Those of us not susceptible to Bush Derangement Syndrome have always known that "Bush lied, kids died" is a phony story line for the political usage of the democrats; a rallying cry for the angry left; a mental disease with no known cure.
Photo: World Economic Forum, Creative Commons, Flickr
And last week’s Washington Post editorial states this reality loud and clear by citing Sen. John D. Rockefeller and his committee’s report.
Substantiated intelligence information:
“Bush didn’t lie” says WaPo and Sen. Rockefeller’s commission, whose official Senate Intelligence Committee report is lying by reaching conclusions at odds with its own evidence.
On Iraq’s nuclear weapons program?
The president’s statements "were generally substantiated by intelligence community estimates," says the final report of the Committee presided by Rockefeller.
On biological weapons, production capability and those infamous mobile laboratories?
The president’s statements "were substantiated by intelligence information," says the final report of the Committee presided by Rockefeller.
On chemical weapons, then?
"Substantiated by intelligence information," says the final report of the Committee presided by Rockefeller.
On weapons of mass destruction overall?
"Generally substantiated by intelligence information," says the final report of the Committee presided by Rockefeller.
On delivery vehicles such as ballistic missiles?
"Generally substantiated by available intelligence," says the final report of the Committee presided by Rockefeller.
On unmanned aerial vehicles that could be used to deliver WMDs?
"Generally substantiated by intelligence information," says the final report of the Committee presided by Rockefeller.
On statements regarding Iraq’s support for terrorist groups other than al-Qaeda?
Substantiated by intelligence information," says the final report of the Committee presided by Rockefeller.
On statements that Iraq provided safe haven for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and other terrorists with ties to al-Qaeda?
"Substantiated by the intelligence assessments," says the final report of the Committee presided by Rockefeller.
And on statements regarding Iraq’s contacts with al-Qaeda?
"Substantiated by intelligence information," says the final report of the Committee presided by Rockefeller.
In fact, this new Senate Intelligence Committee is in line with the unanimous report back in 2004: "The Committee did not find any evidence that Administration officials attempted to coerce, manipulate, influence or pressure analysts to change their judgments related to Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction capabilities."
How not surprising.
The UN lied, kids died:
Photo: schani, Creative Commons, Flickr
Resolution 1441 (2002), adopted by the Security Council at its 4644th meeting, on 8 November 2002:
Recognizing the threat Iraq’s non-compliance with Council resolutions and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles poses to international peace and security.
At least they could have rejoiced at the removal of Saddam Hussein, a mass-murdering tyrant who killed 300,000 people, started two major wars (against Iran, costing a million lives, and against Kuwait, with 100,000 dead) and ensured the survival of his tyranny for the foreseeable future and the benefits of his so sweet two sons.
When it comes to sadistic mayhem, like routine rape and murder, there has been no worse regime than Saddam.
At least they could have applauded to the fact that for the first time in human history, a super villain of this scale had been caught, tried, and convicted in an open court of law. They could have celebrated this extraordinary victory of civilization over barbarism and applauded the only elected government in the Arab Middle East. One might wonder if they put their Bush Derangement Syndrome ahead of freedom and democracy for the Iraqi people? Nah, that’s probably way too cynical.
Political Alzheimer’s:
The MSM and the Dems could have eventually remembered that since the 1998 Iraqi Freedom Act, enacted by Congress and signed by President Clinton, it was the law of the United Stated of America to seek regime change in Iraq. All those well meaning Congressmen and women should have remembered their own pre-war declarations (see Memory List at end of article). The MSM should have managed to find, with all their resources and superior journalistic training, the very same long list of "Saddam-has-WMDs," "Iraq-is-dangerous-and-we-need-to-do-something-about-it" declarations (see Memory List at end of article).
There are two possible reasons for this political Alzheimer’s:
1) They never thought the Clinton (a.k.a. the felon) Administration could eventually be telling the truth – i.e. that they genuinely did believe Saddam had WMDs.
2) They never thought that one day a real Commander in Chief would draw the necessary conclusions from all those "Iraqi Freedom Act" and other "Iraq and its WMDs are the greatest dangers the U.S. has to face" talks and would eventually take action.
As much as Saddam must have ultimately regretted having led the world to believe that he had WMDs in order to keep Iran at bay while ignoring a potential action from the US, he misunderestimated Bush 43rd and dearly paid the price for it. Following the same patterns, the Dems and MSM must have been dumbfounded, after 8 years of a very vocal but harmless Clinton, that a US President would consequently take action.
In a few years down the road, the world will still remember Bill Clinton for Monica and his South Carolina comments. By then former President Bush will be invited to Baghdad to celebrate the christening of the "George W. Bush Square" and the opening of a memorial paying tribute to all those brave kids who died.
McCain should be honored that his potential presidency be labeled Bush III.
Arnaud Enée was thepanelist.net’s most vociferous conservative commenter until we invited him to write his own column entitled "The Other Side."