5th Anniversary of Bush's "Bring 'em On" -- 4000 U.S. Deaths Later

It appeared, quite briefly and only in passing, in the New York Times five years ago today, recording a statement by George W. Bush.

"President Bush today came close to taunting Iraqis who were attacking American-led forces in Iraq and said the assaults would not cause the United States to leave prematurely," the Times reported on July 2, 2003. Bush added: '''There are some who feel like -- that the conditions are such that they can attack us there. 'My answer is, bring them on. We've got the force necessary to deal with the security situation.'''

An AP account the following day reported that the official White House transcript of the press gathering had Bush saying "bring them on" but "reporters say the phrase actually sounded like 'bring 'em on.'"

In any case, the remarks inspired outrage. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) called the president's language "irresponsible and inciteful." Sen. John Kerry said they were "unworthy of the office."

To that point in 2003, 186 Americans had lost their lives in Iraq. More than 4000 American military personnel, and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians, have died since that date. Nearly 30,000 Americans have been wounded.

In 2006, Bush admitted that this "kind of tough talk, you know, that sent the wrong message to people....I learned some lessons about expressing myself maybe in a little more sophisticated manner, you know.... I think in certain parts of the world it was misinterpreted."

But the day after "bring 'em on," White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said Bush was far from apologetic. He was only expressing his faith in the strength and capability of U.S. forces. "The president expressed it, said it, because he views it as a way to express confidence in the forces," Fleischer told reporters.

Asked five years ago today about the missing Iraqi WMD, Bush replied, "It's just a matter of time, a matter of time." Fleischer said the burden was on those who had always said there were no WMD -- they should try to find out how Saddam had recently destroyed all of them.

On the day of "bring 'em on" Travis J. Bradachnall, a corporal in the Marines, was killed in an explosion during a mine clearing operation near the city of Karbala.
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Greg Mitchell's book is the first five-year history of the war. It is So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq.

Comments

[irishgawdess]

These cowboy remarks are the ONLY things he can think of to regret, after ALL that's gone on over the past five years. Makes him seem, hmm? Oh right, barely human.

[hopeless277]

As long as the Democratic leadership is on board with Bush there is nothing any of us can do to stop this war. Obama has demonstrated that he will take the GOP line if he thinks it will help HIM. There are no saviors. There are no heros. There is no one who will stop this madness. There is no one in congress that even wants to.

[kjdwyer]

Very good to be reminded of our chaw-chewing, knuckle-dragging troglodyte of a president's incredibly irresponsible remarks.

One thing I would encourage you to do, Mr. Mitchell, is to start using the figures that are more telling of the real situation in Iraq. Yes, if you only count those Iraqi's killed as a result of being caught in the American attributed cross fire, the figure is "tens of thousands."

If, however, you include deaths by violence attributed to the lack of security in the country (which is squarely our fault; remember Paul Bremer and his decsion to disband the Iraqi army?) -- roberies, rape-murders, violence between various competing factions, etc.-- the figure climbs to over one million. Most journalists outside of the U.S. are using the one million figure. To continue to characterize it as "tens of thousands" diminishes the carnage.

You would also do well to mention the four million Iraqis that have fled the country and are living as refugees in various parts of the Middle East.

None of this can be overstated.

[SonnyBono]

Total American deaths 4113 to date - including the 13 Americans killed by faulty electrical work by KBR and W still has delusions of a legacy and thinks that war is romantic. Perhaps if the Coward in Chief had actually served in the military other than his brief stint playing fighter pilot, he would appreciate the true nature of war and not be so quick to send better men to do his fighting and dying for him and the oil companies.

Gee, five years since the "Bring 'em on" comment - no wander, he is trying to manage a war with Iran. He is just looking for another opportunity to wear that spiffy flight suit.

Support the troops - bring them home.

Support the Constitution - impeach the bastard.