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Bush on 5 Years: Removing Saddam Right Decision
Mar 19, 2008
BY By C. Todd Lopez
President George W. Bush speaks to a group of military members March 19 at the Pentagon, on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq. Photo by C. Todd Lopez
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, March 19, 2008) -- Five years ago, American forces marched into Iraq to liberate that nation. Today, President George W. Bush affirmed the decision was the right one.

"Five years into this battle, there is an understandable debate over whether the war was worth fighting, whether the fight is worth winning, and whether we can win it," Bush told a gathering of military members at the Pentagon. "The answers are clear to me: Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision -- and this is a fight America can and must win."

The president also told the gathered military members that their contributions to the war efforts in Iraq have not gone unnoticed, and that he was in fact proud of their hard work and sacrifice in the country.

"The men and women who crossed into Iraq five years ago removed a tyrant, liberated a country, and rescued millions from unspeakable horrors," Bush said. "Some of those troops are with us today, and you need to know that the American people are proud of your accomplishment -- and so is the commander in chief."

The President told those gathered that once they had liberated the Iraqi people from the oppressive regime of Saddam Hussein, his soldiers retreated, took off their uniforms, and blended in with insurgents to help prevent the spread of freedom across Iraq.

"Former regime elements took off their uniforms and faded into the countryside to fight the emergence of a free Iraq," he said. "They were joined by foreign terrorists who were seeking to stop the advance of liberty in the Middle East and seeking to establish safe havens from which to plot new attacks across the world."

In spite of the efforts of former regime members and terrorists to prevent freedom from taking root in Iraq, American forces, aided by coalition partners, have helped the Iraqi people stake a claim in democracy, and have helped them recover from life under the dictatorial rule of Hussein.

"And as they've battled the terrorists and extremists in Iraq, they have helped the Iraqi people reclaim their nation, and helped a young democracy rise from the rubble of Saddam Hussein's tyranny," Bush said.

Next month, military leaders will come to Washington, D.C., to testify before lawmakers on Capitol Hill about the status of the war in Iraq. President Bush said only after those military leaders, the commanders, have made their recommendation, will he make decisions about the number of troops that should continue in Iraq.

"Any further drawdown will be based on conditions on the ground and the recommendations of our commanders -- and they must not jeopardize the hard-fought gains our troops and civilians have made over the past year," he said.

President Bush said that pulling out of Iraq too soon could allow terrorists to regain a foothold there, to build safe havens, and to strengthen their resolve to destroy freedom in Iraq, the United States and in other free nations.

"If we were to allow our enemies to prevail in Iraq, the violence that is now declining would accelerate -- and Iraq would descend into chaos," he said. "Out of such chaos in Iraq, the terrorist movement could emerge emboldened -- with new recruits, new resources, and an even greater determination to dominate the region and harm America."

In order to prevent terrorists from again taking root in Iraq, President Bush resolved to continue the fight and to continue to do what is necessary to ensure freedom in Iraq and to ensure that America stays safe.

"Throughout the war on terror, we have fought the enemy on every single battlefront," he said. "And so long as the terrorist danger remains, the United States of America will continue to fight the enemy wherever it makes its stand."
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If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag. ~Author Unknown

I agree it was the right decision 100%

And I DON'T pretend to understand the logistics of war and why we're still in Iraq and Not yet turned our attention fully on getting the other idiot that is still hiding in the mountains of Afghanistan.

I think it is time to stop baby sitting the Iraqi people and let them run their own government again.

Does anybody else find it ironic we're trying to illiminate the Taliban yet right here in our OWN country terrorist like the ACLU and NAACP are gaining power?

Then there is the issue of street gangs like the LA gangs "Bloods" and "Crypts" that should be considered terrorist just as the Taliban are.

Point is we can't handle our own problems, how the Hell are we supposed to solve another countries issues?

Anyway I'll put away the soap box now.
Those are just MY views on the situation.

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I have said over and over that we should have left Iraq right after we got Saddam and son's..I have said we need to stop trying to police the world and police our own streets. I have said I think we have (right now) one wrong war and one right one...And I mean wrong by it is time to get the hell out of there and let Iraq stand on her own two feet or fall. Right war means time to kick Osama's ass..But when I say this on other boards I get told I do not support my troops. So if I think it is time we leave Iraq is that not supporting my troops? I nor do my friends or family that happen to be there think it is not supporting them. But I would like to her from the rest of you.
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To me it sounds like you feel as many of us do,
and that is that we just DON'T want or need another Vietnam on our hands.

Be it in Iraq OR Afghanastan.
YES I think it is time we let the Iraqi people stand on their own but then I DON'T know I've never been there and I'm quite sure that NONE of us are being told the whole story so it is hard for us to form educated opinions on the matter.
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Rmlp34 wrote:

Speaking as a veteran who just left Military service in 2004 after 20 years service, I can say I agree. I support the efforts of our fine young men and women in the theater of operations and else where but when we got Hussein and his demon spawn and the free elections were held, we should have called it quits and let the Iraqis handle it from then. I support the troops with all my being, always have always will but I also support the rest of them getting home in ONE piece ALIVE to their families & Friends...
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Thanks guys...
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