Believing Their Own Propaganda

This morning, while taking questions from reporters, the President told Helen Thomas:

I also saw a threat in Iraq. I was hoping to solve this problem diplomatically. That's why I went to the Security Council. That's why it was important to pass 1441, which was unanimously passed.

And the world said, Disarm, disclose or face serious consequences. And therefore, we worked with the world. We worked to make sure that Saddam Hussein heard the message of the world.

And when he chose to deny the inspectors, when he chose not to disclose, then I had the difficult decision to make to remove him. And we did. And the world is safer for it.

But, of course, that isn't the way it happened. It really wasn't that long ago. Some of us actually remember, and the rest could just google "timeline iraq inspection war" and find it. The President is living in a delusion.

Saddam had allowed inspectors into the country, and they were there until just before we attacked, when they were evacutated. He made disclosures, but we dismissed them. (When you don't have any WMDs, it's probably hard to disclose their locations.) Chief UN inspector Hans Blix made reports saying that Iraq was cooperating in some ways, but not yet in others. The inspectors wanted more time to complete their work. After failing to talk the UN Security Council into attacking in the face of this information, Bush essentially told the inspectors to get the hell out of the way, and attacked.

Bush didn't make a 'difficult decision' to take Saddam out after he refused inspections, he made the decision to take Saddam out before he moved into the White House. He wanted Saddam to refuse inspections, so there would be a pretext, but Saddam wouldn't play along. Bush decided he didn't need that pretext anyway, and the rest is sad history. It wasn't a noble, difficult decision made in cooperation with the rest of the world. For Mr. Bush to claim it was would be pathetic, if it weren't so pathological.

To get the full infuriating and horrifying feel of Bush's statement, you have to watch him making it. The indispensible Crooks and Liars has the video.

Just for the purposes of recalling details the President seems to have forgotten, let's just review a timeline, this one from those peaceniks at the American Friends Service Committee.

Nov. 8, 2002- The UN Security Council unanimously approves Resolution 1441, imposing tough new arms inspections on Iraq and precise, unambiguous definitions of what constitutes a “material breach.” Should Iraq violate the resolution, it faces “serious consequences,” which the Security Council would determine.

Nov. 27, 2002- Weapons inspections resume in Iraq under supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency and UN experts.

Dec. 7, 2002- Iraq submits a 12,000-page declaration on its chemical, biological, and nuclear activities, claiming it has no banned weapons.

Dec. 10, 2002- International Human Rights Day, commemorated by more than 150 U.S. cities with action, rallies, and vigils opposing war against Iraq. One theme is, “Let the inspectors work.”

Dec. 21, 2002- President Bush approves the deployment of U.S. troops to the Gulf region. It is estimated that by March, 200,000 troops will be stationed there. British and Australian troops will join them in the coming months.

Jan. 27, 2003- The UN Weapons Inspectors' formal report on Iraq is critical, though not damning. Chief UN Weapons Inspector Hans Blix states, “ Iraq appears not to have come to a genuine acceptance, not even today, of the disarmament that was demanded of it.”

Jan. 27, 2003- Bush receives a letter signed by 130 members of the House of Representatives, urging him to “let the inspectors work.”

Jan. 28, 2003- In his state of the union address, President Bush states Saddam Hussein “is not disarming. To the contrary, he is deceiving.” He goes on to claim that the Iraqi leader “has shown utter contempt for the United Nations and the opinion of the world.” He announces he is ready to attack Iraq , even without a UN mandate.

Feb. 14, 2003- In a report to the UN, Hans Blix indicates progress has been made in Iraq's cooperation. Both pro-war and anti-war nations feel the report supports their point of view.

Feb. 15, 2003- “The World Says No to War,” with massive peace demonstrations around the world, is the largest coordinated day of protest in world history, with more than 600 cities participating.

Feb. 22, 2003- Hans Blix orders Iraq to destroy its Al Samoud 2 missiles by March 1 because the UN inspectors have determined the missiles have an illegal range limit.

Feb. 24, 2003- The United States , Great Britain , and Spain submit a proposed resolution to the UN Security Council stating, “ Iraq has failed to take the final opportunity afforded to it in Resolution 1441.” The resolution concludes it is time to authorize use of military force. France , Germany , and Russia submit an informal counter-resolution, stating that inspections should be intensified and extended to ensure there is “a real chance for the peaceful settlement of this crisis” and that “the military option should only be a last resort.”

March 1, 2003- Iraq begins destroying its Al Samoud missiles.

March 7, 2003- Hans Blix reports Iraq has accelerated its cooperation, but inspectors need more time to verify Iraq's compliance.

March 12, 2003- New York City passes a city council resolution opposing a preemptive/unilateral war against Iraq , joining more than 150 other U.S. cities, including Philadelphia , Chicago , and Los Angeles. “We, of all cities, must uphold the preciousness and sanctity of human life,” says Councilman Alan Gerson, a Democrat whose district includes the World Trade Center site, where 2,792 people were killed on Sept. 11, 2001.

Feb. 24–March 14, 2003- The United States and Great Britain's intense lobbying efforts among UN Security Council members yields support only from Spain and Bulgaria. Since nine votes (and no vetoes from the five permanent members) out of fifteen are required for the resolution's passage, the United States decides not to call for a vote on the resolution.

March 17, 2003- Great Britain's ambassador to the UN says the diplomatic process on Iraq has ended. Arms inspectors evacuate. Pres. George W. Bush gives Saddam Hussein and his sons 48 hours to leave Iraq or face war.

March 19, 2003- Invasion of Iraq begins when the United States launches Operation Iraqi Freedom. Called a “decapitation attack,” the initial air strike of the war targets Saddam Hussein and other Iraqi leaders in Baghdad , with unclear results.