Ron Davies - 15 Dec 05 - 08:11 PM

"In fact, the "general populace" had to be convinced, lest they toss out their elected representatives at the first opportunity for voting to give authority to Mr. Bush to go to war without a fig-leaf of justification.

What you do in Bush's situation--( in a democratic country)--is mislead the electorate to they will OK their legislators' decision to support you. I suspect you may have heard this before."

Now the first opportunity would be the 2002 Mid-Term Elections in November 2002, in which the Republicans did very well. So take a look at the timeline:

January 2002 - State of the Union Address, President states clearly that there are two distinct objectives, the first being the terrorist organisations and rank and file themselves, the second being nations with governments, or regimes likely to sponsor, or give aid to those terrorist groups.

Late Spring/early Summer 2002 - The House Security Committee had already identified the countries/goverments/regimes that potentially posed a threat to the United States of America by means of possible support for terrorist organisations.

Summer 2002 - US go to the UN to force action on outstanding resolutions with regard to Iraq.

Late Summer 2002 - UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1441, "the last chance" resolution. Iraq invites UNSCOM inspection teams to return to Iraq.

November 2002 - Mid-Term Elections

From the above it already looks as though Iraq was already well positioned within the frame, there was no need to sell the electorate on that. I would imagine that the performance of the Republican Party in the 2002 mid-term elections had more to do with a vote of confidence in a President and an Administration who were demonstrating leadership and resolve, they had after all, by the time the electorate went to the polls, suceeded in:
- Removing the Taleban from power in Afghanistan;
- Driving Al-Qaeda from its training camps and put them very much on the defensive;
- Forcing the UN Security Council into taking action over Iraq (despite marked resistance from France, Russia, Germany and China);
- Getting weapons inspection teams invited back into Iraq.

It would appear that the "crowd" in office were doing their job and keeping the promises made earlier with regard to protecting the country from threat of attack.

That, Ron, was what Bush did during the period you think we should be so interested. Oh, by the way what the President admitted to the other day was with regard to faulty intelligence on which HE based HIS decision to invade Iraq - No mention at all about him having to push it to sell anything, that is your opinion of it.

The next opportunity would be the 2004 Elections, in which the Republicans again do rather well, not to mention the President himself, what was it again just over 62 million votes.

Your "Propaganda Campaign" is a myth, it is a fabrication hung on the coat hanger of the rational, logical and clearly described intended plan of action outlined in the 2002 SOU Address.