First -- and this is really the overarching principle -- the United States seeks to liberate Iraq, not occupy Iraq . . . If the President should decide to use force, let me assure you again that the United States would be committed to liberating the people of Iraq, not becoming an occupation force.
Paul Wolfowitz
Speech to Iraqi-American Community
February 23, 2003
The United States has no intention of determining the precise form of Iraq's new government. That choice belongs to the Iraqi people. Yet, we will ensure that one brutal dictator is not replaced by another. All Iraqis must have a voice in the new government . . .
George W. Bush
Speech to the American Enterprise Institute
February 26, 2003
We will help the Iraqi people to find the benefits and assume the duties of self-government. The form of those institutions will arise from Iraq's own culture and its own choices.
George W. Bush
Speech at MacDill AFB
March 26, 2003
But as soon as possible, we want to have working alongside the commander an interim Iraqi authority, people representing the people of Iraq. And, as that authority grows and gets greater credibility from the people of Iraq, we want to turn over more and more responsibilities to them.
Colin Powell
Press Conference
March 26, 2003
The goal is an Iraq that stands on its own feet and that governs itself in freedom and in unity and with respect for the rights of all its citizens. We'd like to get to that goal as quickly as possible.
Paul Wolfowitz
Interview with 60 Minutes II
April 1, 2003
I can assure you that we all want to end this as soon as possible, so we can get on with the task of allowing the Iraqi people to form a new government.
Colin Powell
Press Conference in Belgrade
April 2, 2003
We will leave Iraq completely in the hands of Iraqis as quickly as possible.
Condoleeza Rice
Press Briefing
April 4, 2003
We want to see a situation where power and responsibility is transferred as quickly as possible to the Iraqis themselves, with as much international assistance as possible . . .We have no desire to occupy Iraq . . .
Paul Wolfowitz
Testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee
April 10, 2003
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, could you give us an idea of your views of the interim administration (of Iraq), how quickly it might be set up . . . ?
SECRETARY POWELL: We are anxious to move quickly now that the day of liberation is drawing near. I don't know when it will happen. But, certainly, we can see what's going to happen in the not-too-distant future, we hope.
Colin Powell
Press Conference
April 4, 2003
The task is to create an environment that is sufficiently permissive that the Iraqi people can fashion a new government. And what they will do is come together in one way or another and select an interim authority of some kind. Then that group will propose a constitution and a more permanent authority of some kind. And over some period of months, the Iraqis will have their government selected by Iraqi people.
Donald Rumsfeld
Meet the Press
April 13, 2003
After (Gen. Jay Garner) finishes his job of restoring basic services, the interim Iraqi authority will be established. And that interim authority will be an authority of Iraqis, chosen by Iraqis. And it will be able to function as an authority in the country immediately after Gen. Garner's job is finished, which should be only a few weeks.
Ahmed Chalabi, Chairman of the Iraqi National Congress
Meet the Press
April 13, 2003
I think what we are so proud of is governments which permit their populace to be involved in a process that provides them freedom, provides them liberty. And I think what we will see in the months and years ahead in Iraq will provide a bit of a model for how that can be done . . . . because, Tony, it will be the Iraqi people who decide how to do that, and they will do it on their terms.
Gen. Tommy Franks
Fox News Interview
April 13, 2003
Soon Iraqis will be able to give us guidance about how to move forward and create an Iraqi interim authority. And that authority will begin to allow Iraqis to have sovereignty over their country and in a way that Iraqis will choose; they will create an Iraqi Government.
Marc Grossman, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs
Interview with Free Iraqi Television
April 16, 2003
The coalition supports the formation, as soon as possible, of the Iraqi Interim Authority -- a transitional administration, run by Iraqis, until a government is established by the people of Iraq through elections. The Interim Authority should be broad-based and fully representative.
Zalmay Khalilzad, Special U.S. Envoy to Iraq
Wall Street Journal op-ed
April 17, 2003
The new ruler of Iraq is going to be an Iraqi. I don't rule anything.
Gen. Jay Garner
Press Interview
April 21, 2003
I think you'll begin to see the governmental process start next week, by the end of next week. It will have Iraqi faces on it. It will be governed by the Iraqis.
Gen. Jay Garner
Press Conference in Baghdad
April 24, 2003
If you're suggesting, how would we feel about an Iranian-type government with a few clerics running everything in the country, the answer is: That isn't going to happen.
Donald Rumsfield
Interview with Associated Press
April 24, 2003
As freedom takes hold in Iraq, the Iraqi people will choose their own leaders and their own government. America has no intention of imposing our form of government or our culture. Yet, we will ensure that all Iraqis have a voice in the new government . . .
George W. Bush
Speech in Dearborne, Michigan
April 28, 2003
By the middle of (this) month, you'll really see a beginning of a nucleus of an Iraqi government with an Iraqi face on it that is dealing with the coalition.
Gen. Jay Garner
Press Conference
May 5, 2003
Soon, Iraqis from every ethnic group will choose members of an interim authority. The people of Iraq are building a free society from the ground up, and they are able to do so because the dictator and his regime are no more.
George W. Bush
Address at the University of South Carolina
May 9, 2003
We will provide the conditions for Iraqis to govern themselves in the future. To that end, the Coalition Provisional Authority will work with responsible Iraqis to begin the process of establishing a government representative of all the Iraqi people.
L. Paul Bremer, Special Envoy to Iraq
Press Conference in Baghdad
May 15, 2003
When Iraqi officials are in a position to shoulder their country's responsibilities, when they have in place the necessary political and other structures to provide food, security and the other necessities, the coalition will have a strong interest in seeing them run their own affairs.
Douglas Feith, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy
Testimony Before the House International Relations Committee
May 15, 2003
We are interested in the quick creation of an Iraqi interim authority and in Iraq's democracy.
Marc Grossman, Undersecretary of State
Interview with China Phoenix TV
May 16, 2003
I've read a report in the American press about a delay (in the transitional authority). I don't know where these stories are coming from because we haven't delayed anything.
L. Paul Bremer
Remarks to Press in Mosul
May 18, 2003
I would think we are talking about more like sometime in July to get a national conference put together.
L. Paul Bremer
Remarks to Reporters in Baghdad
May 21, 2003
As Thomas Jefferson put it, "we are not to expect to be translated from despotism to liberty in a featherbed." It took time and patience, but eventually our Founders got it right -- and we hope so will the people of Iraq -- over time.
Donald Rumsfeld
Wall Street Journal op-ed
May 27, 2003
While our goal is to put functional and political authority in the hands of Iraqis as soon as possible, the Coalition Provisional Authority has the responsibility to fill the vacuum of power . . . by asserting temporary authority over the country. The coalition will do so. It will not tolerate self-appointed "leaders."
Donald Rumsfeld
Speech to the Council on Foreign Relations
May 27, 2003
It will be difficult for a free political life in Iraq to flourish until the conditions are set, but it is a project that we're working on.
Douglas Feith, Undersecretary of Defense
Foreign Press Briefing
May 28, 2003
They told us, "Liberation now," and then they made it occupation. Bush said he was a liberator, not an occupier, and we supported the United States on this basis.
Ahmed Chalabi, Chairman of the Iraqi National Congress
Interview with Trudy Rubin, Philadelphia Inquirer columnist
May 29, 2003
Question: When do you think there might be a government in place, even a provisional government in place in Iraq?
Rumsfeld: I don't know.
Donald Rumsfeld
Infinity Radio Town Hall
May 29, 2003
The CPA (Coalition Provisional Authority) is going to be in charge until there is a sovereign representative, democratic Iraqi government chosen.
Anonymous CPA Official
Interview with The Washington Times
June 2, 2003
The first unprovoked War. Extortion.
Read a book called "Forbidden Truth: Secret US -Taliban Oil Diplomacy and the failed hunt for Bin Laden"
In my view, if George W Bush had not threatened an invasion of Afghanistan before 9-11-2001 because the Taliban refused to allow the US to build an oil pipeline through Afghanistan, 2823 people would probably have not gotten killed and the Twin Towers would not have gotten destroyed that George W Bush failed to defend and similarly for part of the Pentagon.
Let us investigate the Bush administration for extortion of a sovereign government. I don't condone what the Taliban did as a governemnt did before and after 9-11-2001 nor do I condone what AL Qaeda did also but George W Bush should not have extorted Aghanistan for an oil pipeline.
Oh, I don't blame America first. I blame Republicans first.
Please sign this petition and tell others to sign it too. We can advance a progressive agenda in the United States.
Tell Congress that you don't support the Republican agenda.
Sign the petition at
http://www.thePetitionSite.com/takeaction/365235275
The George W Bush 2000 stolen election commemorative
gold coin
http://www.stolenelectioncoin.com
All profits go to charity.
http://lunaville.com/WMD/democracy.aspx
The Quotemeister strikes again! What was that that Emerson said about quotations? Well, forget it, he never lived to read Billmon.
I don't think this piece has quite the power of the WMD piece, but that's not Billmon's fault. These guys just sound more grandiose talking about fears of weaponry than they do about democracy. Who'd have thunk it?
Unfortunately, a long occupation is the corner Bush's war has painted us into. The popular idea that we need to bring our troops as soon as possible isn't an option; it wasn't an option after the start of the war, and the administration is realizing that it's not an option now.
The prospect of Iraqi democracy without U.S. interference is rightly off the table at this point, given the persistent lawlessness and chaos.
Let 'em eat crow, that's what I say.
It may have been premature to use the term "quagmire" within the opening weeks of the war, but it seems the best way to describe the U.S. position now.
It may have been premature to use the term "quagmire" within the opening weeks of the war, but it seems the best way to describe the U.S. position now.
And it'll be even more appropriate when we just can't seem to extricate ourselves in a couple of years.
Billmon, once again, you bring forth a list of incredible timeliness. Bravo!
I don't think this piece has quite the power of the WMD piece
Well, considering the reaction to the first piece, you can't blame me for trying to get a second bite out of the apple . . .
Uh-oh, has success already ruined you, Billmon? :)
Nice followup. Add it to the Tangled Web Database!
How about some more pre-war statements? Bush to the AEI in Feb:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030226-11.html
"The United States has no intention of determining the precise form of Iraq's new government. That choice belongs to the Iraqi people. Yet, we will ensure that one brutal dictator is not replaced by another. All Iraqis must have a voice in the new government, and all citizens must have their rights protected."
Nice followup. Add it to the Tangled Web Database!
Already done
Bill, are you getting paid for this? Seriously, man, this is good stuff. I think I'm in love (well, metaphorically speaking). You've hooked another regular.
Thanks for keeping the heat on.
bad link in billmon.org
"the new york times through history" actually points to a skit on rumsfeld rattling his tin cup for replacement troops
great site, btw
Right on again, my man!
This format has legs. I've been trying my hand at re-framing things metaphorically, ala "Metaphor and War, again." I figure telling the stories is a part of changing people's minds. My latest missive: Bush as a power-junkie, lying to get his fix
How about some more pre-war statements? Bush to the AEI in Feb:
Thanks. I'd forgotten about that little fantasy session. I added the quote.
bad link in billmon.org
"the new york times through history" actually points to a skit on rumsfeld rattling his tin cup for replacement troops.
Fixed. Thanks for the tip.
totally brilliant. when i got to the end-
Rumsfeld "I don't know."
I fell out of my chair.
Thanks So Much.
DUUUUUDE!
I have a suggestion for your next trick: the economy.
1) Job creation (i.e., "Do what I say, and it will create 10000 jobs!")
2) Tax cuts and economic prosperity from the 2001 tax cut campaign.
3) Reasoning for tax cuts from the time Bush first mentions it in the 2000 campaign until now. (Many reasons, many contradictions, one solution!)
This was just posted on the Kos thread drawing attention to Billmon's great work. It may be of interest to Billmon and the fine folks here too.
Kos said: If Iraqi Democracy is anything like the Kuwaiti Democracy Poppy promised after GWI, then we're in for a long, long wait.
So, Kos, who then do you think actually calls the shots in Kuwait?
Kuwait has one of the squawkiest most watchable parliaments I have ever seen. All the Ministers report to it - with some trepidation. It approves budgets. I was in Kuwait to see the Minister of Finance once - and there was none: the whole government had resigned to protest (note this) some fundamentalist blackmail.
The Emir is not much more intrusive in its processes than, say, the Queen of England.
Its a national pasttime. The English-language paper and Arab-language papers report on it with great gusto - kind of like reporting on a Brazilian soccer match.
Moreover they yak politics just as much as we do. There is a continuous nightly series of political forums held in people's homes - something that you find in other Arab states - which filters consensus up to the parliament level.
It may not beat the corrupt log-jam in Washington (ha ha!) but it could be a fine model for Iraq.
A google of "Kuwait parliament" produces 131,000 hits. Go see.
Here's one more
Iraqis not ready for democracy, says Blair's envoy
THE British diplomat charged with bringing democracy to Iraq said yesterday that the country’s political culture was too weak, and radicals too powerful, to proceed with elections for an interim government.
In a frank admission that London and Washington had underestimated the difficulty of rebuilding Iraq, John Sawers, Tony Blair’s special envoy, told The Times that the failure to find Saddam Hussein was making the political process more difficult, and that the coalition had failed to realise how much the Iraqis’ “attitude problems” after decades of oppression would hinder reconstruction.
I don't know if it counts as a worthy quote since it was said by a Brit. But, then again, the Brits were more "sincere" in the humanitarian approach of this abortion of a war.
The above on Kuwait was posted by the below.
Re: Kuwait as a model for Iraq:
Their parliamentary might be admirable for its lively discussion, but how can you call Kuwait a functioning democracy when it continues to disenfranchise women?
"All male citizens over 21 years of age and who can trace their ancestry in Kuwait to before 1920 are entitled to vote"
Oops - should have read "parliament"
To CEE at 5.23. Was the US a functioning democracy in its first 100 plus years? Was it a FD prior to blacks getting the vote? Most people think yes. Not perfect - but not another animal entirely.
On Kuwait. First, they are moving in that direction as a google will show you. Second, women already have quite some influence via the pow-wows. And third, women rise quite easily to senior posts. And they are extremely managerial, too, something visitors like me were often very grateful for.
You know, most if not all of the "it's their country and their government" statements from US functionaries prior to the invasion revealed the bottomless ignorance and hapless intelligence that underpinned the post-Saddam "planning" for a "democratic Iraq". The utter confusion, revolving-door personnel changes, and State-DOD infighting is illustrative of the wankerism attendant to this whole peradventure, especially the ideological opposition to "nation-building" that informs the war-makers in the Pentagon. They hoped beyond hope that a post-war secular, ready-to-go, INC-based regime would smoothly step in and carry on, with only minimal involvement - save financial support - by the US. This fools actually believed this!. Now we are seeing the consequences of this criminal stupidity.
Here's another quotation from the April 1 interview of Wolfowitz on 60 Minutes II. Regarding the Iraqi-Americans that the DoD embedded with the invasion forces ...
Because these are people we really believe understand what this country is about and therefore understand what we'd really like to see in Iraq. That's priceless.
It's all about priorities ...
This is an ad hoc operation, glued together over about four or five weeks' time.
General Jay Garner
Testimony to US Congress -- May 13, 2003
Billmon you are wonderful!
I must distribute this to freinds - may I do so without fear of retribution?
You could probably put together a pretty good one about the flourishing "democracy" that we've established in Afghanistan, too. Good work.
Billmon,
I sure do like what you've done here. You just have to publish these in book form and send them to every dem who's running for pres. They need you.
I look forward to an updated version after another year or so of administration backpeddling.
I look forward to an updated version after another year or so of administration backpeddling.
Well I thought I'd try to get ahead of the curve on this one . . .
I must distribute this to freinds - may I do so without fear of retribution?
Go for it SgtD.
Here's another:
Richard Perle, April? 2003: "We will hand over power quickly—not in years, maybe not even in months—to give Iraqis a chance to shape their own destiny."
http://foreignpolicy.com/issue_mayjune_2003/debate.html
That's one a beauty. Perle should have remembered those long lead times on publication.
Billmon, You are magnificent! Your chronologies are both penetrating and incredibly apposite. It is like seeing the flash and brilliance of truth itself. Keep up your fine work. I too would like to see a list of Administration statements re the actual decision to go to war with Iraq.
-- You could probably put together a pretty good one about the flourishing "democracy" that we've established in Afghanistan, too. Good work.
And on the drug war in Columbia too, if you get bored. Nice stuff.
Great job again, Billmon.
You know, I used to work at a call center that took incoming calls to set up new accounts and troubleshooting for a cell phone provider. During our training, one of the main points they hammered into our heads was "under-promise, and over-deliver." In other words, don't tell the customer that their problem will be fixed in two days if it will likely take four--tell them the problem will be fixed in a week, and then, when it's fixed four days later, the customer is delighted that their issue was addressed so quickly and ahead of schedule!
This is simply common sense, and I find it profoundly scary that the current administration seems to have far, far less of it (to put it mildly) than a friggin' cell phone company.
Christ.
So many lies... We are a liberator not an invader so why the hell are we still in Iraq if the country is "liberated" from the tyranny of Saddam? Maybe Iraq was better off with Sadam if their people can't be trusted to create their own form of government. Everything about this war is hogwash.
Can bloggers get Pulitzer Prizes? If so, I believe Billmon is due one.