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Bush Calls Protests "Irrelevant"
by RON FOURNIER
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003 at 11:55 AM
Power-mad thug tells millions worldwide to get stuffed.
The Associated Press
Tuesday, February 18, 2003; 10:55 AM
President Bush declared on Tuesday that he wouldn't be deterred by global protests against war with Iraq, saying "I respectfully disagree" with those who doubt that Saddam Hussein is a threat to peace.
He said such a war remains a final resort, but "the risk of doing nothing is even a worse option as far as I'm concerned."
Despite heavy opposition at the United Nations and protests around the world, the Bush administration appeared ready to push ahead this week for a new Security Council resolution that could open the way for war.
Bush said that the size of the protests against a possible U.S.-led war against Iraq was irrelevant.
"Size of protest, it's like deciding, 'Well I'm going to decide policy based up on a focus group.' The role of a leader is to decide policy based upon the security - in this case - security of the people."
Millions of people around the world took to the streets over the weekend to protest such a war.
"Democracy is a beautiful thing, and that people are allowed to express their opinion," Bush said.
"Some in the world don't view Saddam Hussein as a risk to peace," he added. "I respectfully disagree."
Bush said that Saddam Hussein continued to pose a very real threat to Americans and to the world.
The president expressed confidence that the United States would come up with an acceptable aid package for Turkey, a close U.S. ally in the region who will play a vital role if there is military action against Baghdad.
Bush said Turkey has "no better friend than the American government" and that Washington and Ankara were still working out details of an aid package.
The U.S. military plans to use bases in Turkey both for aircraft and for ground forces in the event of an attack on Turkey's neighbor to the south.
Bush indicated that he was running out of patience. Asked if he planned to set an ultimatum for Saddam's compliance, Bush suggested that would be pointless, like extending "another, another, another last chance."
"He knows my feelings, and that is, he needs to disarm - completely and totally disarm. He's a fellow that likes to buy time and buy it through deception and delay."
The global anti-war protests have put the White House on the defensive. Presidential spokesman Ari Fleischer began his daily briefing by reading newspaper clips about demonstrations against the staging of missiles in Germany in the early 1980s, and said, "This is not the first time there have been mass protests and in a previous instance America stood on principle ... and as a result the Berlin Wall came down."
He also told reporters that former President Franklin Roosevelt overcame protests from isolationists to lead American into World War II.
"Often the message of protesters is contradicted by history," he said
AMEN
by JonUs
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003 at 4:47 PM
bah
"He said such a war remains a final resort, but "the risk of doing nothing is even a worse option as far as I'm concerned." "
AMEN.
You guys should read your history books this whole situation is very similar to the situation in the 1930's with Hitler. Only back then our administration was to WEAK to do anything about it.
God Bless,
JonUs
bush spits in democracy's face
by Nathan J
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003 at 8:19 PM
our minority elected president is fond of ignoring the wishes and needs of the people whose security he is supposedly so interested in. his remarks about the size of protests as being 'irrelevant' is blatantly irresponsible for the head of the executive branch. it is his JOB to represent and execute the wishes of the people of this country, no matter his personal ideas of security, or the apparent risks to the stability of the state.
the massive upheaval after 9/11 has scared people into believing what they are told, and following along complacently. if we do so, we are more in danger of losing our freedom to the executive branch than we are to some crazy arab with a few missiles that can't even reach europe, let alone us.
the time of monarchs deciding the best interests of their people while ignoring their input is long over, or so we are led to believe. but in this country at least, we have a 'leader' who obviously has a personal grudge against another leader, and offers little in the way of proof of his claims, al-qaeda, WMD, etc. and now in the face of MILLIONS of protesters worldwide, he belittles those voices and spits in the face of open, democratic discourse.
this country is based on the rule of law, but more importantly, it is *supposed* to be based on the rule of the people. the president derives his powers that he abuses from the mandate of the people. if those people don't want war, and he sends us into war, then he should be impeached. dismissing those that protest, without so much as a pause, is more indicative of a dictator than a democratically elected president.
as freedom loving citizens, it is our duty to gather and protest the intentions and actions of a leader with whom we do not agree, no matter what history may say of us. for unless we resist, history may very well forget that this country was once free.
Hitler
by 49086
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2003 at 9:44 AM
JonUS,
I thought the people in the US that opposed Hitler and Franco in the 1930s were called "premature anti-fascists."
amazing
by Tracy K
Sunday, Feb. 23, 2003 at 2:21 PM
Nathan J, your comment is the most educated opinion from someone I have ever read. I hope that Bush receives a copy of it in his mailbox.
Republic <> democracy
by JonUs
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003 at 11:10 AM
First we live in a Republic which is different than a democracy. visit FreeRepublic.com for more info.
"it is his JOB to represent and execute the wishes of the people of this country, no matter his personal ideas of security, or the apparent risks to the stability of the state. "
Guess what Nathan? anti-war protesters are not the only people with opinions in this country in fact they are outnumbered.
" but in this country at least, we have a 'leader' who obviously has a personal grudge against another leader, and offers little in the way of proof of his claims, al-qaeda, WMD, etc. and now in the face of MILLIONS of protesters worldwide, he belittles those voices and spits in the face of open, democratic discourse. "
A "Personal Grudge" come on grow up. As far as "offers little in the way of proof of his claims, al-qaeda, WMD, etc" NO COUNTRY IN THE WORLD DOUBTS HE HAS WMD WEAPONS. NONE.
as far as 49086 goes I was talking about the american, english, and LoN leaders, not the populace of those countries.
And for Tracy K, apparently you can't think for yourself and have never read anything before. Nathan's comment wasn't even writen gramaticly correct.
JonUs
link
by JonUs
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003 at 6:25 PM
this is funny check this video out.
http://www.brain-terminal.com/articles/video/peace-protest.html
www.brain-terminal.com/articles/video/peace-protest.html
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