Bush: "One of the untold stories of Iraq is that we explored the diplomacy a lot"

[sabra]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article4107525.ece?loc=interstitialskip

<snip>

But, said Mr Bush, what most people “don't know is that it's very painful — at least it has been for me — to put youngsters in harm's way”.

He adds: “I try to meet with as many of the families as I can. And I have an obligation to comfort and console as best as I possibly can. I also have an obligation to make sure that those lives were not lost in vain.”

He added: “One of the untold stories of Iraq is that we explored the diplomacy a lot — we all wanted to solve this ‘disclose, disarm, or face serious consequences' in a diplomatic fashion. After all, I went to the United Nations Security Council.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article387374.ece

The secret Downing Street memo

SECRET AND STRICTLY PERSONAL - UK EYES ONLY


...

This record is extremely sensitive. No further copies should be made. It should be shown only to those with a genuine need to know its contents.

John Scarlett summarised the intelligence and latest JIC assessment. Saddam's regime was tough and based on extreme fear. The only way to overthrow it was likely to be by massive military action. Saddam was worried and expected an attack, probably by air and land, but he was not convinced that it would be immediate or overwhelming. His regime expected their neighbours to line up with the US. Saddam knew that regular army morale was poor. Real support for Saddam among the public was probably narrowly based.

C reported on his recent talks in Washington. There was a perceptible shift in attitude. Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy. The NSC had no patience with the UN route, and no enthusiasm for publishing material on the Iraqi regime's record. There was little discussion in Washington of the aftermath after military action.

[SpiralHawk]

1. "Ooops. I meant to say that we explored the 'dip' a lot. Smirk." - Commander AWOL

[kentuck]

2. Another lie by Bush.

Why can't he just keep his mouth shut?

[peekaloo]

3. "and by exploring I mean ignored".

[Bob Dobbs]

4. 3 busholini quotes, 3 busholini lies

The criminal is a sociopath.

[libodem]

8. ding, ding, ding,

That would be right, Bob.

[tulsakatz]

5. he doesn't even know what diplomacy is!!

the diplomacy? He doesn't even know how to use the word in a sentence!!

They clearly don't believe in talking to their enemies and one way you solve problems in a diplomatic way is by talking. He thinks just because he went to the UN, that means he used diplomacy......that's not necessarily diplomacy.

[aquart]

6. LOL! Does he think we weren't there?

[raccoon]

7. That would be funny if it wasn't so tragic. nt

[Lars39]

9. Bush: "One of the untold stories of Iraq is that we explored the diplomacy a lot"

"We also went to the zoo and museum."

[shraby]

10. Re-writing history a bit? Hmmm, Mr. Bush??

[KG]

11. he has all the gravitas of a 3rd grader.

how can anybody listen to this man speak and not conclude he's a total imbecile?

[Hydra]

12. He must think we're stupid

I STILL remember watching this on the MSM news:

Bush: Time is running out on Saddam Hussein. He must disarm. I'm sick and tired of games and deception. And that's my view of timetables.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/01/20030114-2.html

"Sick and tired" of having to wait for the UN to approve his attack? That's very diplomatic of him.

[BurtWorm]

13. What a moron.

What more can you say? He's a vapid twit.

[wryter2000]

14. Lying sack of crap

What you actually said, a-hole, "F Saddam. We're taking him out." Only, you didn't shorten the F word.

[GracieMansion]

15. What a laugh.

[Johonny]

16. Infact the weapon inspectors were exploring too well

That's why I had to invade before the American public knew 100 % I was lying out my ass.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. WHAT Diplomacy????

A Congressional resolution (unfortunately endorsed by members of BOTH parties) authorizing the President to use military force against Iraq if they didn't comply with weapons inspections and "disarm"???

Powell's February 2003 UN smorgasboard "presentation"?????

Telling the UN inspectors to LEAVE Iraq BEFORE their work was done and BEFORE they had actually found any WMD so that he could get down to invading it..........only to later find out that Iraq had no WMD after all?????

Are THESE things Bush's idea of "diplomacy"????

What are some of the as-yet-untold things that Bush and his (mis-)administration did DIPLOMATICALLY to "avoid" our invasion????

Did Donald Rumsfeld (his former personal relationship with Saddam could've been useful), Colin Powell, Condi Rice, or ANYBODY from the Bush (mis-)administration meet with Saddam and/or his government prior to the invasion and TALK with them directly about our concerns??? Oh. Wait a minute. I forgot that THEY don't talk to our "enemies". Note to Iran: You may as well give up any real negotiations or diplomacy about your nuclear program and start preparing yourselves for an attack because you can bet that as long as Bush/Cheney are in office and either they or Israel is ready to start bombing you THEY WILL.

Did the UN actually sanction our invasion of Iraq????? Did we actually GET a second UN resolution through authorizing our invasion??? I seem to remember that Bush/Powell just gave up on a second resolution knowing that it would FAIL to win support among the Security Council and/or avoid a veto. Hmmm....the rest of the world (some of whom resided in countries MUCH closer in proximity to Iraq than us) didn't feel quite as threatened by Saddam's growing arsenal of (non-existent) WMDs. Why was that? Did Bush et. al ever try to find out? Of course, as incurious as we all know him to be, he didn't and he decided to invade Iraq anyway.

I can't wait to find out from Bush and other current (and former members) of his (mis-)administration the rest of the heroic and unsung story of how they attempted every possible diplomatic option with Saddam and his regime before launching their invasion of Iraq..................................................................................................
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