Iraqi War Revisionism (Instapundit post)

Instapundit ^ | 4/14/2005 | Glenn Reynolds

[withteeth]

MORE HISTORICAL REVISIONISM: "I don't recall any prewar speeches about delivering democracy to the Middle East."

Hmm. Must've missed the 2003 State of the Union address, where Bush said:

Different threats require different strategies. In Iran we continue to see a government that represses its people, pursues weapons of mass destruction and supports terror.

We also see Iranian citizens risking intimidation and death as they speak out for liberty and human rights and democracy. Iranians, like all people, have a right to choose their own government, and determine their own destiny, and the United States supports their aspirations to live in freedom. . . .

And tonight I have a message for the brave and oppressed people of Iraq: Your enemy is not surrounding your country, your enemy is ruling your country.

And the day he and his regime are removed from power will be the day of your liberation. . . .

Americans are a free people, who know that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world; it is God's gift to humanity.

Just, you know, correcting the record.

[withteeth]

There's much more, and natch, there are a lot of links in the body of the article. You'll have to go to instapundit.com to get those.

One thing I'll add: Bush's speech in June of 2002 spelled out Arafat's demise too. Bush was very clear that corrupt dictators weren't going to given any respect anymore, or be overlooked during the war against Jihad.

This ridiculous rewriting of the pre-war debate is practically in marble-stone already. Strange as it sounds, I agree that people simply weren't paying much attention to Bush's speeches.

Not even the "pros" at Newsweek.

[blinachka]

Hmm. Must've missed the 2003 State of the Union address, where Bush said:

And what about the address to the joint session of Congress on September 20, 2001?

Address To Congress 9/20/01

In that address he said:

Some speak of an age of terror. I know there are struggles ahead, and dangers to face. But this country will define our times, not be defined by them. As long as the United States of America is determined and strong, this will not be an age of terror; this will be an age of liberty, here and across the world.

And:

Great harm has been done to us. We have suffered great loss. And in our grief and anger we have found our mission and our moment. Freedom and fear are at war. The advance of human freedom -- the great achievement of our time, and the great hope of every time -- now depends on us. Our nation -- this generation -- will lift a dark threat of violence from our people and our future. We will rally the world to this cause by our efforts, by our courage. We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail.

(This still brings tears to my eyes...)

God Bless America! : )

[withteeth]

"Conventional wisdom" commentators pretend these ideas weren't spelled out. At the same time the Left is shocked that Bush spoke of overthrowing Saddam long before 9-11.

I do recommend people go to instapundit and follow the links for further discussion. The absurd amnesia/ deliberate revisionism of the left should be a study in political science.

[roses of sharon]

The war was named, 'Operation Iraqi Freedom'.

The WH web site as links to all his speeches, and so do think tanks he spoke at, ie, I think Heritage has a big speech on Iraq and ME and the need for democracy, ect.