Presidents Remarks On Iraq And Afghanistan Defy Reality

While convention speeches are known for their hyperbole, President Bushs acceptance speech completely defied reality. An article appearing this week in the web magazine News Informant shows how President Bushs claim that Freedom is on the march" is misleading with regard to Iraq and Afghanistan, where violence is on the rise, democracy has yet to be instituted and fundamental infrastructure has not been established.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) September 8, 2004 -- The News Informant article, entitled Acceptance Speech Remarks On Iraq And Afghanistan Defy Reality," explains that, in President Bushs acceptance speech he avoided issues that have raised criticism, touching only briefly on three pieces of legislation that have already passed.

Instead, the President concentrated on those portions of his address that supported him as being a strong leader in a time of national crisis following September 11, 2001. However, as part of his testimony of administrative successes, Bush stated, Because we acted to defend our country, the murderous regimes of Saddam Hussein and the Taliban are history, more than 50 million people have been liberated...."

But, according to News Informant editor Bernard Perlstein, the Presidents assurance that the Taliban in Afghanistan has been defeated was belied by a statement by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who noted the increasing violence in Afghanistan, including in the north, which had previously been considered the safest area. Fighting had reached a level unprecedented since the fall of the Taliban," remarked Annan. In reality, the Taliban and their sympathizers have led attacks in many parts of the country and most of Afghanistan is still under the power of reigning warlords," said Perlstein. The pro-Western government of Hamid Karzai controls only a small area surrounding the capital of Kabul," he added

In Iraq, similar turmoil exists. "Rebels are the prevailing leaders of many Iraqi cities," Perlstein declared. In fact a report released last week by Britains highly regarded Royal Institute of International Affairs, states that Iraq will be lucky if it manages to avoid a breakup and civil war. The report noted that the UN representative to Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi, who negotiated the acceptance of the interim Iraqi government with Iraqi leaders several months ago, had called attention to the possibility of civil war during his visit to Iraq in February.

Facts collected by the U.S. GAO state that fifteen months after the commencement of hostilities in Iraq, the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority turned over sovereignty to a country that was in worse shape and had significantly diminished stability than before the war," Perlstein concludes.

The News Informant original article in its entirety, and its sources, can be found on the web at: http://www.newsinformant.com/2004_09_06/politics.php#000772. A free registration is required to view the article.

To request a free copy of the article, or to obtain reprint rights or other use of the article, please contact Media@newsinformant.com.

About News Informant Inc.

News Informant Inc. publishes News Informant, a weekly U.S.-based web news magazine focusing on news analysis of important domestic and global issues that are not sufficiently covered by the U.S. media. The magazine uses primarily respected worldwide online source material to render original information and perspectives. The periodical follows the slogan, Its Not Just the News -- Its Whats Behind the News."

Note that News Informant is a registered trademark of News Informant Inc.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Tonya D. Hottmann

News Informant Inc.

312-644-9868

http://www.newsinformant.com

# # #