Iraq: Denial & Deception

Today is the 3rd anniversary of this - from whitehouse.gov



Denial & Deception indeed.

some snippets of the speech:

"Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.
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The regime has a history of reckless aggression in the Middle East. It has a deep hatred of America and our friends. And it has aided, trained and harbored terrorists, including operatives of al Qaeda.
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The United States and other nations did nothing to deserve or invite this threat. But we will do everything to defeat it. Instead of drifting along toward tragedy, we will set a course toward safety. Before the day of horror can come, before it is too late to act, this danger will be removed.

The United States of America has the sovereign authority to use force in assuring its own national security.
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America tried to work with the United Nations to address this threat because we wanted to resolve the issue peacefully.
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Today, no nation can possibly claim that Iraq has disarmed.
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In a free Iraq, there will be no more wars of aggression against your neighbors, no more poison factories, no more executions of dissidents, no more torture chambers and rape rooms.
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And all Iraqi military and civilian personnel should listen carefully to this warning. In any conflict, your fate will depend on your action. Do not destroy oil wells, a source of wealth that belongs to the Iraqi people. Do not obey any command to use weapons of mass destruction against anyone, including the Iraqi people. War crimes will be prosecuted. War criminals will be punished. And it will be no defense to say, "I was just following orders."
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We are a peaceful people
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The cause of peace requires all free nations to recognize new and undeniable realities.
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As we enforce the just demands of the world, we will also honor the deepest commitments of our country.
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And the greatest power of freedom is to overcome hatred and violence, and turn the creative gifts of men and women to the pursuits of peace.

Denial & Deception indeed.

if i'm not mistaken, it was immediately prior to this speech when the been turned on the video feed a minute or two early and the fucking murderous frat-boy war-monger president was joking around - punching his fist in the air saying "IT FEELS GOOD!"

update: here are some references - AFAIK, this story isnt very well known for some reason - i actually saw it live

"Minutes before the speech, an internal television monitor showed the president pumping his fist. "Feels good," he said."

it has been scrubbed from KnightRidder - but you can see it here in the waybackmachine

and from The Guardian:

"According to one who witnessed the scene on a TV monitor, the president shook his fist, turned to an aide elsewhere in the room and said, with feeling: "Feels good!"

So relaxed and playful was he at this sombre moment that, when the BBC cut to him just before the start of his speech while he was having his hair and make-up finished, he was grinning and cracking jokes.

The White House is said to be furious with the Beeb over this unfortunate portrayal."

an unfortunate portrayal... it is probably worse than the pet goat story