Kerry Press Release: Bush vs. Reality

[Skinner]

For Immediate Release
September 30, 2004

BUSH vs. REALITY

BUSH
Iraq wasn’t a diversion from the War on Terror

REALITY:
BUSH DIVERTED FROM WAR ON TERROR

The rush to war in Iraq took the pressure off of Bin Laden and al Qaeda. In 2002, troops from the 5th Special Forces Group who specialize in the Middle East were pulled out of the hunt for Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan to prepare for their next assignment: Iraq. The CIA, meanwhile, was stretched badly in its capacity to collect, translate and analyze information coming from Afghanistan. US Intelligence officials said that as much as half of the intelligence

and special forces assets in Afghanistan and Pakistan were diverted to support the war in Iraq. (USA Today, 3/29/04; KnightRidder, 9/5/03)

AND BECAUSE HE DIDN’T PLAN

Secret Joint Chiefs Report: Pentagon Planners Were Not Given Enough Time. In August 2003, the Joint Chiefs of Staff prepared a secret report assessing the post-war planning for Iraq. The report blamed “setbacks in Iraq on a flawed and rushed war-planning process.” It also said “planners were not given enough time” to plan for reconstruction. (Washington Times, 9/3/03, emphasis added)

WE ARE NOW BOGGED DOWN IN IRAQ

Security in Iraq Has Continually Deteriorated. On average, U.S. forces are now being attacked well over 60 times per day. This is a 20% increase from the three months before the transfer of sovereignty. Each month since June has seen a higher death toll for American soldiers: 42 were killed in June, 54 were killed in July, 66 were killed in August, and already, more than 77 have been killed in September. In the initial invasion of Iraq, 138 American soldiers were killed; since the handover, over 239 have been killed. (Los Angeles Times, 8/31/04; Reuters, 9/3/04; Brookings Institution, “Iraq Index,” 9/29/04)

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Paid for by Kerry-Edwards 2004, Inc.

[CarolynEC]

1. Awesome.

:D