Also included in that infamous 2003 State of the Union was the exploitation of loyal asset Colin Powell. “Secretary of State Powell will present information and intelligence about Iraq's illegal weapons programs; its attempts to hide those weapons from inspectors; and its links to terrorist groups,” Bush promised.
However, more recently former Sec. of State Powell has described that speech as a “blot” on his record; has said he felt “terrible” about it when he learned he was “misled” about much of the information on which his presentation to the U.N. relied; and has said he was “devastated” to learn that intelligence agents did not come forward to announce their shared uncertainty on several counts.
9/11 and Iraq in Presidential Address since 2003
While his 2003 State of the Union address remains the most notorious exploitation of 9/11 to wage war in Iraq, there is hardly a televised presidential address since then where 9/11 has not been exploited to further the Iraq War agenda. Each State of the Union Address since 9/11 has recalled that tragic day, using its memory emotionally to promote particular controversial policies, above all the war in Iraq. In 2004, Bush began, in a now common pattern, with 9/11 and then moved on to Iraq. “Our greatest responsibility is the active defense of the American people. Twenty-eight months have passed since September the 11th, 2001 — over two years without an attack on American soil — and it is tempting to believe that the danger is behind us.” Ditto for 2005. How about 2006?
"Terrorists like bin Laden are serious about mass murder — and all of us must take their declared intentions seriously. They seek to impose a heartless system of totalitarian control throughout the Middle East, and arm themselves with weapons of mass murder. ….Their aim is to seize power in Iraq, and use it as a safe haven to launch attacks against America and the world."
At the 60th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France, Bush went so far as to equate 9/11 with Nazi attacks, and Iraq with World War II (via an emotional, Private-Ryanesque description of D-Day sacrifices) only to punish his local audience for deserting their “friends” in the Iraq War.
Unsurprisingly, Bush’s Second Inaugural Address last year took the familiar form. Bush invoked 9/11 biblically for some of his audience as a “Day of Fire” which “came” almost supernaturally, only to go on and once again transfer that affective reservoir of hurt, anger, and vengeance to the Iraq War, which was a campaign, he claimed, to defeat tyranny and propagate freedom.
Article comments
1 - Mark Schannon
Very powerful peace. You make it clear that neither side has shown much courage or integrity through this terrible time.
Sigh...
In Jameson Veritas.
2 - Neelan
US also adopts double standards in dealing with terrorism.On the one hand it fights terrorism and on the other it takes the help of Mushraf in Pakistan .Since 1947,Pakistan has been training people in terrorism and has been tagetting India.Never has US or any other country condemned it.In fact,it seems,the Western countries have taken this up as an opportunity to sell arms.What has resulted is that Pak and other pan islamic nations have got support all along. and they had their training camps .And no one was bothered as long as India was targeted. Unfortunately,no one from the Islamic intelligentia have also ever condemned terrorist attacks on India ,by Pak trained militants.Even now,terrorist training camps are active inside Pakistan.Mr.Bush has to undersatnd taht
Death is same -whether it is in USA or India.
3 - jayson
Thanks, Mark. And Neelan, I agree. The "U.S." as a composite of different rulers/parties throughout the 20th Century (to say nothing of the 19th)has been ethically fickle in its foreign policy and valuation of human life. As you know, Chalmers Johnson has referred to this as blowback.
best,
Jayson
4 - Nancy
Excellent article, which just fuels my ongoing rage at & loathing of the current adminstration as well as the scumbags of both parties currently infesting congress. Unfortunately politics always seems to attract the lowest of the low ethically & morally, and they in turn infect & corrupt everything & everyone around them. As with any nest of vermin, I think we need a good fumigation of both congress & the administration, and then start over from scratch. It has become painfully obvious there isn't anything these bastards won't stoop to, for self-aggrandizement, retention of power, or continued opportunity to plunder & gorge at the public trough.