Earlier this evening we aired a speech by President George W. Bush that
may have left you with some false impressions. We need to correct these
matters of fact.
The President's speech did not mention WMDs or Saddam Hussein or
attempt to explain why we are occupying the nation of
Iraq or what it would mean for that occupation to "win" or "lose." This
may have left you with the impression that no justification is required
by law to forcibly occupy someone else's country and kill a significant
portion of their population. That is not the case.
The President made no reference to the permanent military bases he is
illegally constructing in Iraq . This may have left you with the
impression that he plans to leave Iraq some day. This, combined with
his references to democracy, may have given you a certain idea of his
plans for Iraq that does not seem to be suggested by the President's
actions.
Bush also expressed support for a number of Middle-Eastern nations
allied with the United States , notably Saudi Arabia . This may have
given you the idea that these nations are democracies. They are
dictatorships.
Bush began his speech by connecting Iraq to 9-11. In fact, Iraq had
nothing to do with 9-11. We apologize to the millions who have lost
loved ones because of this lie. When Bush said that al Qaeda was
"still" active in Iraq , he failed to add that it had only become
active in Iraq as a result of his invasion and occupation of that
nation.
Bush said that he would see that the people of Iraq profit from its
oil. This statement bears no relationship to actual U.S. policy, and
Bush has no legal right to decide what happens to another nation's
resources.
Bush suggested that most Iraqis want the occupation to continue. This is false.
Bush suggested that occupying Iraq was making Americans safer. His own intelligence analysts disagree.
Bush implied that he can escalate wars at his own discretion. In fact,
Congress can prevent him from doing so if it chooses to.
Of course, Bush has escalated this war in the past. We have not
reported on that as such because he did not make a big deal of it. The
reason he is making a big deal of it this time was not addressed in his
speech.
What was new in the speech was a threat to Iran and Syria . Bush
claimed that Iran is providing material to Iraqi resisters. There is no
evidence of this. Bush said he was sending ships and missile defense
systems to the region. These steps have no clear connection to Iraq and
may be seen as part of a threat to Iran .
Bush said not one word about all of the Iraqi blood he has spilled.
Approximately 655,000 Iraqis have died as a result of the United States
' invasion and occupation of Iraq , thus far. And the death rate is
increasing, not diminishing. Here is video showing many of the people
killed and injured in this war and their family members….
…Americans can support or oppose this war by contacting their Congress
Members. There will be a march in opposition to the war in
Washington
D.C. on January 27
th followed by lobbying of Congress on the 29
th. For more on that, see
www.unitedforpeace.org
Remarks at the National Conference for Media Reform in Memphis, Tenn., January 13, 2007.
Writings 
I'd like to request that nobody shout during this event, and I'll tell you why. I watched Bush's speech with some people who thought it would be a good idea to take a sip of liquor every time he told a lie. Three days later my head is aching.
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