Comments on: Bush: 'We Don't Torture'

President Tells Katie Couric That Connecting Iraq To War On Terror Is Hardest Part Of His Job

[grumpy1963]

<b>jasonking4 says at 04:04 AM : Sep 07, 2006:</b> Remember the Anthrax attack just after 9/11? Well that was conducted by a white US citizen (scientist) NON_MUSLIM. His name was released here in the UK.

Really? You wouldn't happen to have this name handy...would you? Seems, according to Wikipedia (although, Wikipedia may not be the ideal source), the case remains unsolved. According to Wikipedia, it seems, an individual known as Dr. Steven Hatfill was a "person of interest"...however, to my knowledge, no charges had been brought against him. If I'm wrong, please let me know.

<b>jasonking4 says at 04:04 AM : Sep 07, 2006:</b> Why isn't he in Guantanomo?

Well, first, because no one has been charged? And, second, because he's an American citizen and <i>not</i> an enemy combatant?

<b>jasonking4 says at 04:04 AM : Sep 07, 2006:</b> As I recall many poeple died from Anthrax poisoning after 9/11, mostly postal workers. If the US is capable of killing its own people, you have to ask what respect it has for the rest of the world.

If the U.S. is capable of killing its own people? You mean, Dr. Hatfill (if it was, indeed, Dr. Hatfill that perpetrated the act) acted on behalf of the U.S. government? Further, you <i>do</i> know Americans kill each other on nearly a daily basis...don't you? You need to brush up on your American knowledge.

[grumpy1963]

<B>alphaa10 says at 03:26 AM :</B> Sep 07, 2006: Grumpy-- Close your bold characters properly, then attempt to argue. (Use /, not dash)

<B>Oh...well, gee, thanks for the CBS News blog etiquette lesson there...teach.</B>

<B>alphaa10 says at 03:26 AM :</B> Sep 07, 2006: No, I am not Bush, but neither are you-- be thankful. As your posts attest, the only character limitation on this blog is your own.

<B><<I>snore</I>> (I hope I didn't screw up on the italics. I might get my fingers whacked.) Now, ya' want me to personally attack you so you can report me and try to get me canned from this board...huh? Well, since I'm only here temporarily to address this particular issue. I'm not Bush? Really? Well, gee...and, I'm not the one who pretends I'm capable of running this country better than he...either. Further, the only thing I'm thankful for is that I'm not a weak-kneed sniveling little lefty of whom has, throughout history, ultimately sacrificed the lives of millions due to their complacency and inability to correctly comprehend the full context of evolving threats. You want to blame approximately 2,000 American lives on President George W. Bush? Great. However, I might remind you that it is, in fact, throughout history, the likes of you, in their lackadaisical state, who can ultimately be charged with the lives of millions lost during merely WWII alone. And, lastly of course. I should be thankful you're not Bush...why? What...would ya' have me drawn and quartered?</B>

[jasonking4]

Remember the Anthrax attack just after 9/11? Well that was conducted by a white US citizen (scientist) NON_MUSLIM. His name was released here in the UK.

Why isn't he in Guantanomo?

As I recall many poeple died from Anthrax poisoning after 9/11, mostly postal workers. If the US is capable of killing its own people, you have to ask what respect it has for the rest of the world.

[grumpy1963]

wbrisol said -- "Our president is a liar! Posted by wbrisol at 07:25 PM : Sep 06, 2006"

Every president is a liar. If a president is asked by the media or anyone else about issues that are of a classified nature, whether it be a Democrat, Republican, Independent, Green, or otherwise, they will lie in order to protect those secrets. And, if you believe otherwise, you're sadly mistaken.

[alphaa10-2009]

Grumpy-- Close your bold characters properly, then attempt to argue. (Use /, not dash) No, I am not Bush, but neither are you-- be thankful. As your posts attest, the only character limitation on this blog is your own.

[grumpy1963]

Grumpy-- Your caricature of the American public isn't true to the facts-- most Americans think Iraq is a failure. And despite your disingenuous suggestion, no one expects to be safe. However, Americans do see through Bush and are tired of his incompetence, deceit and lame excuses. ... -- Posted by alphaa10 at 02:33 AM : Sep 07, 2006

<B>Well, I'd really enjoy educating you on a few things and putting many of your fallacies to rest. However, considering the character limitation constraints with respect to this board and being unable to address the full content and context of your drivel, I'll have to refrain and allow you to continue with your fallacious delusions. However, thanks for your time and attention.<-B>

[grumpy1963]

Grumpy said-- "Terrorists aren't something that roll off an assembly line. They are -- presumably -- living, thinking people who are capable of choosing to endeavor in terrorism or, not choosing to endeavor in terrorism.

alphaa10 said -- <b>"Despite your Panglossian explanations about human will and the notion of choice, the point another poster made remains valid. Those who need reinforcement to begin a personal jihad or join a collective one get a huge boost from Bush, just as Hezbollah (and al Qaeda) get all the video of "Crusader Terror" they need for a lifetime from the Israeli invasion of Lebanon."

Only if you yourself take on the persona of a jihadist and find common ground with them.

alphaa10 said -- <b>"Even Bush recognizes this is a war for hearts and minds, but he acts as though he lacks one."

Says the guy/gal who is NOT President of the United States. <yawn>

[alphaa10-2009]

Mboss said-- "<b>As a Middle America American, I am so sick of this conversation about why we went to war in Iraq and who is to blame.</b>"

Most who side with Bush are indeed sick of the debate, because daily it becomes more evident Bush made a huge miscalculation at great expense ($320 billion) and cost in American lives (2700 dead, 20,000 wounded) to the American people-- those who should have been able to trust his intentions and his judgment.

Instead, America got a lackluster con-man, a third-rate Texas dictator wanna-be, who told members of his own party-- after they criticized his illegal spying on Americans-- "Stop throwing the Constitution in my face. It's only a GD#$@%! piece of paper!"

[genxwomen]

I'm sorry that someone like Katie Couric had the oppourtinity to interview George W. Bush! She bleeds, Kerry, Gore, Kennedy, Johnson, FDR. Presidents that care more about them selves than their country, however they all spoke the spoke. I would rather be indebted to George Bush for having strength and viligiance vs. the others. Katie can take her altra liberal sense and move to China. Than just maybe she'll appreicate the hard work our fathers made for this country.

She's not pretty, she's not nice, and the only reason why people like her is that she's katty like most of American Women.

She'll never read this cause she doesn't ever want to know, she'll never be respected.

Kind Regards,
Realistic in Global Sense
PS I'm sorry you missed Oprah's spot, she'll always be better than you ever could on a pinky!

[alphaa10-2009]

Grumpy said-- <b>"Terrorists aren't something that roll off an assembly line. They are -- presumably -- living, thinking people who are capable of choosing to endeavor in terrorism or, not choosing to endeavor in terrorism.</b>

Despite your Panglossian explanations about human will and the notion of choice, the point another poster made remains valid. Those who need reinforcement to begin a personal jihad or join a collective one get a huge boost from Bush, just as Hezbollah (and al Qaeda) get all the video of "Crusader Terror" they need for a lifetime from the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

Even Bush recognizes this is a war for hearts and minds, but he acts as though he lacks one.

[alphaa10-2009]

Grumpy-- Your caricature of the American public isn't true to the facts-- most Americans think Iraq is a failure. And despite your disingenuous suggestion, no one expects to be safe. However, Americans do see through Bush and are tired of his incompetence, deceit and lame excuses.

In contrast, you yourself desperately seek refuge from the point that a right-winger-- neocon George Bush-- put America much further into jeopardy. You are dragged screaming to the realization 911 happened on Bush's watch. Ignoring many, many warnings about al Qaeda, Bush obsessed about Iraq until he was blindsided by 911 (talk about a slow learner). When 911 hit, Bush had racked up more vacation time than any other president, just as he was caught napping, again, by Hurricane Katrina (talk about a slow learner).

And speaking of slow learners, you assure us you won't place your confidence in anybody but Bush. This reminds me of people who <b>still</b> can't believe the Enron stock they bought from that nice man, Ken Lay, is completely worthless. Try something different, Grumpy, take stock in America, not the neocons who sold you a bill of goods, and want you to keepf on buying into their worthless IPO (idiotic public offering).

[golferling]

You are right...go after him a little, Katie...
the only true thing he REALLY cares about is the elections...WHY now is he on a new kick to "sell" the war..because he knows he will be judged as the worst president ever.No WMD's...Katrina, lack of cooperation with the 9-11 investigations, prison abuse, etc etc..it IS A CIVIL WAR, a mess, and most journalists are STILL letting hin get away with ANOTHER SPIN on the politics of FEAR...I, and most Americans, are finally waking up to his ***, Help them. Our country needs a change of course...in leadership..he is STILL connecting 9-11 to Iraq and getting away with it...somebody please stop him...

[grumpy1963]

QUOTE: > ... We are not fighting the terrorists---we are creating more terrorists every day, every time he opens his mouth. -- Posted by sesanders1 at 01:37 AM : Sep 07, 2006<

Although, this message board won't allow me to explain this in more detail with its limitation on typed characters...this cliche of "creating terrorists" is getting old, worn out, and boring. Terrorists aren't something that roll off an assembly line. They are -- presumably -- living, thinking people who are capable of choosing to endeavor in terrorism or, not choosing to endeavor in terrorism. You can no more "create" a terrorist as you can "create" a child molester or wife beater, or "create" a murderer. These people didn't just suddenly wake up one day and say: "Oh...well, I think I'll be a terrorist today." They were, in fact, terrorists years ago and, my bet is, with the Middle East's art of indoctrination, nearly since birth. And, if a terrorist wants to justify his/her behavior, he/she can find any excuse he/she can possibly think of under the sun, even if he/she has to make it up, to find reasons to endeavor in their vile, despicable behavior.

[grumpy1963]

QUOTE: >I don't understand why this is a "war". I was born and lived in Europe for years with all kinds of terrorist attacks. We never graced terrorist attacks with the honor of being a "war". Wars are when trained professionals combat each other from different countries. Calling this a "war" is just a Bush White House ploy to rally Americans, who have never been invaded or had a war in their home country in anyone's memory, into some kind of jingoistic re-election of Republicans. -- Posted by siansimon at 11:10 PM : Sep 06, 2006<

What part of Europe? And, considering Europe's past with the likes of Adolph Hitler, Mussolini, et. al.? I can't take seriously the views of yourself with respect to policies of which ensure America's safety.

QUOTE: >Come on America - wake up, smell the coffee, and realise how much this policy is making you hated in the rest of the world. -- Posted by siansimon at 11:10 PM : Sep 06, 2006<

You mean, no one "hated us" before President George W. Bush and the launching of Operation Iraqi Freedom?

QUOTE: >You may dismiss rest of the world as unimportant, but that's what the Holy Roman Empire did too. -- Posted by siansimon at 11:10 PM : Sep 06, 2006<

You mean, the Holy Roman Empire, that was located in Europe?

[alphaa10-2009]

<b>revgrljoan said-- "Typical liberal navel-gazing.... Whiny, silver-spoon, dingbat. As usual: All carping, but not a solution in sight.</b>

Careful with the whining, carping sneers, yourself-- it smears your combat lipstick gloss, and offers no solution, itself.

Not a "solution" in sight, you say? Actually, the first part of any solution is to cease the brain-dead behavior that caused the problem. This relatively simple act is something that escapes most who side with Bush on his un-American approach to prisoners (see my post later in this thread)-- not to mention the fraudulent, failure-ridden policy debacle known as Iraq.

When you finally understand that hitting your head with a hammer doesn't work, I can assure you your first act is to cease that behavior. It clears the mind wonderfully, as other Republicans opposed to Bush on torture-- and Iraq-- can attest.

[mboss1957]

As a Middle America American, I am so sick of this conversation about why we went to war in Iraq and who is to blame. I was not for the War in Iraq, I thought we should stay in Afghanistan and take care of building a new government there. I think Bush was wrong to invade Iraq; however, we are there now and we must stay and finish the job. He is right when he says....that if we leave without establishing a government that is able to defend itself...that terrorists all over the world will be greatly stengthened as they believe that Americans do not have the stomach for real war. I do not for a minute believe that every decision the President of the United States makes is based on special interest groups such as the oil companies. The world is a very complicated place and we in the West are certainly addicted to oil, but I think the President is trying to do the best for the American People. It is a very tough and demanding job. We should all take a little less time to criticize and a little more time to show our patriotism to our own country. We are America and we are a great nation. We are not perfect and sometimes we do more harm than good in our intentions to do good works; however, anyone who know this great nation knows that for right or wrong, we are always pursuing good works around the world.

[grumpy1963]

I'm growing a might wary of the left trying to play the keep-us-safe card and veiled implications that, somehow, they're more capable of keeping us safe than the right. And, it's absurd that the left seems to harbor eagerness in the possibility of another attack in thinking they're going to be able to hop on the bandwagon and somehow criticize, saying: "See, I told you so. President George W. Bush and Republicans haven't kept you safe."

Here's a newsflash -- and, I know this is something scores of folks don't like to hear, especially, sniveling folks from the left side of the political spectrum -- you aren't 100% "safe"...and, you'll never BE 100% "safe". No one can GUARANTEE your safety and you'll NEVER be 100% safe...period. And, it doesn't matter who is in power.

However, if anyone thinks they can cajole me into believing that, somehow, the left are more capable of keeping us safe than the right? That's just plain and simply absurd, laughable and, absolutely without merit. I can't be bothered by some lefty whining and criticizing the right, claiming the right isn't "keeping us safe". First, among several other reasons, we haven't, in fact, been attacked again. And, second, the left have no shining record in "keeping us safe". So, when I hear a lefty implying the left are somehow more capable of "keeping us safe"...this does nothing but ring hollow and compel me to laugh enthusiastically.

Bush wants us to further drain our treasury fighting a fruitless war in Iraq because, he says, it will embolden the enemy if we cut our losses. All we are going to do with this approach is further drain our treasury chasing the illusory victory. On top of that, it sounds as though he suggests that torture is the key to getting good intelligence. Experts maintain that such methods do not achieve their ends. This president has made the world hate and fear us. He has cost us world prestige...he has set the Middle East on fire with his policies. We are not fighting the terrorists---we are creating more terrorists every day, every time he opens his mouth.

[alphaa10-2009]

For five years, Bush rejected an understanding of prisoner rights consistent with American tradition-- first and foremost, the right to know the evidence against the prisoner, and to be tried on the basis of that evidence.

The Founding Fathers, themselves, insisted on the right of habeas corpus to counter arbitrary acts of the English king in ruling the colonies. George Bush, himself, however, clearly sides with King George on that issue.

Bush also fought the sense of the Senate ban on torture passed-- despite open Bush protests-- in December, 2005. If opposed to torture, why did he fight the measure? As Sen. McCain, himself, pointed out, banning torture is not about the enemy and lack of ethics, it is a statement to the world about America, and who we are.

Bush clearly doesn't understand the issues at stake, even when he has had months to develop an artful cover story. In contrast, some of Bush's own party do get it-- Sen. Graham, among them, says Bush military tribunals threaten the safety of American servicemen around the world. Without an open trial on the basis of evidence, Bush military trials become only an American version of the secret jihadist tribunal already used againt American captives in the past.

[emhawks]

Bush said his biggest fear is that " somebody will come in, slip into this country & kill Americans." I doubt that's his biggest fear, don't you? I think his biggest fear might be that someone will come in, & actually bring he & Cheney ( the real President) to task by impeachment. I agree with T-A-Roof's posting. I would add to that to read about Project for the New American Century, the Caryle Group, Halliburton, Brown & Root& the Bush families history with Mid-East oil connections.
There has been corruption in almost all American presendential adm., but this is by far the worst of any. For the record, I'm an Independent; I would feel the same way if this was a Democrat adm.