Presidential manipulation
A couple days ago I mentioned this story over at The Nation in which Renana Brooks offers an analysis of Bush’s use of language.
Given the manipulative content of Bush’s speeches on the 4th, it seems like a good time to reflect on his words. Emma over at Notes on the Atrocities also takes a look at Bush’s speech.
“By killing innocent Americans, our enemies made their intentions clear to us,” Bush said from a red-white-and-blue-bedecked stage set up on a sun-soaked field. “And since that September day, we have made our own intentions clear to them."
Who killed innocent Americans? Not Iraqis. Bush has provided zero, zilch, nada in the way of evidence which might link Iraq to 9/11. He’s mixing the shit here.
The United States, Bush said, “will not stand by and wait for another attack, or trust in the restraint and good intentions of evil men."
Who’s good and evil? Are Iraqi civilians evil? Were they deserving of 3/12/03? What about 3/15/03? Maybe they deserved 3/17 or 3/19? Just what was the threat posed by Saddam? Where are the chemical and nuclear weapons? The constant repetition of these accusations does not make them true.
“We will act whenever it is necessary to protect the lives and the liberty of the American people."
“Without America’s active involvement in the world, the ambitions of tyrants would go unopposed and millions would live at the mercy of terrorists,” he said. “With Americans' active involvement in the world, tyrants learn to fear and terrorists are on the run."
What in the hell is he saying here? The “ambitions of tyrants”? Please, tell me, what had Saddam done to us? What has he ever done to the U.S.? Bush is fond of talking terrorism, of bringing up 9/11 and suggesting that we should live in fear, afraid for our lives. From the perspective of an Iraqi it is the U.S. and George Bush that is the terrorist. It’s currently estimated that 6,000 - 7,000 Iraqi civilians died as a result of our recent aggression. That does not count the thousands who were injured, many maimed for the rest of their lives. Does this not far outweigh the pain and suffering of 9/11? Just in pure numbers it does. So, tell me again, who is the terrorist? George Bush, you are a piece of shit.
Technorati Tags: 9/11, George Bush, Terrorism