Connecting Bush's dots
The U.K.'s finest newspaper, The Guardian, is reporting on a piping hot, fresh from the British classified memos file that clearly shows Bush and Blair had made up their minds about attacking Iraq months before the invasion began.
The article, written by intrepid reporter Richard Norton-Taylor, offers insight into how the two men plotted the invasion. Here are a couple excerpts taken from transcripts of a conversation the men had in the White House on January 31, 2003 ...
The article, written by intrepid reporter Richard Norton-Taylor, offers insight into how the two men plotted the invasion. Here are a couple excerpts taken from transcripts of a conversation the men had in the White House on January 31, 2003 ...
President Bush to Tony Blair: "The US was thinking of flying U2 reconnaissance aircraft with fighter cover over Iraq, painted in UN colours. If Saddam fired on them, he would be in breach"But 2003 seems like ancient history. Right? Let's refresh our memories as to what we were told by our president during the time between this Jan. 31, 2003 conversation he had with Blair and the actual invasion of Iraq ...Bush: "It was also possible that a defector could be brought out who would give a public presentation about Saddam's WMD, and there was also a small possibility that Saddam would be assassinated."
Blair: "A second Security Council Resolution resolution would provide an insurance policy against the unexpected and international cover, including with the Arabs."
Bush: "The US would put its full weight behind efforts to get another resolution and would 'twist arms' and 'even threaten'. But he had to say that if ultimately we failed, military action would follow anyway.''
Blair responds that he is: "solidly with the President and ready to do whatever it took to disarm Saddam."
March 6, 2003:Connect the dots, people. The feeling in this country that Bush is a liar does not require some major leap of logic. Indeed, to continue trying to polish what is left of the man's credibility seems pointless in the face of such somber facts.
"I've not made up our mind about military action. Hopefully, this can be done peacefully."
March 8, 2006:
"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."
March 17, 2003:
"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."
