Kennedy Memoir Excerpt Blasts Bush Admin. For Iraq War

Talking Points Memo:

We've obtained an exclusive excerpt from the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's autobiography "True Compass" -- which goes on sale today -- in which the Massachusetts Democrat blasts the Bush administration's selling and execution of the Iraq War.

Read the whole story: Talking Points Memo

Comments

[kickatthedarkness]

"Principle VI

The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under international law:

(a) Crimes against peace:
(i) Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances;
(ii) Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the acts mentioned under (i)."

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/forgive-and-forgetforget/

[foxfan]

I'm a republican who supported the cause that we were supposed to be fighting for, but even I believed we were acting hastily. Once in Iraq I believed we had no clue what we were doing there. Let us learn these lessons should we ever need to fight another war.

[Gidster]

Co-sign!

[DocSyracuse]

Wow. What a suprising revelation.

[LateeLady]

I remember watching the screen in aghast when I heard then President Bush, talking about Sadam, that "this is the man that tried to kill my daddy". I knew then that this was more than 9/11 and said so (to all that would listen).

Kennedy's book, in this regard, is no revelation. I will buy a copy when it is released though

[Chili4me]

"There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein's regime is a serious danger, that he is a tyrant, and that his pursuit of lethal weapons of mass destruction cannot be tolerated. He must be disarmed."

-- Ted Kennedy

[Gidster]

Said in 2002, before the truth came out.

That is the difference, he supported the president's agenda and talking points until it was very evident that it was all fabrications.

An out of context quote from the run up to the war is not the same as Kennedy being gung ho about military action in Iraq.....

Intellectually dishonest.

[3fingerbrown]

Here's Teddy on the Senate floor in 2007 giving a blistering speech against the war. You don't need to read his book to know where he stood on the issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX3kSn-hlAo&feature=related

[rain33]

Teddy and other 23 senators who voted against the iraq war were right! at least he fought for his causes while pewny whimpy blue dogs are listening to republicans about spending control instead of thinking bout healthcare for their constituen­ts.what a bunch of wussies!

[chirps]

Who do we thank for the Iraq war (other than Bush)?

Aug. 16, 2002
Israel To U.S.: Don't Delay Iraq Attack


(CBS) Israel is urging U.S. officials not to delay a military strike against Iraq's Saddam Hussein, an aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Friday.

Israeli intelligence officials have gathered evidence that Iraq is speeding up efforts to produce biological and chemical weapons, said Sharon aide Ranaan Gissin.

"Any postponement of an attack on Iraq at this stage will serve no purpose," Gissin said. "It will only give him (Saddam) more of an opportunity to accelerate his program of weapons of mass destructio­n."

[More at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/08/18/world/main519037.shtml ]

[Gidster]

Seems that everyone except the CIA believed Saddam's "See how strong and dangerous I am" propaganda­.....

It was pointed out several times to Bush administration officials that Saddam had no means, but the WH reported "Mobile labs" and "Aluminum tubes" as well as "Yellowcake Uranium"..­..

I was suprised that it took as long as it did for the lies to come out.

[chirps]

Don't forget "mushroom clouds" and "yellow cake uranium." Bush is directly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of human beings in a war based on a lie; his lie. That really is criminal.

[Collielady]

This isn't news, but rather what we expected him to think and say, and as lefties we would have been puzzled, at best, if the good senator had NOT included such a commentary.

In eight years this country was brought to its knees, politically, socially, and financially. Many, such as the senator, were against the policies, but few listened. The others still can't handle the truth.

[Gidster]

And many still defend and support those actions as "The only way to be safe".....­..!?!

[soupson52]

And the truth shall set you free. Or you can deny reality and say, "Yes, but he..." The conclusion of that is since he kil.led someone (American female) in an accident (for which he showed remorse) a war kil.ling Iraquian babies is OK. Now what kind of tinfoil thinking is that?
To all you "he should be in jail" people, at that time in our history, NOBODY went to jail for having an accident that resulted in the death of a passenger.
To paraphrase Sojourner Truth, "Ain't them Iraquis persons too?"

[foxfan]

"Iraquian babies"? Taking liberties with the truth is never in vogue. Oppose the war, but be honest in your criticisms.

[Gidster]

Out of the 100 thousand plus reported Iraqi casualties, I am sure many were children, so the post was more hyperbolic than dishonest.­.....

[getoffmedz]

We were duped by Bush/Cheney and MSM.

Fact.

[CAHertzfe]

I too was angry after 9/11 and wanted to crush someone for the travesty that happened in NY. But, when the arguments for Iraq were being made, I wasn't buying it. There was too much evidence Bush was wrong and I noticed how the objections were swept under the rug and never heard about again.

[ohiomark]

Kennedy bashed Bush?

Oh my, I'm shocked!!

[IntellectuallyHonest]

Kennedy was a soldier. At least two of his brothers (Joe and John) were in World War II. Unlike most of the Senate, he has an idea of just how terrible war is.

Even reformers like Waxman voted for the war. It was a Likudnik/Defense Contractor bonanza.

Perhaps our country will never be destroyed militarily, but we are suffering as a direct consequence of all the spending on the war. Of course, it is the poor, who largely opposed the war that are doing mostt of the suffering. Some say what is happening is good for our country, that instead of driving SUV's we'll drive Honda Civics. But the truth is the super-wealthy, those who are most guilty for the war and the economic crisis have barely suffered at all. People all over the world are starving as a result of the war...