Newsweek: Osama and Saddam

[sabra]

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http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8404125/site/newsweek/

Osama and Saddam
President Bush once again linked 9/11 with the U.S. invasion of Iraq, but the approach poses serious political, personal and practical risks.

WEB-EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY
By Richard Wolffe and Holly Bailey
Newsweek

Updated: 11:15 a.m. ET June 29, 2005

June 29 - Just in case anyone was reaching for the remote, President George W. Bush hit his keynote as early as he could while still being polite. After thanking the troops at Fort Bragg, N.C., on Tuesday night, the first two lines of his speech were blindingly simple. “The troops here and across the world are fighting a global war on terror,” he said. “The war reached our shores on September the 11th, 2001.”


In other words: forget about the Downing Street memos and Colin Powell’s now discredited speech at the United Nations. This is one war, against one enemy, making Iraq simply a continuation of the hunt for Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. Or, as Bush put it, “Iraq is the latest battlefield in this war.” He might as well have stood in front of a picture of the Twin Towers.

It’s easy to see why this approach is so attractive to the White House. The president’s response to 9/11 remains a potent memory in public opinion. So potent that it still drives the only positive numbers in the president’s performance ratings. Bush has disapproval ratings of more than 50 percent on the economy, energy and health care, according to the latest Gallup poll. On Iraq, 58 percent disapprove of his handling of the war. But on terrorism, the president has maintained the support of the people: 55 percent approve of his performance.

There are only three major problems with Bush’s latest attempt to tie Iraq to 9/11. One is political, another personal, yet another is practical.

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[Toots]

1. Iraq is just a battle in the great "War on Terror" but not the least

of the battles to come. Iran and Syria and Saudi Arabia, and every Muslim country especially if they have oil. Oil is what funds the enemy so we must get our hands on their oil as soon as possible. America applauds loudly. Kill kill kill goes the chant. Kill for Christ...