If you trace the concept of "victory" in his remarks on Iraq, and those of subordinates, you discover a war that was won three and a half years ago, and today has barely started.
I'll put it in timeline format.
May 1, 2003 : "Mission Accomplished" -
The White House claimed that the banner was somebody else's idea and that Bush didn't declare victory in so many words. But Bush did use the word "victory," saying that Iraq was "one victory in a war on terror ... " And as I recall, the occasion was pretty triumphal. Perhaps you remember differently. And in his radio address two days later, Bush used the term "victory" unabashedly.
August 19, 2004 :
Every progress made in Iraq since the collapse of Saddam's regime is a victory against the terrorists and enemies of Iraq.
May 1, 2006 :
White House press secretary Scott McClellan was asked whether "victory" had been achieved in Iraq. He said, "We're making real progress on our plan for victory. ... We are on the path to victory. We are winning in Iraq. But there is more work to do.
August 28, 2006 :
criticizing "self-defeating pessimism," Vice President Cheney said there are "only two options in Iraq—victory or defeat."
August 31, 2006 :
On Aug. 31, Bush said that "victory in Iraq will be difficult and it will require more sacrifice."
Septtember 11, 2006 :
We are now in the early hours of this struggle between tyranny and freedom.
You'd think after three years of war, we'd be closer to victory, not further from it!
2 comments:
That's a brilliant column, and even more amusing in timeline format.
I thought so too.
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