Bush compares war on terror with WWII.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Bush compares war on terror with WWII.
21
Fri, 06-04-2004 - 10:21am

Is this a fair comparison? What is your reaction?


Is he using the D-Day ceremonies in an attempt justify the invasion of Iraq?


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3570538&thesection=news&thesubsection=world


United States President George W. Bush yesterday compared his war on terror to America's mission in World War II while calling for a new era of reform to avoid the emergence of "terrorist-controlled states" in the oil-rich Middle East.


In a speech to Air Force Academy graduates, the Republican President rejected claims that his Administration's policies in Iraq and Afghanistan have fuelled militancy in the Muslim world.

"Now freedom is stirring in the Middle East and no one should bet against it," Bush said a day after embracing a newly chosen Iraqi interim government.

"Overcoming terrorism and bringing greater freedom to the nations of the Middle East is the work of decades," he added.

"In the short term, we will work with every Government in the Middle East dedicated to destroying the terrorist networks. In the longer term, we will expect a higher standard of reform and democracy."

The address was billed as a follow-up to Bush's speech at the Army War College a week ago in which he discussed US expectations for democracy in Iraq, where a new interim government emerged to a deadly string of car bombs and clashes between American forces and insurgents.

The President has repeatedly held out the prospect of a democratic Iraq as a catalyst for political and economic reform across the region through a proposal called the Greater Middle East Initiative, which he will push at next week's Group of Eight summit during meetings with Western and Arab leaders.

His remarks were replete with references to World War II milestones and, at one point, Bush compared the September 11, 2001, attacks to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.

Undeterred by political pressure, Bush has donned the mantle of war President by undertaking a series of war-related speeches that will include a weekend appearance at the site of the 1944 Normandy invasion.

Bush travels to Europe today amid fears of violence in Italy, where demonstrators opposed to their country's role as US ally in Iraq plan widespread demonstrations.

"Like the Second World War, our present conflict began with a ruthless surprise attack on the US. We will not forget that treachery and we will accept nothing less than victory over the enemy," he said.

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry accused the President of misleading Americans by linking the Iraq war to September 11.

"It was the weapons of mass destruction which were given to Congress as the primary cause and rationale for our involvement. So I think that's once again misleading America, frankly," Kerry said.

The President acknowledged the danger of spreading violence in countries including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

"We will prevent the emergence of terrorist-controlled states," he told an audience of 29,300 people, who responded with lacklustre applause.

Administration officials have often compared the March 2003 invasion of Iraq with the popular Allied invasion of Europe.

Bush said he was never angry with France over its refusal to back the US-led war in Iraq, as both countries sought to play down past tensions ahead of the 60th anniversary of the D-day landings.

Bush is among 17 heads of state scheduled to attend the commemorations in Normandy.

Like French President Jacques Chirac, Bush said there was never any falling-out between the US and France, which led opposition to the war that ousted Saddam Hussein.

"I made a difficult decision and not everybody agreed with that decision. But I understand that," he said.

"Jacques told me clearly he did not think the use of force was necessary. We debated it as friends."

Chirac yesterday also denied relations with Bush had ever disintegrated or been affected by their disagreement over the Iraqi conflict.

"I was never angry with him and I never had the feeling that he was angry with me. We had a disagreement of views and that's normal."

cl-Libraone~

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-11-2004
Sat, 06-12-2004 - 5:35am
World War II did not just include the German Nazi's, it also included Mussolini (sp?) and the Japanese, the Japanese being the one's who attacked Pearl Harbor. During that time I do believe that the Japanese that were part of that movement( and I will not say all Japanese because that would be unfair and false)/German Nazis/Mussolini's army were terrorists.

After all, the actual definition of terrorism is as states:

state of being terrorized; the systematic use of terror, esp. through unlawful violence.


Does anyone remember kamikaze pilots a.k.a. suicide bomber pilots (look up the def.) ? Does anyone remember what happened to many villages in China, where the women were raped and murdered? And what of Auschwitz? If that isnt terrorizing then what is? That sounds pretty unlawful and violent to me. So does forcing 3 planes full of people into buildings and killing over 3,000 people. That is your connection. These parties were trying to impose their own beliefs upon the rights of others in such a horrific, terrifying way, it was their way or no way. And that is what we fought against then and this is what is being fought against now. I believe that President Bush meant no disrespect to the survivors of WWII, but was trying to put somewhat of a visual (for lack of a better word) on the importance of not allowing these terrorists to succeed. Imagine if 60 years ago they did? And imagine if 20, 40, 60 years from now if the threat that is upon the free world were to win? Do you think we could post these messages? Do you think that as a woman my body would be my own? Do you think that I will be allowed to hold christian beliefs? No and I pray everyday that the free world will rise together and fight for the freedoms that from what it sounds like we take for granted. And finally I pray for those who have sacrificed for what I have today and honor them the best way I know how and that is to fight for what they can no longer fight for - freedom. It seems there is a difference, a huge one between the WWII and the war we are fighting today, people realized what was at stake then and today it seems not a lot of us do.

May God Bless everyone!!

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