How many times has Bush changed the mission in Iraq?

Question

THE PRE-WAR MISSION WAS TO RID IRAQ OF WMD

Bush: “Our mission is clear in Iraq. Should we have to go in, our mission is very clear: disarmament.” [3/6/03]

AFTER THE WAR BEGAN, THE MISSION EXPANDED

Bush: “Our cause is just, the security of the nations we serve and the peace of the world. And our mission is clear, to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein’s support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people.” [3/22/03]

Bush: “Our forces have been given a clear mission: to end a regime that threatened its neighbors and the world with weapons of mass destruction and to free a people that had suffered far too long.” [4/14/03]

THEN THE MISSION WAS COMPLETE

Bush: “On Thursday, I visited the USS Abraham Lincoln, now headed home after the longest carrier deployment in recent history. I delivered good news to the men and women who fought in the cause of freedom: Their mission is complete, and major combat operations in Iraq have ended.” [5/3/03]

BUT THEN IT CONTINUED AGAIN

Bush: “The United States and our allies will complete our mission in Iraq.” [7/30/03]

THEN THE MISSION WAS TO DEVELOP A FREE IRAQ

Bush: “That has been our mission all along, to develop the conditions such that a free Iraq will emerge, run by the Iraqi citizens.” [11/4/03]

Bush: “We will see that Iraq is free and self-governing and democratic. We will accomplish our mission.” [5/4/04]

AND TO TRAIN THE IRAQI TROOPS

Bush: “And our mission is clear there, as well, and that is to train the Iraqis so they can do the fighting; make sure they can stand up to defend their freedoms, which they want to do.” [6/2/05]

Bush: “We’re making progress toward the goal, which is, on the one hand, a political process moving forward in Iraq, and on the other hand, the Iraqis capable of defending themselves. And we will — we will complete this mission for the sake of world peace.” [6/20/05]

THEN IT SHIFTED TO ADVANCING DEMOCRACY

Bush: “We will stay as long as necessary to complete the mission. … Advancing the ideal of democracy and self-government is the mission that created our nation — and now it is the calling of a new generation of Americans.” [11/30/05]

AND PROTECTING AMERICA FROM TERRORISTS

Bush: “In the coming days, there will be considerable reflection on the removal of Saddam Hussein from power and our remaining mission in Iraq…By helping the Iraqi people build a free and representative government, we will deny the terrorists a safe haven to plan attacks against America.” [3/11/06]

Bush: “We will finish the mission. By defeating the terrorists in Iraq, we will bring greater security to our own country. And when victory is achieved, our troops will return home with the honor they have earned.” [3/18/06]

THEN THE MISSION WAS PROVIDING SECURITY FOR THE IRAQI POPULATION

Bush: “In fact, we have a new strategy with a new mission: helping secure the population, especially in Baghdad. Our plan puts Iraqis in the lead.” [1/13/07]

Bush: “[I]t’s the combination of providing security in neighborhoods through these joint security stations, and training that is the current mission we’re going through, with a heavy emphasis on security in Baghdad.” [4/10/07]

AND NOW?

Bush: “It’s a new mission. And David Petraeus is in Iraq carrying it out. Its goal is to help the Iraqis make progress toward reconciliation — to build a free nation that respects the rights of its people, upholds the rule of law, and is an ally against the extremists in this war.” [6/28/07 ]


How many times is that, and how many MORE times will the Decider redecide what the right decision is?

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/14/changing-mission/

Answer 1

Great summary.

Actually, he only changed "the course" once.

We went in to stop Saddam. That's what Congress authorized the use of military force for.

Then, we stayed four years after because Bush thought it would be a good idea to stay and help out the new Iraqi govt for an indefinite period. That's the only major change.

Everything else was just a change of the excuses and lame justifications he gave to try and sell the idea of staying.

Answer 2

Have you ever heard the word "Dreams are in concrete, plans are in sand"? The dream in Iraq is a robust and liable executive, that is certainly not modified and additionally it is the important project. The plans of Iraq have to continuously difference with the stipulations at the flooring and be designed to obtain the important project. Basically, your query and it is inference exhibit you already know not anything of that you talk.

Answer 3

well its actually finally mission accomplished with Exxons securing 80+% of the oil contracts in the area. The key finding with the 2 repub. senators proposal is that it changes the mission to finding terrorists, securing Iraq's borders and oh by the way protecting business interests. I wonder (not really) how much of the patrols will be just watching the pipeline?

Answer 4

"The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our Number one priority and we will not rest until we find him!"

- President Bush, September 13, 2001

"I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and I really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority."

- President Bush, March 13, 2002

And most recently, President Bush defended the occupation of Iraq again, saying that "the people we're fighting in Iraq are the same people that caused 9/11." He went on to say they " had sworn an allegience to bin Laden".

So, where the heck is bin Laden?

The keyword here is blackwhite. Like so many Newspeak words, this word has two mutually contradictory meanings. Applied to an opponent, it means the habit of impudently claiming that black is white, in contradiction of the plain facts. Applied to a Party member, it means a loyal willingness to say that black is white when Party discipline demands this. But it means also the ability to believe that black is white, and more, to know that black is white, and to forget that one has ever believed the contrary. This demands a continuous alteration of the past, made possible by the system of thought which really embraces all the rest, and which is known in Newspeak as doublethink. Doublethink is basically the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.

Classic Doublethink-I think they read 1984

Answer 5

The decider really has only one mission,somehow safe the face of his failed administration by delaying the pull out till he has left the white house.Then he is not the one who"cuts and runs" or"lost the war"
I don't see him getting honest now so most likely what he says about the mission will change depending on circumstances and political opportunity.
It's a disgrace.Guess that's what Republicans call restoring honor and dignity to the oval office

Answer 6

If Bush had been honest and told the American people the real reasons for invading Iraq, there would have been no invasion.

The stated mission has changed so many times because the Bush administration has no respect for the intelligence of the American people and feels that he can tell them anything and they’ll believe it.

Answer 7

Good God in Heaven, I can't wait for 2008.

For the Love of God, No WMD, Saddam has been murdered, What is Libya and Syria doing and can we afford more American soldiers lives, (currently more than lives lost on 9/11)

And does old George understand the conflict between Sunni's and Shites that has festered for ? years and that we will never conquer that battle? Where is the hidden agenda?

Answer 8

Putting out his words and dates for the bush supporters to see are pretty hard for them to take. Guess they didn't realize how much he actually swings in the wind. They think he is a man who doesn't change his mind and it seem to me he changes his reasons for taking us to war every week.

Answer 9

It's always been the same thing, the war on terror. The Iraqis started killing each other and war plans had to change. That's how war is, difficult.

Answer 10

Didn't quite go as planned, huh? Not that quick money making cakewalk the defense and infrastructure contractors thought it would be.