short piece from D. Kuchinich

[Dr. Karen Tracy]

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 14, 2005
12:19 PM

CONTACT: Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich
Doug Gordon (202) 225-5871(o); (202) 494-5141(c)
 
Kucinich: The President Is Responsible
Responsible For The Dead And Injured US Troops, Dead Iraqi Civilians,
Waste Of $250 Billion Taxpayer Money, and Failed Occupation
 

WASHINGTON - December 14 - Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) issued
the following statement today following the President's latest speech
on Iraq to the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington DC:

"The United States went to war not because of faulty intelligence, but
because the Bush Administration manipulated intelligence to mislead the
public and to establish a pretext to attack a nation which did not
attack us.

"The President, who has given a series of reasons for the war, in his
latest in a series of speeches promoting the war, now says one thousand
days after the invasion, it was about getting rid of Saddam Hussein.
Not about WMD's, because there were none. Not about Iraq obtaining
uranium from Niger. It did not. Not about Iraq's connection to 9/11,
because there was none. Not about Iraq's connection to Al-Qeada and
9/11, because there was none.

"The President now says he is responsible for the war in Iraq. I agree
with the President. He is responsible. He is responsible for attacking
a nation that did not attack us. He is responsible for the 2,151
American troops killed in Iraq. He is responsible for the 15,881 US
troops injured in the war. He is responsible for at least 30,000 Iraqi
civilians killed since the start of the war. He is responsible for
draining $250 billion from US taxpayers to pay for the war. And he is
responsible for the failed reconstruction and for the continued
occupation.

"I am glad to see the President, one thousand days later, is prepared
to admit mistakes. He still has one more admission to go: That our
continued occupation in Iraq is counterproductive and needs to end
quickly."