NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2006
Rooney: What Are We Doing In Iraq?
Andy Thinks Getting Rid Of Saddam Hussein Was Good But Wonders What We Are Doing There Now
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The War In Iraq
Andy Rooney talks about the war in Iraq and wonders why so many of America's young men and women have to die. Rooney says President Bush should tell the American public that he was wrong.
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(AP / CBS)
I'd like to talk to you about something you probably don't want to be talked to about.
Someone - and I guess it's President Bush - has to tell us what in the world we're doing in Iraq now. I don't think any of us know. We did the right thing getting rid of Saddam Hussein, but what are we doing there now?
The Pentagon never tells us anything. Usually reporters and cameramen let us know quite a bit but it's so dangerous for them in Baghdad now that even they can't show us much of what's going on.
So far almost 2,800 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq. I say "almost 2,800" because there is no exact number. It changes by six or eight every day. That's how many of our young men get killed? And for what? Just tell us, Mr. President. For what? It hasn't even been good for Iraq; it certainly hasn’t been good for us. The whole world thinks less of us for what we're doing there.
This little war is costing us $2 billion a what? I forget, a day, a week, a minute? It's the kind of money I can't even imagine.
President Bush should stand up there in front of us on television and do the hardest thing of all for any president to do. Tell us the truth. He should just say "Americans, there's something I have to tell you. You trusted me to be your leader and I thought I was doing the right thing when we went into Iraq. Well, I hate to admit it but I was wrong. I'm sorry but we never should have gone in and now we should get out."
Well, I'm not holding my breath until President Bush says that because I've never heard him admit he was wrong about anything. It isn't something presidents do. I don't recall hearing Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter admitting they were wrong either.
I was asked to keep this short tonight. Fortunately it's easier to be short when I’m serious. Funny takes longer.
By Andy Rooney © MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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See all 184 CommentsPaula A. Quindlen
LTC (retire) Army Nurse Corps
Vietnam Veteran, May 70-71
27th Surgical Hospital, Chu Lai
I loved your commentary tonight - I totally agree with you. How can we get our troops home?
Stay the Cousrse
Eric Wishart
New Brunswick
Canada
We've been having trouble winning wars since news people forgot their place. Enough of the world has bad things to say, because they're jealous. American news people should be of America's cheerleaders. In America. Too many people think they have the right to know too many things. What happened to top-secret? Are you so stupid that you think the rest of the world isn't tuning in to listen to your garbage. United we stand, divided we fall, and I wish American news people would quit tripping us.
WWB
Shame on you!
Linda
That's you - Mr. Rooney! First you said, it was good we removed the dictator. Then you followed with advise to President Bush to come "clean" and say it was all a mistake! So, what is it - right or wrong?!!
This is a kind of "logic" that pervades this network and the whole political left! RatherGate did not teach them ANYTHING!!
Mr. Rooney, your should follow Dan and that other paragon of virtue, Mike Wallace - TO PASTURE!!
I think you took the words right out of my mouth!
Bless you, I know its going to be a hard road for you now.
Sandra
We wish that we could only express our own views on the Iraq war which you so eloquently expressed today. Thank you.
Yes, Mr. Bush - we too want to know why we are there?
Randy and Donna
My son joined after 9/11 to serve and defend his country. His country's betrayal may keep him from ever coming back to me.
Those who do not question this government, might look twice at their numbers. Indeed more people are murdered every year in America than have died in three years of the Iraq war. However, there are 300 million Americans, in Iraq there are only 800,000 American soldiers whom have served in Iraq during that time.
Mr. Rooney and his colleagues at this network should have asked tough question in 2003 when we started this war. We might have averted disaster.
Those who do not question this government, might look twice at their numbers. Indeed more people are murdered every year in America than have died in three years of the Iraq war. However, there are 300 million Americans, in Iraq there are only 800,000 American soldiers whom have served in Iraq during that time.
Mr. Rooney and his colleagues at this network should have asked tough question in 2003 when we started this war. We might have averted disaster.
In reading some of the negative comments to your commentary I found it interesting that your critics use the same rhetoric the Bush administration has to justify this war but no facts.
Facts:
1. Colin Powell in Feb. of 2001 stated that Iraq was no longer a military threat .
2. Saddam hated AlQueda and Osoma BinLaden. There were no links to Sadam and AlQueda. AlQueda was in Afghanistan. Now since we attacked Iraq, AlQueda has moved in there.
3. Richard Clarke and Paul ONeil both have stated that from the very beginning the Bush presidency, they focused on getting rid of Saddam and disregarded the ever-increasing evidence given from our intelligence agencys, including the memo entitled Binladen determined to attack the United States. They could possibly have foiled the 9-11 attack if they weren't so obsessed with gettin rid of Saddam.
4. We went to secure the flow of oil. We knew that the sanctions were going to end soon, and when that became a reality, Saddam was not going to deal with us because we no longer considered him a friend. Bush knew that if we were going to have a secure source of oil from the mideast, we were going to have to get rid of Saddam before the sanctions were lifted.
In reading some of the negative comments to your commentary I found it interesting that your critics use the same rhetoric the Bush administration has to justify this war but no facts.
Facts:
1. Colin Powell in Feb. of 2001 stated that Iraq was no longer a military threat .
2. Saddam hated AlQueda and Osoma BinLaden. There were no links to Sadam and AlQueda. AlQueda was in Afghanistan. Now since we attacked Iraq, AlQueda has moved in there.
3. Richard Clarke and Paul ONeil both have stated that from the very beginning the Bush presidency, they focused on getting rid of Saddam and disregarded the ever-increasing evidence given from our intelligence agencys, including the memo entitled Binladen determined to attack the United States. They could possibly have foiled the 9-11 attack if they weren't so obsessed with gettin rid of Saddam.
4. We went to secure the flow of oil. We knew that the sanctions were going to end soon, and when that became a reality, Saddam was not going to deal with us because we no longer considered him a friend. Bush knew that if we were going to have a secure source of oil from the mideast, we were going to have to get rid of Saddam before the sanctions were lifted.
In reading some of the negative comments to your commentary I found it interesting that your critics use the same rhetoric the Bush administration has to justify this war but no facts.
Facts:
1. Colin Powell in Feb. of 2001 stated that Iraq was no longer a military threat .
2. Saddam hated AlQueda and Osoma BinLaden. There were no links to Sadam and AlQueda. AlQueda was in Afghanistan. Now since we attacked Iraq, AlQueda has moved in there.
3. Richard Clarke and Paul ONeil both have stated that from the very beginning the Bush presidency, they focused on getting rid of Saddam and disregarded the ever-increasing evidence given from our intelligence agencys, including the memo entitled Binladen determined to attack the United States. They could possibly have foiled the 9-11 attack if they weren't so obsessed with gettin rid of Saddam.
4. We went to secure the flow of oil. We knew that the sanctions were going to end soon, and when that became a reality, Saddam was not going to deal with us because we no longer considered him a friend. Bush knew that if we were going to have a secure source of oil from the mideast, we were going to have to get rid of Saddam before the sanctions were lifted.
This is the fault of each and every person who voted for him two years ago. They are the ones who should apologize.
I can't believe that we had a referendum on the Iraq war two years ago and people are complaining now. A little late.
In reading some of the negative comments to your commentary I found it interesting that your critics use the same rhetoric the Bush administration has to justify this war but no facts.
Facts:
1. Colin Powell in Feb. of 2001 stated that Iraq was no longer a military threat .
2. Saddam hated AlQueda and Osoma BinLaden. There were no links to Sadam and AlQueda. AlQueda was in Afghanistan. Now since we attacked Iraq, AlQueda has moved in there.
3. Richard Clarke and Paul ONeil both have stated that from the very beginning the Bush presidency, they focused on getting rid of Saddam and disregarded the ever-increasing evidence given from our intelligence agencys, including the memo entitled Binladen determined to attack the United States. They could possibly have foiled the 9-11 attack if they weren't so obsessed with gettin rid of Saddam.
4. We went to secure the flow of oil. We knew that the sanctions were going to end soon, and when that became a reality, Saddam was not going to deal with us because we no longer considered him a friend. Bush knew that if we were going to have a secure source of oil from the mideast, we were going to have to get rid of Saddam before the sanctions were lifted.
I haven't always agreed with your opinions, but I have always enjoyed watching your segments on 60 Minutes.
Following your comments tonight, I just had to say thank you. Thank you for speaking out against this administration's terrible mistake in Iraq. It isn't an easy thing to do in public without being called nasty names. Be careful out there!
Ericka in Phoenix
I haven't always agreed with your opinions, but I have always enjoyed watching your segments on 60 Minutes.
Following your comments tonight, I just had to say thank you. Thank you for speaking out against this administration's terrible mistake in Iraq. It isn't an easy thing to do in public without being called nasty names. Be careful out there!
Ericka in Phoenix
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