Bush Invokes 9/11 To Justify Staying In Iraq

[Gold9472]

Bush Invokes 9/11 To Justify Staying In Iraq

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/03/20070319.html

He started off his speech with this...

"4 years ago today, coalition forces launched Operation Iraqi Freedom to remove Saddam Hussein from power. They did so to eliminate the threat his regime posed to the Middle East, and to the world."

Saddam Hussein posed no threat. He must not have been told.

Here he is playing the 9/11 Card.

"It can be tempting to look at the challenges in Iraq and conclude our best option is to pack up and go home. That may be satisfying in the short run, but I believe the consequences for American security would be devastating. If American forces were to step back from Baghdad before it is more secure, a contagion of violence could spill out across the entire country. In time, this violence could engulf the region. The terrorists could emerge from the chaos with a safe haven in Iraq to replace the one they had in Afghanistan, which they used to plan the attacks of September the 11th, 2001. For the safety of the American people, we cannot allow this to happen."

Hmmm... we went in because of 9/11, and now we can't leave because of 9/11. I hope the anti-war movement sees that for what it is. Again, 9/11 is the justification. Take away that justification, and the war ends.

[Gold9472]

Bush: Iraq pullout could spark new 9/11

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/19/wbush119.xml

By Toby Harnden in Washington and Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent
Last Updated: 2:37am GMT 20/03/2007

President George W Bush has used the fourth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war to warn that US withdrawal would unleash a "contagion of violence" that could spark a repeat of the Sept 11 attacks.

Although he conceded that there would be "bad days ahead", he insisted that there had been "good progress" in Iraq and there were "hopeful signs" that the influx of 30,000 additional troops would stabilise Baghdad.

But the bullish self-confidence of 2003 was absent as he said only that the war could be won, rather than portraying victory as inevitable.

"Four years after this war began, the fight is difficult, but it can be won," he said.

He delivered a tough message to Democrats, who now control Congress, that he would veto any bill that did not provide "the funds and the flexibility that our troops need to accomplish their mission".

Democratic proposals for deadlines for troop withdrawals, he suggested, could be "devastating" for America's security and could help al-Qa'eda plan attacks against the United States on a scale not seen since Sept 11.

"It can be tempting to look at the challenges in Iraq and conclude our best option is to pack up and go home. That may be satisfying in the short run, but I believe the consequences for American security would be devastating.

"If American forces were to step back from Baghdad before it is more secure, a contagion of violence could spill out across the entire country. In time, this violence could engulf the region.

"The terrorists could emerge from the chaos with a safe haven in Iraq to replace the one they had in Afghanistan, which they used to plan the attacks of September 11th 2001. For the safety of the American people, we cannot allow this to happen."

By stating that the war would be won "if we have the courage and resolve to see it through", he appeared to be preparing the ground for blaming an eventual failure in Iraq on a new Democratic president should he or she order a withdrawal.

But Democrats have been increasingly contemptuous of Mr Bush's protestations that the removal of Saddam Hussein has made America safer.

In a statement to mark the fourth anniversary, Nancy Pelosi, the new Speaker of the House, condemned the "an ill-conceived war of choice" in Iraq.

"It has brought our military's readiness to the lowest levels since the Vietnam war, cost billions of dollars; and significantly damaged the standing of the United States in the eyes of the world."

A new poll showed American support for the Iraq war had sunk to 32 per cent, compared to 72 per cent just after it began.

Iraqi opinion also appears to be souring. A BBC poll found that a majority of Iraqis support insurgent attacks on US and British troops, although almost two-thirds simultaneously believe the US-led coalition shouldn't pull out.

Out of 2,000 people questioned across all 18 provinces more than half, 51 per cent said they supported "politically motivated" attacks on coalition forces. More than 80 per cent said they lacked faith in American and other troops, while 69 per cent believed the US presence made violence worse.

Dissatisfaction with Iraqi politicians had soared since the last survey in 2005, to 53 per cent from 34 per cent. Only 43 per cent said democracy provided the best hope of good government while 34 per cent supported the return of a dictator.

Violence continued today as an explosion ripped through a Shia mosque in Baghdad during prayers, killing at least eight worshippers. A series of car bombs then struck the oil-rich city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq, killing 12 people.