Bush discusses the War on Terror

Today Bush gave what was referred to as a "major speech" on the "War on Terror". As expected, his speech was filled with the deception and mis-information that enlightened people have come to expect from him. When will he ever shut up?

The full speech can be read here.

As is the case with just about anything he says, I have some comments to make.

we aided the rise of new democracies on the ruins of tyranny. And all the cost and sacrifice of that struggle has been worth it, because, from Latin America to Europe to Asia, we've gained the peace that freedom brings.

In my opinion, Bush is really contradicting himself here. He talks of having "gained the peace", yet in all his speeches he rarely neglects to mention that there is still a terrible threat from global terrorism. Furthermore, military action by the U.S. could easily be argued as the key element driving the goals of terrorist organizations. So where's the peace, Bush? Where?

In this new century, freedom is once again assaulted by enemies determined to roll back generations of democratic progress. Once again, we're responding to a global campaign of fear with a global campaign of freedom. And once again, we will see freedom's victory. (Applause.)

He says this as if to take credit for "generations of democratic progress". No, Bush, in the big picture, you had absolutely nothing to do with "democratic progress". If anything, Bush cripples the very image of democracy by using it as an excuse to bomb, murder and torture citizens from other countries.

He's also talking about "a global campaign of freedom", as if to suggest that the war in Iraq has in fact brought freedom to its people. Far from the truth. Last I checked, having your country occupied by narrow-minded, trigger-happy soldiers does not create an environment for the concept of "freedom" to thrive.

Recently our country observed the fourth anniversary of a great evil, and looked back on a great turning point in our history.

Oh lovely. Why does he always have to weep and wail about September 11th? Turning point in history?....hmmm....You mean the point at which Americans started to understand the word "conspiracy"?

Many militants are part of global, borderless terrorist organizations like al Qaeda, which spreads propaganda, and provides financing and technical assistance to local extremists, and conducts dramatic and brutal operations like September the 11th.

Ha! Financing and technical assistance to extremists you say. Let's not forget how the U.S. government once funded Bin Laden.

First, these extremists want to end American and Western influence in the broader Middle East, because we stand for democracy and peace, and stand in the way of their ambitions.

Frankly, I don't blame them, because all "western influence" has meant lately is war. "because we stand for democracy and peace"? No, Bush. But it might have something to do with you bombing their countries and supporting Israel.

And the civilized world knows very well that other fanatics in history, from Hitler to Stalin to Pol Pot, consumed whole nations in war and genocide before leaving the stage of history.

Not really, Bush. Last I checked, Hitler didn't have U.S. planes dropping bombs on his country, nor were his enemies being financed by the U.S. government. Men like Hitler acted proactively, not reactively.

I also like the statement "before leaving the stage of history". That doesn't make an ounce of sense. Someone please tell me how it's possible to "leave the stage of history". History is a train you board and ride for an eternity; there's no getting off.

Defeating the militant network is difficult, because it thrives, like a parasite, on the suffering and frustration of others. The radicals exploit local conflicts to build a culture of victimization, in which someone else is always to blame and violence is always the solution.

That's true! It also stinks of irony. Is this not exactly what the U.S. military has been doing in Iraq? Perhaps the radicals may be exploiting victimization, but the U.S. is creating the victims in the first place.

Instead of attending faraway training camps, recruits can now access online training libraries to learn how to build a roadside bomb, or fire a rocket-propelled grenade -- and this further spreads the threat of violence, even within peaceful democratic societies.

Much the same way that youths in the United States can go download the game "America's Army" and be filled with U.S. propaganda. The game does nothing save glorify war and generate a feeling of U.S. superiorism. Hypocrites.

I would remind them that we were not in Iraq on September the 11th, 2001 -- and al Qaeda attacked us anyway. The hatred of the radicals existed before Iraq was an issue, and it will exist after Iraq is no longer an excuse. The government of Russia did not support Operation Iraqi Freedom, and yet the militants killed more than 180 Russian schoolchildren in Beslan.

No, Bush, you were not in Iraq on September 11th, but you have been there before. Since September 11th is all about "never forget", let's remember some history, shall we? Let's remember the first gulf war. Let's remember the U.S.'s long support of Israel. Yeah, I think you had it coming.

As for Russia, they have a long history with the militants in the area. To consider this an unprovoked attack is complete fodder. Did I not just mention how the U.S. funded the Afghan Mujahideen fighters in their war against Russia?

We're facing a radical ideology with inalterable objectives: to enslave whole nations and intimidate the world.

Intimidate the world, eh? If intimidating the world is so wrong, what was the U.S. thinking when they dropped the "Little Boy" and "Fat Man" on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Were those bombs not dropped to intimidate? I think they were. What happened in Japan was a showcase for American military prowess, a stage-play aimed at intimidation. Bush, you're being hypocritical.

We will never back down, never give in, and never accept anything less than complete victory. (Applause.)

You will back down, Bush. A war waged against a society of proud people fighting for freedom is a war that cannot be won. You can bomb and murder all you want, and as the U.S. spends its way into bankruptcy, the resolve of your "enemies" will remain pure, focused and true till the day you stop oppressing them.

Do they pay people to clap for Bush?

When 25 Iraqi children are killed in a bombing, or Iraqi teachers are executed at their school, or hospital workers are killed caring for the wounded, this is murder, pure and simple

I wonder how many Iraqi children the U.S. military has killed by now. Thousands? It's murder, pure and simple.

It is cowardice that seeks to kill children and the elderly with car bombs, and cuts the throat of a bound captive, and targets worshipers leaving a mosque. It is courage that liberated more than 50 million people.

True. It is cowardice to kill children, like when a bomb 'accidentally' falls on their school. It's also cowardice to torture prisoners. It's cowardice to "shoot first and ask questions later", a concept so readily demonstrated by the U.S. Marines in Iraq.

Liberated? There has been no liberation. Stability in Iraq is far less than it has been in past years, the people have not been liberated.