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Five years later, Bush insists the war in Iraq must go on

  2. woodywoodbeck
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Five years after he green-lighted the war in Iraq, President Bush will mark the anniversary by calling the debate over the conflict "understandable" but insisting that a continued U.S. presence there is crucial.

"The answers are clear to me," Bush says, according to excerpts of his speech to be delivered at the Pentagon on Wednesday, the day the war began in 2003.

"Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision, and this is a fight America can and must win."

Almost 4,000 American troops have died in the war, a painful toll that Bush acknowledges in his remarks.

"No one would argue that this war has not come at a high cost in lives and treasure, but those costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq."
woodywoodbeck

24 responses // Five years later, Bush insists the war in Iraq must go on

  • http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/19/iraq
    "High cost in lives..." But how high? There's a new war waging in Iraq, and it's a numbers war. Exactly how high is the death toll after 5 years of fighting? According to this article, the US has washed its hands of counting the civilian dead ever since the response to the Vietnam war. Now nobody knows exactly how many people have lost their lives as a result of the Iraq war. Estimates vary widely. "We do know that more than two million have fled abroad. Another 1.5 million have sought safety elsewhere in Iraq. We know that the combined horror of car bombs, suicide attacks, sectarian killing and disproportionate US counter-insurgency tactics and air strikes have produced the worst humanitarian catastrophe in today's world. But the exact death toll remains a mystery.

    "We do know that more than two million have fled abroad. Another 1.5 million have sought safety elsewhere in Iraq. We know that the combined horror of car bombs, suicide attacks, sectarian killing and disproportionate US counter-insurgency tactics and air strikes have produced the worst humanitarian catastrophe in today's world. But the exact death toll remains a mystery."

    My question is this: do numbers matter? Is it any better if only 100,000 have died instead of 1,000,000?
    abbym0308
  • I support Operation iraqi Freedom and I support all of the people involved in the great endeavor of rebuilding Iraq. Removing Sadaam Hussein from power was correct decision, eaving him in power would have been the wrong decision. Weapons of mass destruction were never found. Mass gravesites were found. People disagree with me and I can resect that. I could never think bad of a person who honestly believs in peace. I honestly wish a peaceful alternative to the issue coud have been reached. I also understand that the blame for this war is not on President George W. Bush. The reason we are in Iraq is because of the actins of Sadaam Hussein. All peaceful efforts, and their were many, to resolve the issue failed because of Sadaam Hussien. The United States and our Allies have a serious obligation to whatever it takes to rebuild Iraq.
    mjsmith11
  • This is an op-ed worth reading by one of the best columnists in the country, Leonard Pitts.

    http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/leonard_pi...
    Jaron
  • mjsmith11 - i agree completely. Whatever the reasons for starting the whole thing, we're there now so we need to get on with it. Continual chanting of "stop the war" won't do anything. However, prepare to be attacked by lots of people here!
    bergus
  • Holy fuck. If the US actually gave a real shit about global affairs, we wouldn't have a Buma issue, a Tibet issue, an African genocide issue.

    Plus, they wouldn't be getting the cheapo oil that they are killing Iraqi men, women, and children for everday.

    As for the "rebuilding". The US fucking destroyed the place. There is no jobs, no infastructure, no business, few schools. You fucked up a while generation or two USA, Thanks. All for your damn energy consumption needs and big ass cars. And then getting US contractors to rebuild.... The audacity!

    46% of people in iraq has had a family member die. Millions have left. Thousands are unacounted for.

    Its also a war of religion without the title. Fundamental crazy ass christan bushites going mental of the fundamental muslims. Its the crusades all over again, except we have big fuck off rockets and m4's.

    I like the Quote from that left-wing film, "shooter"

    "This is a country where the Secretary of Defense can go on TV and tell the American public, oh, that 'This is about Freedom, it's not about oil!' And, nobody questions him 'cause nobody wants to hear the answer, 'cause it's a lie!"

    America, get off your asses, stop blogging and moaning about shit that pisses you off. Go protest, graffiti anti-corporate slogans, dont invest in oil companies or arms makers, Make signs and stick em in your lawn. How can a population take so much crap from their government. And with the impending economic crisis, the richer of you will be protected. Fight the elitist bastards.

    God this pissed me off more than it should. I fucking hate the US government. And Obama wont change jack-didilly-fucking-squat. Good luck with it all.

    *End Rant*
    Social_Fuzz
  • It is real tragedy that we did not even realized first that many thieves and identity thefts act soldiers and stole funds even inside the war.

    Many Politicians hated me so much because i make myself a barrier against those thieves that works with them.

    It is true many politicians used many pretty women and drug syndicates in stealing money to control the world even the war in middle east.
    rosyjane
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vUrjz_1NJQ
    Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL): 5 Years in Iraq
    nkeg87
  • Social Fuzz...I read mjsmith11's post and I was about to rant as well when I read your post which is EXACTLY what I was thinking. If Iraq wasnt about oil or old feud but the humanitarian issues, then PLEASE explain to me why we havent done a damn thing about Sudan, Somalia, Tibet or anywhere else where humanitarian crises are just as apparent? I do not disagree that Saddam needed to be removed from power. But I disagree when the reasons becomes lies and when we are selective people to aid because of those reasons. Help people because they need help...not because they have money or something to give in return. If Darfur were as rich in oil or some other resource as Iraq, you had bettwe believe the people wouldnt be walking to Chad to escape.
    nkeg87
  • Iraq was about OIL, Iran is about OIL. Hugo Chavez is about OIL. If you don't have OIL we don't give a shit what happens in your country. George Bush is a lying sadistic criminal, If we had any integrity we would impeach him,
    Marilynn_Murray
  • The United states of America does more good for the World than the World can do for itself. Every continent, included Antarctica, has benefited greatly by the generosity, sacrifice, and altruistic service of the good people from the United States of America. That includes you too.
    mjsmith11
  • Care to tell me how the thousands of dead Iraqis benefited from our goodness? When you get right down to it the live Iraqis aren't having much fun either.
    Marilynn_Murray
  • http://thenewiraq.com/tni/
    mjsmith11
  • Right guys - we now know going into Iraq was a bad idea. But continuing to chant about it will not change that. Sadaam Hussein was a bad person who killed thousands of his people, so getting rid of him was not a bad thing. You are right to say he is not the only dictator the world needs rid of, but there was an opportunity to get rid of him which doesn't exist for others. I'm not justifying this, just explaining my understanding.

    Is it all about oil? Part of it is, certainly. The west needs oil - we'd be stupid to neglect its source. I can guarantee lots of people would be moaning if the oil supply dried up because we didn't look after our overseas interests - probably the same number of people who now complain we went to war over oil.

    If you all feel so strongly about how the Iraqis are suffering, there are plenty of voluntary organisations who could do with your help (I've been there twice). If you prefer sitting in front of your computer moaning, you're not going to achieve much.
    bergus
  • What a great idea bergus. Since it's okay that thousands of people die because the west needs oil I guess that's the least you can do.
    Chique
  • Chique - that's not what I said. Read my comment again.
    bergus
  • I read that second paragraph 3 times before I posted. It may not have been what you meant but it is what you said. Enlighten me please. "the west needs oil and we'd be stupid to neglect its source."

    At that point I'm thinking with the money we've spent on this war so far we could have invested in alternative energy sources and nobody would have to die. We could all then volunteer to assist other suffering in the world that we didn't actually cause?
    Chique
  • The question is not whether or not America is there for oil, the current issue is whether or not they should stay there.

    I can to some extent see what Bush is talking about when he says withdrawing will only cause more trouble. Iraq in it's current state does not seem stable to me, who knows what kind of civil war may erupt.
    yonie
  • I agree with yonie - can't leave until the job is done.

    And Chique, the relevant part of that paragraph is the bit that says "part of it is, certainly". Not the whole reason, but (IMHO) in must have come under consideration as part of the wider discussion.

    I didn't say or mean what you have interpreted.
    bergus
  • I stand corrected bergus.
    Chique
  • http://current.com/items/88872983_osama_bin_laden_pales...
    osama Bin Laden messege after 5 years
    journalist_pal
  • journalist_pal, do you believe this message from osama to be real, or could it be faked to further underline bush's message?
    yonie
  • Yonie , lemme tel ya some thing .
    if this messege is for real "from bin laden" or fake
    what ever , ithink that man has no right to talk about the palestinians case , no need to complicate the situation in palestine , its already complicated ,
    we dont need some one like B L to judge or talk about palestine conflict .
    we have enought BS comes out from some onces here .

    can war makes peace??????????????
    journalist_pal
  • bush acts like he is the winner in Iraq after 5 years war !!!!!!!!! if yes ! we should ask our selfs why he couldnt catch Bin laden after almost 8 years now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    plz dont tell me that Bush doesn't know where is bin laden
    journalist_pal
  • to tell you frankly journalist_pal, bin laden knows where George W. Bush is and even his innermost problems.... weaknesses and strengths....

    And George W. Bush ask Osama Bin Laden many times, 'WHY OSAMA BIN LADEN WANTS REVENGE AGAINST CHRISTIANS?'

    The answer? Because many Christians uses Arab Countries in stealing money and sabotaging many innocent lives even in drug trafficking.
    rosyjane

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