Loose Cannons

October 5, 2007
Issue 

Chickenhawk-in-chief

"... one of the eight guests sitting around a table with [Emperor George] Bush at the White House, reported: 'Responding to one of the bloggers in Iraq he expressed envy that they could be there, and said he'd like to be there but 'One, I'm too old to be out there, and two, they would notice me'... The president who avoided serving in Vietnam as a young man has made only three visits to Iraq since declaring that major combat operations were over more than four years ago. All three of the visits were unannounced and featured extensive security. Bush's total time in country? Less than 15 hours." — Washington Post, September 17.

Did they actually believe him?

"Part of the reason why there is not this instant democracy in Iraq is because people are still recovering from Saddam Hussein's brutal rule. I thought an interesting comment was made when somebody said to me, I heard somebody say, now where's Mandela? Well, Mandela's dead, because Saddam Hussein killed all the Mandelas." — Emperor Bush, September 20, at White House media briefing. Reporting Bush's remark, the September 21 Washington Post noted: "There was a gasp in the White House briefing room at this news, which would no doubt surprise the 89-year-old Nelson Mandela himself."

Coalition (of the killing) building

"British MPs visiting the Pentagon to discuss America's stance on Iran and Iraq were shocked to be told by one of President Bush's senior women officials 'I hate all Iranians'... The all-party group of MPs say Debra Cagan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Coalition Affairs to Defence Secretary Robert Gates, made the comments this month." — London Daily Mail, September 29.

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