Gravest Error was Allowing bin Laden to Escape:
Administration and military officials admit that failing to go after a cornered bin Laden was the "gravest error" in the war on terror. (Washington Post, 4/17/02)
Bush Diverted Critical Resources in the Hunt for bin Laden to Iraq:
Up to half of the intelligence and special forces hunting for bin Laden were diverted from Afghanistan to Iraq. (KnightRidder/Tribune News Service, 9/5/03)
Bush Shifted $700 Million From Afghanistan to Iraq:
In summer 2002, Bush shifted $700 million from supplemental funding for Afghanistan to "preparatory tasks" in the Persian Gulf region aimed at accommodating a massive U.S. troop deployment. (Washington Post, 4/18/04)
Global Terrorism is Increasing:
Terrorist attacks increased from 2002 to 2003, and since 9/11 the number of terrorist incidents around the world has increased to the highest level in 20 years. ("2003 Patterns of Global Terrorism (amended)," U.S. Department of State)
Thousands of Al Qaeda Militants are Operating Globally:
There are an estimated 18,000 militants operating in 60 countries who have been trained by al Qaeda. Al Qaeda has cooperative relationships with at least 20 extremist groups in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. (CRS, 5/23/03; BBC, 5/25/04; 9/11 Commission Report, 7/22/04)
Al Qaeda Regrouping and Strengthening:
While the president has claimed that much of al Qaeda's leadership has been killed or captured, new evidence suggests that the organization is regenerating and bringing in new blood. (New York Times, 8/10/04)
Bin Laden and Al Qaeda Still At Large and Plotting Against America:
Senior administration officials admit that 3 years after 9/11, bin Laden and his chief lieutenants are directing al Qaeda to launch an attack in America this year. And Major General Eric Olson, the commanding general of Combined Joint Task Forces in Afghanistan, admits that the U.S. military has no idea where bin Laden or his top deputy Ayman al-Zawahri are. (New York Times, 7/9/04; AP, 9/11/04)
Members of the President's Own Party Criticized Failure to Plan:
Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN): "Clearly, the administration's planning for the post-conflict phase in Iraq was inadequate." Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE): "We weren't prepared for an occupation. We made a tremendous amount of mistakes. We did essentially go after this in a unilateral way." (Lugar Op-ed, Washington Post, 5/22/03, emphasis added; CNN, "Inside Politics," 7/1/04)
Allowed bin Laden to escape.
Diverted resources from the war on terror.
------$700 million from afghanistan to iraq
------140,000 troops to Iraq
Global Terrorism Increased, and is on a trend upwards.
----------Highest level in 20 years
----------18,000 in 60 countries
----------20 extremist groups
----------Regrouping while Bush fights Iraqis.
----------bin Laden still at large
----------attack planned this year
----------no idea where bin Laden is
----------no clue where al-Zawahri is
Republicans criticize Bush's failures
----------Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN)
----------Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
----------Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Administration and military officials admit that failing to go after a cornered bin Laden was the "gravest error" in the war on terror. (Washington Post, 4/17/02)
Bush Diverted Critical Resources in the Hunt for bin Laden to Iraq:
Up to half of the intelligence and special forces hunting for bin Laden were diverted from Afghanistan to Iraq. (KnightRidder/Tribune News Service, 9/5/03)
Bush Shifted $700 Million From Afghanistan to Iraq:
In summer 2002, Bush shifted $700 million from supplemental funding for Afghanistan to "preparatory tasks" in the Persian Gulf region aimed at accommodating a massive U.S. troop deployment. (Washington Post, 4/18/04)
Global Terrorism is Increasing:
Terrorist attacks increased from 2002 to 2003, and since 9/11 the number of terrorist incidents around the world has increased to the highest level in 20 years. ("2003 Patterns of Global Terrorism (amended)," U.S. Department of State)
Thousands of Al Qaeda Militants are Operating Globally:
There are an estimated 18,000 militants operating in 60 countries who have been trained by al Qaeda. Al Qaeda has cooperative relationships with at least 20 extremist groups in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. (CRS, 5/23/03; BBC, 5/25/04; 9/11 Commission Report, 7/22/04)
Al Qaeda Regrouping and Strengthening:
While the president has claimed that much of al Qaeda's leadership has been killed or captured, new evidence suggests that the organization is regenerating and bringing in new blood. (New York Times, 8/10/04)
Bin Laden and Al Qaeda Still At Large and Plotting Against America:
Senior administration officials admit that 3 years after 9/11, bin Laden and his chief lieutenants are directing al Qaeda to launch an attack in America this year. And Major General Eric Olson, the commanding general of Combined Joint Task Forces in Afghanistan, admits that the U.S. military has no idea where bin Laden or his top deputy Ayman al-Zawahri are. (New York Times, 7/9/04; AP, 9/11/04)
Members of the President's Own Party Criticized Failure to Plan:
Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN): "Clearly, the administration's planning for the post-conflict phase in Iraq was inadequate." Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE): "We weren't prepared for an occupation. We made a tremendous amount of mistakes. We did essentially go after this in a unilateral way." (Lugar Op-ed, Washington Post, 5/22/03, emphasis added; CNN, "Inside Politics," 7/1/04)
Allowed bin Laden to escape.
Diverted resources from the war on terror.
------$700 million from afghanistan to iraq
------140,000 troops to Iraq
Global Terrorism Increased, and is on a trend upwards.
----------Highest level in 20 years
----------18,000 in 60 countries
----------20 extremist groups
----------Regrouping while Bush fights Iraqis.
----------bin Laden still at large
----------attack planned this year
----------no idea where bin Laden is
----------no clue where al-Zawahri is
Republicans criticize Bush's failures
----------Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN)
----------Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
----------Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Eyes rolled back, blank stares... sudden animation at the slightest hint of hate leading to a chorus of visceral, echoing chants of "VIER MEHR JAHREN!" in a soul-deadening cadence. Similarities? Yes, I think so.
Any future unilateral war of aggression using flimsy or forged information against the US - or any country - followed by torture and murder may now draw justification and pardon through parallels with Dub.
Bush Failed in Iraq
Najaf and Fallujah are just two of his most monumental failures in using lethal force on civilians.
Bush runs up 8 trillion dollar deficit
Conservative means liberal spender. Bush introduces new spending phrase "Borrow and spend, because deficits don't matter."
Bush's advisors - Donald Rumsfeld
Was surprised by 4 generals and 54 soldiers torturning and killing prisoners in Gitmo, Afghanistan, and Abu Ghraib.Can't remember anyone saying Saddam had nuclear weapons.Can't remember anyone saying Iraq could deploy WMD in 15 minutes.About WMD "we know where they are"Couldn't remember saying Saddam was an immediate threat.
Bush's Advisors - Dick Cheney
"We believe he has, in fact, reconstituted Nuclear Weapons." - Dick Cheney
Bush's advisors - Colin Powell
Presented forged information to the UN
Bush's advisors - Condoleezza Rice
She can't remember Uranium for three months.
Najaf and Fallujah are just two of his most monumental failures in using lethal force on civilians.
Bush runs up 8 trillion dollar deficit
Conservative means liberal spender. Bush introduces new spending phrase "Borrow and spend, because deficits don't matter."
Bush's advisors - Donald Rumsfeld
Was surprised by 4 generals and 54 soldiers torturning and killing prisoners in Gitmo, Afghanistan, and Abu Ghraib.Can't remember anyone saying Saddam had nuclear weapons.Can't remember anyone saying Iraq could deploy WMD in 15 minutes.About WMD "we know where they are"Couldn't remember saying Saddam was an immediate threat.
Bush's Advisors - Dick Cheney
"We believe he has, in fact, reconstituted Nuclear Weapons." - Dick Cheney
Bush's advisors - Colin Powell
Presented forged information to the UN
Bush's advisors - Condoleezza Rice
She can't remember Uranium for three months.
The conspirators in the first WTC bombing were all captured and are currently in jail or dead. Multiple bomb threats were taking seriously and several terrorists were captured during the period following the bombings. Clinton had a plan to invade Afghanastan, the same plan used by Bush in 2002 but he didn't use it because the right wing was busy yelling "wag the dog".
If anyone is responsible for 9/11 its Rush and company. As for the economy, the tech bubble also burst in 98 but because of sound economic planning and a solid U.S. budget the downturn was short lived. Had Bush not squandered the budget surplus in a corporate welfare system then there would have been a reserve fund and the downturn would have been over quickly.
If anyone is responsible for 9/11 its Rush and company. As for the economy, the tech bubble also burst in 98 but because of sound economic planning and a solid U.S. budget the downturn was short lived. Had Bush not squandered the budget surplus in a corporate welfare system then there would have been a reserve fund and the downturn would have been over quickly.
