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On May
1, 2003, President George W. Bush said: “My
fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended…In the
battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.” A banner
above his head read: “Mission
Accomplished.” At the
time of these statements, 171 died in the war effort. On
April 30, 2004, President George W. Bush said: “A
year ago, I did give the speech from the carrier, saying that we had
achieved an important objective, that we’d accomplished a mission,
which was the removal of Saddam Hussein…” Since
May 1, 2003 738 Americans died, and 3323 have been wounded. President
George W. Bush, in the State of the Union address on January 28, 2003,
said: “The
British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought
significant quantities of uranium from Africa. Our intelligence sources
tell us that he has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes
suitable for nuclear weapons production…Our intelligence officials
estimate that Saddam Hussein had the materials to produce as much as 500
tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent.” On March
17, 2003, President George W. Bush said: “Intelligence
gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq
regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons
ever devised. The danger is clear: using chemical, biological or, one
day, nuclear weapons, obtained with the help of Iraq, the terrorists
could fulfill their stated ambitions and kill thousands or hundreds of
thousands of innocent people in our country, or any other.” The war
in Iraq did not confirm the existence of any of the materials, or
weapons, described by the President on January 28, 2003 or on March 17,
2003. In
reviewing the President’s performance as Commander in Chief, we must
ask ourselves: 1.
Are the words “we had achieved an important objective” the same as
“major combat operations in Iraq have ended?” If major combat
operations ended in May of 2003, why have 738 Americans died since May
1? If major combat operations ended in May of 2003, why have 3323 people
been wounded since May 1? If major combat operations ended in May of
2003 why are we seeing images of bombs, gunfire, and mortar fire in
Fallujah, Iraq? The
answer: Major combat operations did not end on May 1, 2003. 2.
What did the President mean when he said, “Intelligence gathered by
this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime
continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever
devised?” Did he mean that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction that
could be used against us? Did he mean that we needed to “oust”
Saddam Hussein because he possessed and concealed some of the most
lethal weapons ever devised? Did he mean to justify the war, because of
the existence of these weapons? Answer:
Yes, but the war effort did not find uranium, the war effort did not
find weapons of mass destruction, and the war effort did not find any
chemical agent to produce weapons of mass destruction. 3.
Was our “Mission Accomplished” when President Bush flew onto an
aircraft carrier in a flight suit on May 1, 2003? Answer:
No, people are dying because major combat operations are continuing.
4. Which
is the truth Mr. President? A. Your
statement of May 2003: “My fellow Americans, major combat operations
in Iraq have ended…In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our
allies have prevailed.” or B. Your
statement of April 30, 2004: “A year ago, I did give the speech from
the carrier, saying that we had achieved an important objective, that
we’d accomplished a mission, which was the removal of Saddam
Hussein…?” or C.
The banner flying above your head saying “Mission Accomplished?” Answer:
None of the above, it is time for an apology, and the truth. There is
only one truth--we have a long way to go before we can say: Mission
Accomplished. Stuart
James
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