Bush had a news conference in the Rose Garden today. Just as he did in with the statements he made before the war that to my mind were not open to broad interpretation he is now it seems trying to change the meaning of one of the most publicized events of his presidency. When asked a specific question about a specific event Baghdad George answered with a statement my ears just could not believe. Now this will undoubtedly bring about the same bickering from both sides of the partisan divide but I would really like to think that equivocation at this level would be recognized by all. You really have to hear it the way it was said with the hesistation for the full effect but as I said my ears couldn't believe what they were hearing. What do you think? I am simply flabbergasted that Bush would try to say that the staged event his staff absolutely had to go over with a fine tooth comb was not what we all saw with our own eyes it was. Unbelievable.
Full transcript at the link. I post this because I thought about what heartsurgeon said about reading the source material to determine content and realized he made a good point. It's always better to go to the source before reading the media interpretations of it. The specific question I referred to is below the link.
I found the full text in the Washington Post.
Full Transcript: Bush Defends Foreign Policy
QUESTION: Mr. President, if I may take you back to May 1st, when you stood on the USS Lincoln under a huge banner that said, "Mission Accomplished," at that time, you declared major combat operations were over. But since that time there have been over 1,000 wounded, many of them amputees who are recovering at Walter Reed, 217 killed in action since that date.
Will you acknowledge now that you were premature in making those remarks?
BUSH: I think you ought to look at my speech. I said Iraq's a dangerous place, got hard work to do, there's still more to be done.
And we had just come off a very successful military operation. I was there to thank the troops.
The "Mission Accomplished" sign, of course, was put up by the members of the USS Abraham Lincoln saying that their mission was accomplished. I know it was attributed somehow to some ingenious advance man from staff. They weren't that ingenious, by the way.
But my statement was a clear statement, basically recognizing that this phase of the war for Iraq was over, and there was a lot of dangerous work.
And it's proved to be right. It is dangerous in Iraq. It's dangerous in Iraq because there are people who can't stand the thought of a free and peaceful Iraq. It is dangerous in Iraq because there are some who believe that we're soft, that the will of the United States can be shaken by suiciders and suiciders who are willing to drive up to a Red Cross center, a center of international help and aid and comfort, and just kill.
It's the same mentality, by the way, that attacked us in -- on September the 11th, 2001. "We'll just destroy innocent life and watch the great United States and their friends and allies, you know, crater in the face of hardship." It's the exact same mentality.
And Iraq is a part of the war on terror. I said it's a central front, a new front in the war on terror. And that's exactly what it is. And that's why it's important for us to be tough and strong and diligent.
Our strategy in Iraq is to have our strike forces ready and capable to move quickly, as we gather actionable intelligence. That's how you deal with terrorists.
Remember, these are people that are willing to hide in societies and kill randomly. And, therefore, the best way to deal with them is to harden targets, harden assets, as best as you can. That means, you know, blockades and inspection spots.
And as you notice yesterday, one fellow tried to -- was done in as he tried to conduct a suicide mission.
In other words, an Iraqi policeman did their job.
But as well, we got to make sure that not only we harden targets but that we get actionable intelligence to intercept the missions before they begin. That means more Iraqis involved in the intelligence-gathering systems in their countries, so that they are active participants in securing the country from further harm.
Remember, the action in Iraq to get rid of Saddam Hussein was widely supported by the Iraqi people. And the actions that were taken to improve their country are supported by the Iraqi people. And it's going to be very important for the Iraqi people to play an active role in fighting off the few who are trying to destroy the hopes of the many.
You've heard me say that before. That's just, kind of, the motto of the terrorists. That's the way they operate.
Full transcript at the link. I post this because I thought about what heartsurgeon said about reading the source material to determine content and realized he made a good point. It's always better to go to the source before reading the media interpretations of it. The specific question I referred to is below the link.
I found the full text in the Washington Post.
Full Transcript: Bush Defends Foreign Policy
QUESTION: Mr. President, if I may take you back to May 1st, when you stood on the USS Lincoln under a huge banner that said, "Mission Accomplished," at that time, you declared major combat operations were over. But since that time there have been over 1,000 wounded, many of them amputees who are recovering at Walter Reed, 217 killed in action since that date.
Will you acknowledge now that you were premature in making those remarks?
BUSH: I think you ought to look at my speech. I said Iraq's a dangerous place, got hard work to do, there's still more to be done.
And we had just come off a very successful military operation. I was there to thank the troops.
The "Mission Accomplished" sign, of course, was put up by the members of the USS Abraham Lincoln saying that their mission was accomplished. I know it was attributed somehow to some ingenious advance man from staff. They weren't that ingenious, by the way.
But my statement was a clear statement, basically recognizing that this phase of the war for Iraq was over, and there was a lot of dangerous work.
And it's proved to be right. It is dangerous in Iraq. It's dangerous in Iraq because there are people who can't stand the thought of a free and peaceful Iraq. It is dangerous in Iraq because there are some who believe that we're soft, that the will of the United States can be shaken by suiciders and suiciders who are willing to drive up to a Red Cross center, a center of international help and aid and comfort, and just kill.
It's the same mentality, by the way, that attacked us in -- on September the 11th, 2001. "We'll just destroy innocent life and watch the great United States and their friends and allies, you know, crater in the face of hardship." It's the exact same mentality.
And Iraq is a part of the war on terror. I said it's a central front, a new front in the war on terror. And that's exactly what it is. And that's why it's important for us to be tough and strong and diligent.
Our strategy in Iraq is to have our strike forces ready and capable to move quickly, as we gather actionable intelligence. That's how you deal with terrorists.
Remember, these are people that are willing to hide in societies and kill randomly. And, therefore, the best way to deal with them is to harden targets, harden assets, as best as you can. That means, you know, blockades and inspection spots.
And as you notice yesterday, one fellow tried to -- was done in as he tried to conduct a suicide mission.
In other words, an Iraqi policeman did their job.
But as well, we got to make sure that not only we harden targets but that we get actionable intelligence to intercept the missions before they begin. That means more Iraqis involved in the intelligence-gathering systems in their countries, so that they are active participants in securing the country from further harm.
Remember, the action in Iraq to get rid of Saddam Hussein was widely supported by the Iraqi people. And the actions that were taken to improve their country are supported by the Iraqi people. And it's going to be very important for the Iraqi people to play an active role in fighting off the few who are trying to destroy the hopes of the many.
You've heard me say that before. That's just, kind of, the motto of the terrorists. That's the way they operate.
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