In February 2003, the president was insistent that he hoped to find a peaceful solution to his standoff with Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, and would work with and through the United Nations to resolve the conflict. At least, that was what he was saying publicly.
According to a new report published today by El Pais, Spain’s largest daily newspaper, Bush told then-Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar at the time that he was going to invade Iraq no matter what happened. Spanish speakers can read the transcript of their discussion — I’m a little rusty — but E&P has a report on the revelations.
Bush purportedly said he planned to invade Iraq in March “if there was a United Nations Security Council resolution or not…. We have to get rid of Saddam. We will be in Baghdad at the end of March.”
He said the U.S. takeover would happen without widespread destruction. He observed that he was willing to play bad cop to British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s good cop.
According to the transcript, Aznar asked Bush to be more patient and emphasized the importance of a U.N. resolution. The president said he was out of patience. Aznar said he was worried that Bush was overly optimistic about what would happen. Bush reportedly said, “I am optimistic because I believe I am right. I am at peace with myself.”
Yeah, yeah ... we all knew it anyway, but it's nice to have more evidence. Can I come live over there? I'll learn to drive on the wrong side of the road and everything, I promise.
I know enough Spanish to be
I know enough Spanish to be able to read the text. What is significant is that Bush and Rice are making dozens of assumptions: we know that Iraq hasn't disarmed, Blix's next report will be more negative, they will manage to get a second resolution, the invasion will be easy and rebuilding Iraq will be easy. They never ask themselves "what happens if these assumptions are wrong". I seem to remember that at about the same time Blair was asked "What happens if you don't get the second resolution" and his reply was something like "I will get the second resolution. I'm working so hard for a second resolution." So here Bush, Rice and Aznar are never saying "What do we do if the WMD asren't there, or if the second resolution fails?"
When Aznar says "this is changing 200 years of Spanish history" he is presumably hinting that this involves Spain attacking another country which hasn't happened for 200 years. When he says that an invasion with a UN resolution is different from an invasion without a UN resolution, he is hinting that it will be much more difficult for him if there is no second resolution. However he isn't saying that he wouldn't take part in the invasion of there wasn't one. He never says to Bush and Rice "you're making assumptions, let's discuss them". It would seem to be impossible for there to be a peaceful solution (even though they were publically saying that there could be one) because they were making assumptions that ruled out a peaceful solution. (Saddam would have had to declare that he had weapons that he in fact didn't have.)
One of the most interesting things for me is that Bush is saying openly that he is threatening Angola with withdrawal of Millenium Fund money of they don't vote for the second resolution, and threatening Chile about trade agreements. In practice, of course, the Swing Six were so incensed with this arm-twisting that they refused to give in. And the last time I looked, Angola was still getting money from the Millenium Fund and the USA was trying to be friends with Angola again.
There is now an English
There is now an English transation in the 58th comment on the Crooks and Liars blog.
As the guy says, it is sometimes a bit hard to know what they're going on about. But it is difficult to see how they were looking for a peaceful solution.
"Can I come live over there?
"Can I come live over there? I'll learn to drive on the wrong side of the road and everything, I promise."
Let's review where you're going...
Health
Our health system stinks, despite record levels of investment people in my neck of the woods are terrified of the health service and who would blame them. The recent privatisation of our health care means that it is destined to terminal decline and will continue to kill its patients because its staff couldn't give a toss.
Education
In a perverse alliance of privatisation and irrational thinking we are generating fucked up kids no use to industry despite the headlines.
Police
Britain has one of the highest crime rates in the developed world, and one of the most ineffective police forces. nuff said.
Economy
Thanks to the Blair Witch we dumped sanity and got rid of manufacturing for a knowledge-based economy that is hemorrhaging jobs shored up by the crumbling cash cow that is the city.
Government
On the brite side we have a fabulous government, if it weren't for that pesky democracy thing and them not realising that they are just batteries.
welcome to the UK.
This is also analysed by
This is also analysed by Juan Cole on his blog, with some bits translated. Juan highlights the arrogance and bullying by Bush.
Belgium then? I understand
Belgium then? I understand they have no government whatsoever...
Belgium, great beer and fabu
Belgium, great beer and fabu chips (freedom fries) but alas they don't speak american. The abc1s that are fleeing our shores prefer Canada, Australia & New Zealand if they are young and the south of Cheese Eating Surrender Monkey land if your older. Here to help, ttfn.
You know PA, girlfriend and
You know PA, girlfriend and I were there for a wedding last month, and, at least in Ghent and Brussels, almost everyone we came across spoke English. I only had to use my high school French to order once, and thankfully I got what I ordered. And yes - the beer is like champagne - I drank a lot of something called Leffe Blonde, which I'm now trying to find on draft in NYC. Chimay was also delicious, and I can get that here.
Blogenfreude old bean have
Blogenfreude old bean have you ever heard Wallon or Flemish? its akin to someone who has taken to much expectorant and is trying to expel a pound of phlem, even the natives think this sucks. But I take your point american is the lingua franca of choice in Europe with the exception of just one country, you know, those damn Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys (suprise suprise). So I concede your point, Go Belgium.
Blair was holding Bush's
Blair was holding Bush's coat during GWB's badgering of ... er ... discusions with the Spanish PM. Good going, Antoinette.