Gordon Smith: The Great Conflator
What is the greatest sin committed by Bush 'the Decider' in leading the United States into the debacle that is the current war in Iraq ? For many, it's Bush and 'the Misleaders' conflation of the September 11th tragedy with a supposed "imminent threat" posed by Saddam Hussein – done to manipulate public opinion and justify attacking Iraq .
And while Rove and the Bush Administration's activities in the context of the November 2002 mid-term elections have been well-documented, the active hyping/conflation of the Iraq "threat" with 9/11 that was done by Republican candidates is an important, yet overlooked component of evaluating the motives of Republicans now distancing themselves from Bush and a failed strategy in Iraq.
The great conflator of 9/11 and
Gordon Smith (R-OR)
Consider the following:
Gordon Smith, Oregonian, 9/25/2002:
"all terrorist roads pass through Baghdad"
Oregonian, 9/23/2002:
He said the underlying Bush doctrine calling for pre-emptive use of military force "is the issue that gives me the most heartburn" as the [Iraq] debate approaches. "But 9/11 is the antacid for that heartburn," Smith said. "That recalculates everyone's computer on national defense."
Lest one think those quotes are lacking context or somehow less wildly irresponsible than they actually are, let's hear the Senator in his own, unedited words:
Gordon Smith op-ed, Oregonian,
This is the burden of being the world's lone great power. It rests on the president, on Congress, but more importantly, it rests on the people of the
Gordon Smith, US Senate Floor speech,
I have no doubt that Saddam Hussein presents an imminent threat to
It is only with a heavy heart that any of us can reach the solemn conclusion that our young men and women may have to risk their lives in defense of our Nation. But the heavy weight of proof moves us now to prevent the loss of more American lives. …
This burden rests on the President, on the Congress, but more importantly, it rests on the people of the
Of course, Senator Smith doesn't want to talk about the misleading fear-mongering he engaged in during the 2002 campaign. He won't discuss how he got it so wrong, and why he blindly followed President Bush for so long. Whether he made a mistake or regrets his vote. According to Smith: "That's all history."
The Oregonian suggested recently that Smith's constant flip-flopping on
There's an understatement.
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