Volume 148 03-22-03 @ 9:00 PM(cst)
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Volume 148 03-22-03 @ 9:00 PM(cst) |
Plus -- The Conservative Quote of the Day
BLAME AMERICA FIRST?RNC |
| ON THE EVE OF WAR, DASCHLE TRIES TO GAIN PARTISAN ADVANTAGE With American Troops Poised To Fight, Daschle SENATOR TOM DASCHLE: “I’m Saddened, Saddened That This President Failed So Miserably At Diplomacy That We’re Now Forced To War. Saddened That We Have To Give Up One Life Because This President Couldn’t Create The Kind Of Diplomatic Effort That Was So Critical For Our Country.” (Senator Tom Daschle, Remarks At International Association Of Firefighters Conference, 3/17/03)
Senator Daschle Voted For The Resolution “To Authorize The Use Of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq” Last October. (H. J. Res. 114, Roll Call #237: Passed 77-23: R 48-1; D 29-21; I 0-1, 10/11/02, With Daschle Voting Yea.) Last Fall, Daschle Decried “Accusations” Over “National Security.” “We ought not politicize this war. We ought not politicize the rhetoric about war and life and death. … We have to rise to a higher level. … [I]t is not too late to forget the pollsters . . . the campaign fundraisers . . . [the] accusations about how interested in national security,” different parties are. (Senator Tom Daschle, Congressional Record, 9/25/02) Daschle Said “Never Once” Did He Politicize The War In Iraq In 1991-92, And Hoped We Would Have the “Same Level Of Debate This Time.” “I can recall in 1991 and 1992 … when President Bush made the decision he did. I can recall several of my staff coming to me, suggesting that we say this or that. But never once did I have someone on my staff … refer to the politics of the war with Iraq. … We need that same level of debate this time …” (Senator Tom Daschle, Congressional Record, 9/25/02) IN 1998, DASCHLE SUPPORTED USE OF FORCE Daschle Recognized That “Saddam Hussein Leaves Us Little Choice” But “The Use Of Force.” “[C]learly the intransigence on the part of the Iraqi government and Saddam Hussein leaves us little choice at this point … So I would think that, if nothing changes, the use of force at some point would be inevitable.” (William Neikirk, “Congress Talks Tough On Iraq,” Chicago Tribune, 2/5/98) Daschle Wanted A “United” And “Bipartisan” Message That “Iraq Must Comply.” “Iraq must comply. There is no choice. We stand united in our determination to do whatever is necessary … The United States has the resolve to ensure that compliance and we stand united today in an effort to articulate that very clear message as loudly, as unequivocally, and in as much of a bipartisan way as we can.” (Senator Tom Daschle, Congressional Record, 2/12/98) Daschle Called For “Immediate Iraqi Compliance” Or “Threat By Force” Would Be “Required.” “[A]bsent immediate Iraqi compliance … the security threat doesn’t simply persist – it worsens. Saddam Hussein must understand that the United States has the resolve to reverse that threat by force, if force is required.” (Senator Tom Daschle, Congressional Record, 2/12/98) SO WHY, ON THE EVE OF WAR, HAS |
President Bush Addresses the NationThe Oval Office |
March 19, 2003 10:16 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: My fellow citizens, at this hour, American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger. On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war. These are opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign. More than 35 countries are giving crucial support -- from the use of naval and air bases, to help with intelligence and logistics, to the deployment of combat units. Every nation in this coalition has chosen to bear the duty and share the honor of serving in our common defense. To all the men and women of the United States Armed Forces now in the Middle East, the peace of a troubled world and the hopes of an oppressed people now depend on you. That trust is well placed. The enemies you confront will come to know your skill and bravery. The people you liberate will witness the honorable and decent spirit of the American military. In this conflict, America faces an enemy who has no regard for conventions of war or rules of morality. Saddam Hussein has placed Iraqi troops and equipment in civilian areas, attempting to use innocent men, women and children as shields for his own military -- a final atrocity against his people. I want Americans and all the world to know that coalition forces will make every effort to spare innocent civilians from harm. A campaign on the harsh terrain of a nation as large as California could be longer and more difficult than some predict. And helping Iraqis achieve a united, stable and free country will require our sustained commitment. We come to Iraq with respect for its citizens, for their great civilization and for the religious faiths they practice. We have no ambition in Iraq, except to remove a threat and restore control of that country to its own people. I know that the families of our military are praying that all those who serve will return safely and soon. Millions of Americans are praying with you for the safety of your loved ones and for the protection of the innocent. For your sacrifice, you have the gratitude and respect of the American people. And you can know that our forces will be coming home as soon as their work is done. Our nation enters this conflict reluctantly -- yet, our purpose is sure. The people of the United States and our friends and allies will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder. We will meet that threat now, with our Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines, so that we do not have to meet it later with armies of fire fighters and police and doctors on the streets of our cities. Now that conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration is to apply decisive force. And I assure you, this will not be a campaign of half measures, and we will accept no outcome but victory. My fellow citizens, the dangers to our country and the world will be overcome. We will pass through this time of peril and carry on the work of peace. We will defend our freedom. We will bring freedom to others and we will prevail. May God bless our country and all who defend her. END 10:20 P.M. EST |
Bringing the war homeCompiled by Jim Leahy |
A group of American anti-war demonstrators who came to Iraq with Japanese human shield volunteers made it across the border today with 14 hours of uncensored video, all shot without Iraqi government minders present. Kenneth Joseph, a young American pastor with the Assyrian Church of the East, told UPI the trip "had shocked me back to reality." Some of the Iraqis he interviewed on camera "told me they would commit suicide if American bombing didn't start. They were willing to see their homes demolished to gain their freedom from Saddam's bloody tyranny. They convinced me that Saddam was a monster the likes of which the world had not seen since Stalin and Hitler. He and his sons are sick sadists. Their tales of slow torture and killing made me ill, such as people put in a huge shredder for plastic products, feet first so they could hear their screams as bodies got chewed up from foot to head." ****************************** Saddam Hussein is seen being placed on a stretcher and into an ambulance in photographs in the possession of the U.S. government showing what is described as "panicked digging" at the bunker/command-and-control facility that was struck in the first strike of the war March 19, U.S. officials told Fox News late Friday. Franks opened the briefing by expressing sympathy for the families of allied soldiers killed during the campaign. Asked later about casualties, he said: "These are wonderful young people ... my personal thoughts and prayers go out to their families." CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar -- Two British Royal Navy helicopters collided Saturday over the Persian Gulf, killing all seven on board including a U.S. Navy officer, military officials said. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Ben Owens said the U.S. Navy officer was among the seven on board who died. The rest were British. "All those on the helicopters have perished," Lockwood said. "It's a great tragedy." The poll found that 70 percent of Americans approved of Mr. Bush's handling of Iraq, an increase of 19 points in 10 days. The percentage of people who disapproved of Mr. Bush's Iraqi policy dropped 15 points, to 27 percent, during that same period. *Stocks Gain; Dow Has Best Week Since 1982 A Marine pilot from northeastern Illinois was killed in a helicopter crash in Kuwait at the start of the war, his family said Friday. Capt. Ryan Beaupre, 30, of St. Anne, about 60 miles south of Chicago, was the pilot of a CH-46 helicopter, according to his 31-year-old sister, Alyse Beaupre, who said the family was notified early Friday morning. Military officials confirmed a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force crashed Thursday, killing eight British and four U.S. marines, officials said. He went to college at both Purdue and Texas Tech universities, later leaving school and enlisting in the Marine Corps so he could earn money for future college tuition, friends said. A military helicopter crash in the Kuwaiti desert ended those dreams for Kennedy on Thursday. Kennedy, 25, died along with three other Americans and eight British soldiers. One of the first American casualties in the war against Iraq is a Baltimore man, and his family shared their feelings about the war Friday. WBAL-TV 11 NEWS first broke the news Friday afternoon that a Baltimore man is among a group of Marines killed in a helicopter crash inside Kuwait that happened late Thursday night. He is identified as Marine Staff Sgt. Kendall Waters-Bey, 29. THANK YOU! The AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort is a non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization managed by volunteer mothers dedicated to the deployed soldiers serving our country. Until recently, AdoptaPlatoon has been managed independent of outside funding; however, our efforts are increasing and your help is needed! If you would like to help us continue this patriotic effort, send AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort Every donation helps! Whether it's $10, $20, or $100, your gift will help to ensure this valuable effort continues as we support our U.S. soldiers! |
Conservative Quote of the Day |
| "No speech can adequately portray their suffering, their sacrifice, their heroism. President Lincoln once reminded us that through their deeds, the dead of battle have spoken more eloquently for themselves than any of the living ever could. But we can only honor them by rededicating ourselves to the cause for which they gave a last full measure of devotion." ==>Ronald Reagan Quotes Lincoln |
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