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September 22, 2004
President Bush’s stunningly out-of-touch speech at the United Nations yesterday reveals an administration that believes its own spin, not reality. He had nothing to say about controlling the rising insurgency in Iraq or pursuing new policies to ensure stability in the country. The president talked about non-proliferation but offered nothing on the rising nuclear threats from North Korea and Iran.
- President Bush preaches democracy but ignores real challenges to democratic government in Iraq. As the New York Times observes, the president delivered an “inexplicably defiant” speech that “glossed over the current dire situation in Iraq.” The president’s own intelligence analysts have concluded that Iraq will likely remain dangerously unstable – and possibly dissolve into civil war – over the next year without a change in policy. The president’s response to the CIA analysis? "[T]hey were just guessing as to what the conditions might be like.”
- President Bush continues to pat himself on the back for nabbing Saddam while North Korea and Iran are rapidly becoming nuclear nightmares. The president insists that a terrorist armed with a nuclear weapon is the greatest danger to our security, yet has nothing to say about the most critical nuclear threats in the world today. North Korea has quadrupled its nuclear stockpile over the last three years. And Iran just announced it will continue to enrich 37 tons of uranium – enough material to make 5 nuclear bombs.
- President Bush lacks the credibility necessary to rally our allies to America’s side. Acting more defensive than cooperative yesterday, President Bush proved that he has learned nothing from his earlier diplomatic failures. Meanwhile Americans are taking 90 percent of the casualties and paying 90 percent of the bill in Iraq. Smart diplomacy in the UN would certainly have made this burden lighter.
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund. |
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund. |
