more bush-it

Bush Says 30,000 Iraqis Killed in War
PHILADELPHIA - President Bush offered encouragement to war-weary Iraqis on Monday but acknowledged they have paid a heavy price — 30,000 dead — as a result of the U.S.-led invasion and its bloody aftermath.

As Iraqis began voting in parliamentary elections, Bush said that no country has formed a democracy without "challenges, setbacks and false starts."
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Bush unexpectedly invited questions from the audience and immediately was asked about the number of Iraqi casualties in the war.

"I would say 30,000 more or less have died as a result of the initial incursion and the ongoing violence against Iraqis," the president said. "We've lost about 2,140 of our own troops in Iraq."

White House counselor Dan Bartlett said later that Bush's estimate of the number of Iraqis killed was not an official figure but that the president was simply repeating public estimates reported in the media.
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"I regret that the American people have still not received a plan that identifies the remaining political, military and economic objectives that must be met in order to succeed," Reid said. "The window of opportunity for the Iraqi people and this administration to get things right will not stay open forever," Reid said.

Another of Bush's questioners challenged the administration's linkage of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with the Iraq war. Bush said that Saddam Hussein was a threat and he was widely believed to have weapons of mass destruction — a belief that later proved false.

"I made a tough decision," Bush said. "And knowing what I know today I'd make the decision again. Removing Saddam Hussein makes this world a better place and America a safer country."
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"Success will help the image of the United States," Bush said. "Look, I recognize we got an image issue, particularly when you've got Arabic television stations — that are constantly just pounding America, saying `America is fighting Islam,' `Americans can't stand Muslims,' `This is a war against a religion.'"

"We've got to, obviously, do a better job of reminding people that ours is not a nation that rejects religion. Ours is a nation that accepts people of all faiths, and that the great strength of America is the capacity for people to worship freely.

"It's difficult," the president said. "I mean, their propaganda machine is pretty darn intense, so we're constantly sending out messages. We're constantly trying to reassure people."

The Pentagon has acknowledged paying Iraqi journalists and newspapers to print favorable articles. Bush also has appointed Karen Hughes, a longtime confidante, as U.S. undersecretary of state for public diplomacy. Her mission is to reverse anti-American sentiment around the world.

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Damn, every word that comes out of his mouth is offensive! Wouldn't you think that bush should have a real figure on the number of Iraqis that have been killed because of his attack?
Doesn't he think that maybe he should admit that he made some mistakes and that maybe he would have done things differently? As it is, he just confirms everyone's current belief that he went to war on purpose and he was never interested in anything other than a war.
I find it funny that he talks about our country accepting people of all faiths as his conservative base wage a "war over christmas" in an attempt to exclude all other faiths during this time of year.
And then he talks about the propaganda machine that this administration operates as if he is proud of it!
What a freakin' jackass!