Bush Admits He Targeted Saddam from the Start

[Dover]

Bush Admits He Targeted Saddam from the Start

January 13, 2004 by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Comments could boost criticism of president's case for war against Iraq

WASHINGTON -- President Bush acknowledged for the first time yesterday that he was mapping preparations to topple Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein as soon as he took office.

Bush's comments came in response to former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill's contention in a new book that the chief executive was gunning for Saddam nine months before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and two years before the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Bush's comments appeared likely to stoke campaign claims by Democratic rivals for the White House that the president was planning to attack Iraq, possibly in retaliation for Saddam's attempted 1993 assassination of his father, former President Bush.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0113-01.htm

[Davis_X_Machina]

1. Bush could roger his dog....

on the South Lawn of the White House on network television and still not see his approval numbers go below 50%.

Why not admit he had a hard-on for Saddam from Day One?

It's not like he'll pay any price for the admission.

He's daring any of the poodle press to step off the reservation.

Of course the "Hooh-Ah" chorus will only complain that he didn't 'do' Iraq when first the idea came -- more likely was presented -- to him.

Mark my words, the delay in 'taking Saddam out', not its utter bankruptcy as a policy, will be what is complained of, in all but these enlightened and sane circles.

[Dover]

2. Perle admitted this some time ago...before he was asked to step down.

I believe he said it to Novak, in an interview. He was complaining that they had to come up with some valid and accepted reason for an invasion.

So obviously they obliged...whipped up some real doozies!

[cliss]

3. What can you say to comments like this?

We here at the DU all knew that Bush and his plotters were looking for a way to take him out. "Like a cunning drug addict, they look for the weakest link, and attack there" (sorry, can't take credit for that awesome line, some very good DU writer wrote that).

We all knew that he was looking for a way to oust Saddam. 9/11 provided a convenient excuse. We all know a lot of other things, too.

So let's hear about all of it, shall we Bush?

[Moderator]

4. Duplicate, and old news

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=312214