Bush: Dems' 'argument buys into the enemy's propaganda'

RAW STORY
Published: Friday September 29, 2006

A day after calling them the "cut-and-run" party, President Bush continued his attack on Democrats for "selectively" quoting an intelligence report, claiming that their "argument buys into the enemy's propaganda."

"The [National Intelligence Estimate] is a document that analyzes the threat we face from terrorists and extremists, and its unauthorized disclosure has set off a heated debate here in the United States, particularly in Washington," Bush said in a speech to the Reserve Officers Association in Washington, DC.

"Some have selectively quoted from this document to make the case that by fighting the terrorists, by fighting them in Iraq, we are making our people less secure here at home," Bush continued.

The president said that "argument buys into the enemy's propaganda that the terrorists attack us because we're provoking them."

"I want to remind the American citizens that we were not in Iraq on September 11th, 2001," said Bush.

Excerpts from Bush's speech:

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The NIE is a document that analyzes the threat we face from terrorists and extremists, and its unauthorized disclosure has set off a heated debate here in the United States, particularly in Washington. Some have selectively quoted from this document to make the case that by fighting the terrorists, by fighting them in Iraq, we are making our people less secure here at home.

This argument buys into the enemy's propaganda that the terrorists attack us because we're provoking them. I want to remind the American citizens that we were not in Iraq on September 11th, 2001. (Applause.)

And this argument was powerfully answered this week by Prime Minister Tony Blair. Here's what he said. He said, "I believe passionately that we will not win until we shake ourselves free of the wretched capitulation to the propaganda of the enemy that somehow we are the ones responsible." (Applause.)

He went on to say, "This terrorism is not our fault. We didn't cause it, and it is not the consequence of foreign policy." He's right. You do not create terrorism by fighting terrorism. (Applause.) If that ever becomes the mind-set of the policymakers in Washington, it means we'll go back to the old days of waiting to be attacked and then respond. Our most important duty is to protect the American people from a future attack, and the way to do so is to stay on the offense against the terrorists. (Applause.)

Iraq is not the reason the terrorists are at war against us. They're at war against us because they hate everything America stands for. And we stand for freedom. We stand for people to worship freely. One of the great things about America is you're equally American if you're a Jew, a Muslim, a Christian, an agnostic or an atheist. What a powerful statement to the world about the compassion of the American people that you're free to choose the religion you want in our country.

They can't stand the thought that people can go into the public square in America and express their differences with government. They can't stand the thought that the people get to decide the future of our country by voting. Freedom bothers them because their ideology is the opposite of liberty, is the opposite of freedom. And they don't like it because we know -- they know we stand in their way of their ambitions in the Middle East, their ambitions to spread their hateful ideology as a caliphate from Spain to Indonesia.

We'll defeat the terrorists in Iraq. We'll deny them the safe havens to replace the one they lost in Afghanistan. We're going to make it harder for them to recruit a new generation of terrorists. And we're going to help the Iraqis build a free society, a hopeful country that sends a powerful message across the broader Middle East and serves with those of us who believe in moderation and hope as an ally in the war against these extremists.

We can have confidence in the outcome of the war on (this ?) terror because our nation is determined. We have done this kind of hard work before and we have succeeded. And we can be confident because we've got incredible men and women who wear our nation's uniform. (Applause.)

I am constantly amazed at the incredible courage that our fellow citizens who wear the uniform show on a regular basis. I think of two Navy SEALs named Matthew Axelson and Danny Dietz. In June of 2005, they were part of a SEAL team operating deep in the mountains of Afghanistan on a mission to kill or capture a Taliban leader. They were discovered, and they were soon surrounded in a mountain ravine by 30 to 40 Taliban fighters. During the firefight that ensued, Axelson urged an injured teammate to escape, and he provided cover before suffering a mortal wound. Fighting nearby, his partner, Dietz, was also mortally wounded, but he stood his ground and kept firing until finally he -- he finally died.

Because of the courage of Petty Officers Axelson and Dietz, their wounded teammate made it out alive. For their heroism, these two petty officers were awarded the Navy Cross. But I want you to hear what Petty Officer Dietz's wife said about her husband and his comrades in arms. She said, "Danny and his brothers went toward evil and ran forward and gave their last breath."

We live in freedom because of the courage of men like Matthew and Danny, and we will honor their sacrifice by completing the mission. (Applause.)

From Afghanistan and Iraq to Africa and Southeast Asia, we are engaged in a struggle against violent extremists -- a struggle which will help determine the destiny of the civilized world. We've borne these responsibilities before, and we have seen our faith in freedom vindicated by history. In this young century, a new generations of Americans is being called to defend liberty, and once again the cause of liberty and peace will prevail.

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