Thanks to Hughes for America for the list.#1 "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa." Has there been a more loaded statement than the one Bush made during his State of the Union speech on January 28, 2003? Think of what has happened since then: We've invaded Iraq based on phony evidence like the above. When Joseph Wilson gave lie to the administration's position, the White House actively put partisanship above national security, outing his wife, Valerie Wilson, a covert CIA operative. Currently under investigation, the president's right-hand man, Karl Rove, may soon face indictment. The higher the scandal goes, the worse it looks for Bush. All because of 16 words.
#2 "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed." When Bush stood on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln on May 1, 2003, a large banner behind him read "Mission Accomplished." Nearly 2,000 American deaths later, Iraq is no more on the way toward Democracy than our forces are on their way home. What's more, Iraq is now an international breeding ground – a graduate school, if you will – for terrorism, leading to attacks in Madrid and London, for instance. Mission Accomplished, indeed.
#3 "There are some who feel like – that the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is, bring them on." Since Bush made those borderline insane comments on July 2, 2003, 1,700 American men and women have died in Iraq. This kind of cavalier attitude is no doubt responsible for putting our troops in harm's way. It's easy for a bully like Bush – a man with sense of history, no knowledge of the area – to say "bring them on" from the comfort of the White House. It's much, much harder to leave the posturing and tough talk on the high school playground and be the leader most Americans expect out of the Oval Office.
#4 "I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees." Not long after Bush uttered that statement in an interview with Diane Sawyer on September 1 did its profound stupidity and negligence become apparent. As Kevin Drum pointed out at the Washington Note, everyone anticipated the breach of the levees. In fact, it was Bush administration budget trimming that left New Orleans unprepared as disaster struck. This is a no-doubt-about-it, first-ballot Hall of Fame criminally negligent statement if there ever was one.
#5 "... and, Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job" Wow. Where do I start with this affirmation, which Bush delivered on September 2. Let's see: FEMA's Michael Brown waited until after Hurricane Katrina struck to make his (political) move. Further, Brown didn't know about the situation at the New Orleans convention center until it was too late. What's more, he lied on his resume and was sent home from the Gulf Coast before he subsequently resigned. In a climate where everyone's playing the blame game, that Brown – a product of cronyism – and his agency shoulder a hefty portion of the fault is not up for debate. Heck of a job, Brownie!
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