Wednesday 7 December 2005

Bush Cites Progress In Rebranding Iraq As Terror Center

WHIG Relieved As President Dismisses Critics and Media; Goes Retro To Tie In Pearl Harbor

Despite admitting of "some problems", President Bush today, in his second speech to define his "National Strategy For Victory In Iraq", went back to the original gameplan in branding the Iraq insurgency as "terrorists" and labeling, overall, that "we must recognize Iraq as the central front in the war on terror."

White House officials were nervous today, as the President gave his speech, to the Council on Foreign Relations - his first to a non-uniformed, military audience in recent memory. The President also abandoned his new term, "rejectionists" and returned to the straight-ahead title of "terrorists".

"We're still working on that", cited Dan Bartlett, Special Councilor to the President. "He's been so used to saying 'terrorist" that 'rejectionist' just doesn't roll off his tongue that easily".

The White House Iraq Group, led by Karl Rove and Andy Card, and whose members includes Karen Hughes, Mary Matalin, James R. Wilkinson, Nicholas E. Calio, Condoleezza Rice, Stephen Hadley (and,, formerly, Lewis (Scooter) Libby, issued a statement in which they stated "relief that the President hasn't put us out of business".

"We have too much invested," the statement read, "to have to backtrack at this point. There's a great deal of misinformation and smears that we've yet to release".

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a WHIG member, also stayed on message yesterday, defending the Bush Administration's use of the secret prisions and "extraordinary rendition", warning European allies of withholding United States support if they insist on criticizing the United States anti-terror programs.

Invoking the Administration's original position of "you're either with us or against us", Rice told the European Union "That co-operation is a two-way street," arguing European lives had been saved as a result.

"It is up to those governments and their citizens to decide if they wish to work with us to prevent terrorist attacks against their own country or other countries, and decide how much sensitive information they can make public," she added

Bartlett indicated that all members of the Bush Administratioin "are on the job" and that "getting back to our core message is like riding a bicycle".

Yesterday, Vice President Cheney, in a speech at Fort Drum in northern New York got on message and offered additional support to the President's "National Strategy For Victory In Iraq", heavy-handedly dismissing critics, saying "a sudden withdrawal would be unwise in the extreme."

"To leave that country before the job is done would be to hand Iraq over to car bombers and assassins," he said.

The President used his speech today to refocus the publics attention that Iraq is the spot, as the Administration has contended, as the vortex of terrorism.

"The terrorists have made it clear that Iraq is the central front in their way against humanity," he said. "So we must recognize Iraq as the central front in the war on terror."

Senator John Murtha (D-PA), who has been openly critical of the Bush Administration's handling of the War in Iraq, and two-weeks ago, called for a stragegic, planned withdrawal is dismissive of the President calling Iraq "the centor front on the war on terror", citing U.S. Military data that says "only about 7%" of the attacks carried out in Iraq are from Al-Qeada and other terror groups.

The President surprised even the WHIG members by going off script in his speech today by tying in the attack on Pearl Harbor 64-years ago to the present fight against terrorism.

"Today, we mark the anniversary of a fateful day in American history," he said. "On Dec. 7, 1941, our peaceful nation awoke to an attack plotted in secret and executed without mercy."

The President added that the attack of Pearl Harbor roused "a great generation of Americans" and that the terrorist attacks of four-years ago would continue to be avenged.

As had been widely reported and covered, from both independent and Congressional investigations, no link between Saddam Hussein and the 9/11 attacks has ever been established.

Bartlett refused to comment on the President, and Administration repeated use of tying the Iraqi War to Sept 11th but did say it "was a nice touch, to bring in Pearl Harbor".

Washington Post Reporter and author Bob Woodward indicated that he "has heard of Pearl Harbor" and believes he "knows the full story" but has yet to advise is editors and colleagues of that information.

President Bush today, following his speech, introduced two new agents in his "Nationa Strategy For Victory In Iraq", indicating the pair is "pure dynamite".