadian Arab Federation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Imagine, a September 11 with weapons of mass destruction. It's not 3,000. It's tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children."
Donald Rumsfeld
U.S. Defense Secretary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Saddam Hussein didn't kill 3,100 people on Sept. 11. Osama bin Laden did, and as far as we know he's still alive."
Bill Clinton
Former U.S. President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"As soon as one nation claims the right to take preventive action, other countries will naturally do the same. If we go down that road, where are we going?"
Jacques Chirac
French President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We all say no to war, we are all for justice and peace. But sometimes in order to maintain peace, armed action is necessary. But we hope it won't be the case."
Silvio Berlusconi
Italian Prime Minister
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The question is the morning after. What sort of Iraq do we wake up to after the bombing? What happens in the region? What impact could it have? These are questions leaders I have spoken to have posed."
Kofi Annan
UN Secretary General
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We can't impose the law of the jungle."
Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran
Vatican Foreign Minister
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We believe that it (a U.S. attack against Iraq) would open the gates of hell in the Middle East."
Amr Moussa
Secretary general of the Arab League"
ppman
Last edited:
Propagandist
Really Experienced
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- Mar 26, 2003
- Posts
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I didn't say which Christmas
p_p_man
The 'Euro' European
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2001
- Posts
- 24,253
Some more quotes on Bush's ultimatum to...
Saddam:
"Reaction to Bush ultimatum"
Reaction has been coming in from around the world following US President George W Bush's deadline for President Saddam Hussein and his two sons to leave Iraq by 0100GMT on Thursday 20 March or face war. Here is a selection of quotes:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
France:
"Whether it concerns the necessary disarmament of Iraq or the desirable change of the regime in this country, there is no justification for a unilateral decision to resort to force.
"No matter how events evolve now, this ultimatum challenges our view of international relations. It puts the future of a people, the future of a region and world stability at stake."
[President Jacques Chirac]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japan:
"I believe it was an anguished decision. President Bush has made various efforts to gain international co-operation.
"I believe it was an unavoidable decision... I support the US stance."
[Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Germany:
"My question was and is: does the degree of threat stemming from the Iraqi dictator justify a war that will bring certain death to thousands of innocent men, women and children? My answer was and is: no.
"As desirable as it is that the dictator leaves his post, the goal of Resolution 1441 is the disarmament of Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.
"Whatever happens in the next days or weeks, you can be certain that my government will continue to strive for the smallest chance of peace."
[Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Denmark:
"The international community has demanded for 12 years that Saddam Hussein give up his weapons of mass destruction, but Saddam Hussein has not co-operated.
"It is unacceptable to make a mockery of the international community's authority."
[Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Italy:
"If from the start of the Iraqi crisis everyone, especially at the United Nations, had exerted maximum pressure on Saddam - something that was not always the case - war would have been averted.
"Some gave the impression... that they wanted at any cost to differentiate themselves from the Anglo-American position instead of putting pressure on Saddam.
"Saddam... counted on the fact that a divided international community ultimately would not have been able to take a decision."
[Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mexico:
"Mexico reiterates its support for the multilateral route to solve conflicts and regrets the path to war.
"The world has to continue pushing solutions that comply with the letter and spirit of the UN charter, which establishes that the use of force should be the last and exceptional recourse, justified only when other methods have failed."
[President Vicente Fox]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada:
"If military action proceeds without a new resolution of the Security Council, Canada will not participate.
"We will hope there will be no war. I'm not very optimistic."
[Prime Minister Jean Chretien]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
China:
"China stands for a peaceful solution of the Iraq issue within the framework of the UN through political means. Every effort should be made to avoid war.
"As long as there is a glimpse of hope, we will not give up our efforts for a political and peaceful solution."
[Prime Minister Wen Jiabao]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russia:
"Moscow believes there are no grounds for saying that a political-diplomatic solution to the situation in Iraq has no chance, that the 'time for diplomacy is over'."
[Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philippines:
"While the nations of the world sort out the Iraq conflict, our job here is to take care of our own stability and normalcy, and we're prepared to do so."
[President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iran:
"What is happening in the region is to safeguard the interests of Israel.
"Unfortunately the gap between the Islamic countries is so wide and the Iraqi regime is responsible for this by sowing the seed of discord among Islamic states through imposing a war on Iran."
[Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arab League:
"The Arab League cannot accept such a final warning.
"UN Security Council Resolution 1441 does not contain a time limit and the world has acknowledged that Iraq was co-operating with UN weapons inspectors to implement this resolution.
"We regret the US decision to act outside the UN Security Council and outside international legality."
[Spokesman Hisham Yussef]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asean:
"With this decision by the US, the position of Asean is very tricky.
"For Asean to come out openly and support the Americans would be suicidal... America is not expecting any Asean country to do that."
[Asean Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan:
"Pakistan believes that time and space for diplomacy never ends."
[Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Zealand:
"Like most countries, our strong preference was for the disarmament of Iraq to occur peacefully... At this 11th hour, our government urges Iraq to seize this very last opportunity to avert the catastrophe of war."
[Prime Minister Helen Clark]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Vatican:
"Those who decide that all peaceful means that international law makes available are exhausted assume a grave responsibility before God, their conscience and history."
[Spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls]"
ppman
Saddam:
"Reaction to Bush ultimatum"
Reaction has been coming in from around the world following US President George W Bush's deadline for President Saddam Hussein and his two sons to leave Iraq by 0100GMT on Thursday 20 March or face war. Here is a selection of quotes:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
France:
"Whether it concerns the necessary disarmament of Iraq or the desirable change of the regime in this country, there is no justification for a unilateral decision to resort to force.
"No matter how events evolve now, this ultimatum challenges our view of international relations. It puts the future of a people, the future of a region and world stability at stake."
[President Jacques Chirac]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japan:
"I believe it was an anguished decision. President Bush has made various efforts to gain international co-operation.
"I believe it was an unavoidable decision... I support the US stance."
[Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Germany:
"My question was and is: does the degree of threat stemming from the Iraqi dictator justify a war that will bring certain death to thousands of innocent men, women and children? My answer was and is: no.
"As desirable as it is that the dictator leaves his post, the goal of Resolution 1441 is the disarmament of Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.
"Whatever happens in the next days or weeks, you can be certain that my government will continue to strive for the smallest chance of peace."
[Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Denmark:
"The international community has demanded for 12 years that Saddam Hussein give up his weapons of mass destruction, but Saddam Hussein has not co-operated.
"It is unacceptable to make a mockery of the international community's authority."
[Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Italy:
"If from the start of the Iraqi crisis everyone, especially at the United Nations, had exerted maximum pressure on Saddam - something that was not always the case - war would have been averted.
"Some gave the impression... that they wanted at any cost to differentiate themselves from the Anglo-American position instead of putting pressure on Saddam.
"Saddam... counted on the fact that a divided international community ultimately would not have been able to take a decision."
[Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mexico:
"Mexico reiterates its support for the multilateral route to solve conflicts and regrets the path to war.
"The world has to continue pushing solutions that comply with the letter and spirit of the UN charter, which establishes that the use of force should be the last and exceptional recourse, justified only when other methods have failed."
[President Vicente Fox]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada:
"If military action proceeds without a new resolution of the Security Council, Canada will not participate.
"We will hope there will be no war. I'm not very optimistic."
[Prime Minister Jean Chretien]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
China:
"China stands for a peaceful solution of the Iraq issue within the framework of the UN through political means. Every effort should be made to avoid war.
"As long as there is a glimpse of hope, we will not give up our efforts for a political and peaceful solution."
[Prime Minister Wen Jiabao]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russia:
"Moscow believes there are no grounds for saying that a political-diplomatic solution to the situation in Iraq has no chance, that the 'time for diplomacy is over'."
[Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philippines:
"While the nations of the world sort out the Iraq conflict, our job here is to take care of our own stability and normalcy, and we're prepared to do so."
[President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iran:
"What is happening in the region is to safeguard the interests of Israel.
"Unfortunately the gap between the Islamic countries is so wide and the Iraqi regime is responsible for this by sowing the seed of discord among Islamic states through imposing a war on Iran."
[Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arab League:
"The Arab League cannot accept such a final warning.
"UN Security Council Resolution 1441 does not contain a time limit and the world has acknowledged that Iraq was co-operating with UN weapons inspectors to implement this resolution.
"We regret the US decision to act outside the UN Security Council and outside international legality."
[Spokesman Hisham Yussef]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asean:
"With this decision by the US, the position of Asean is very tricky.
"For Asean to come out openly and support the Americans would be suicidal... America is not expecting any Asean country to do that."
[Asean Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan:
"Pakistan believes that time and space for diplomacy never ends."
[Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Zealand:
"Like most countries, our strong preference was for the disarmament of Iraq to occur peacefully... At this 11th hour, our government urges Iraq to seize this very last opportunity to avert the catastrophe of war."
[Prime Minister Helen Clark]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Vatican:
"Those who decide that all peaceful means that international law makes available are exhausted assume a grave responsibility before God, their conscience and history."
[Spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls]"
ppman
RobDownSouth
Oh Look....
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2002
- Posts
- 75,180
No, President Bush never claimed a quick victory.
On the other hand, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld sure thought so!
Rumsfeld sees quick victory in Iraq
On the other hand, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld sure thought so!
Rumsfeld sees quick victory in Iraq
Lancecastor
Lit's Most Beloved Poster
- Joined
- May 14, 2002
- Posts
- 54,670
The President says as little as possible that is specific or promises anything.
He has lackies....er Cabinet members for that stuff.
He has lackies....er Cabinet members for that stuff.
busybody..
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2002
- Posts
- 149,503
Gunner Dailey said:
That war was not 100 hours......
It was about 40 days plus.....
MOST people forget the 36 days or so, of BOMBING!
We still have 40 days to go!
G
Guest
Guest
Tan&Hard&Ready
Really Experienced
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Posts
- 235
Gunner Dailey said:
True, Gunner. The press was the source of the quick and painless victory talk. But the administration made little or no effort to counter such predictions. So Bush didn't "deliberately downplay" it, he "allowed" it to be downplayed. Nuance, perhaps, but that's what high stakes politics is all about.
t.h.r.
Linedrive
Game Face Status: On
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2002
- Posts
- 8,793
Tan&Hard&Ready said:
I thought the President portrayed a message that this wasn't going to be an overnight victory. The man has been picked apart for every move along the way. If he comes out and gives a fiery speech he is labeled as a "cowboy" or a "warmonger." When he came out and gave a sombering speech they said he looked "asleep" or "on drugs." It's like LBJ said:
"If one morning I walked on top of the water across the Potomac River, the headline that afternoon would read: PRESIDENT CAN'T SWIM." Lyndon B. Johnson
Perhaps there are things along the way that could have been approached a little different, we will never know. Overall I am satisfied that he is doing his job and has the interest of the American people in his heart.
