According to
icasualties.org, this month is on pace to exceed the casualties and losses of October 2006, the deadliest month for American soldiers in the Iraq War this year.
In October 2006, during the height of the midterm election season, President Bush, Vice President Cheney and White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, when pressed about the surge in American casualties in Iraq, told the American people that the terrorists in Iraq were attempting to influence the upcoming US election. They organized a concerted effort to convince Americans that the violence in Iraq was intended to show us that Al Qaeda wanted a change in American foreign policy.
Some examples (compiled by
BushLies.net) (emphasis mine):
http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20061020-125437-2462r">Vice President Cheney to Rush Limbaugh, October 17, 2006
"I was reading something today that a writer — I don’t remember who — was speculating on increased terrorist attacks in Iraq attempting to demoralize the American people as we get up to the election. And when I read that, it made sense to me. And I interpreted this as that the terrorists are actually involved and want to involve themselves in our electoral process, which must mean they want a change."http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2006/10/20/bush_says_iraq_vietnam_violence_parallel_possible/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Today's+paper+A+to+Z">President Bush to ABC News, October 18, 2006
There’s certainly a stepped up level of violence, and we’re heading into an election. … They are trying to not only kill American troops, but they’re trying to foment sectarian violence. They believe that if they can create enough chaos, the American people will grow sick and tired of the Iraqi effort and will cause government to withdraw.http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061019-1.html">Tony Snow, White House Press Briefing, October 19, 2006
"It is possible, although we don’t have a clear pathway into the minds of terrorists, it is possible that they are trying to use violence right now as a way of influencing the elections."I hope the White House press corps asks the administration for its latest explanation of the rising violence in Iraq, pointing out that only two months ago they blamed the deaths of American soldiers on an American election, and, essentially, the American people.
So, what's it now, Tony Snow? Please enlighten us, again. And Mr. Cheney? What "makes sense" to you now? And, Mr. Bush? Are the American people sick and tired of this war? Do they wish you to withdraw?
On Edit: Bush went so far in his interview with George Stephanopoulos on October 18 as to agree that the October surge in violence against American troops was the "Jihadist Equivalent Of The Tet Offensive." Wow. So what's he going to call it now?
Link and Video Be sure to note his smirk when he says, "we're heading into an election."