Three quick hits:
Gerald Ford told Bob Woodward in 2004 that George W. Bush made a mistake in invading Iraq. He stipulated that the comments couldn't be made public until after his death.
Forget a "surge." The more accurate word for what we want to avoid in Iraq is "escalate."
Meanwhile, Saddam sounds resigned to his fate and, in a letter to Iraqis, urges them "not to hate the nations that assaulted us.''
The night of Ford's death, I was watching MSNBC which showed an interview with Ford prior to the invasion of Iraq where he said the US was justified even if we didn't find WMD's...so I guess I am slightly confused. Or maybe Ford just changed his mind.
Posted by: Jessica | December 28, 2006 at 03:44 PM
Jessica, it appears that like so many others in Washington, Ford changed his mind after the initial invasion. He made his comments to Woodward in 2004, more than a year after the invasion.
Posted by: Julie Fanselow | December 28, 2006 at 04:00 PM
I guess my problem is his statement before the invasion was that the US would be justified even if we didn't find WMD's. Most of those who changed their minds did so because we didn't find WMD's, whereas Ford didn't, it appear, to give any conditional support, but unconditional support, which I have a huge problem with.
It was interesting to hear my Republican father remark that Nixon should've gone to jail/prison. Made me reflect back to the remark someone made that a nation can't heal until the wound(s) is cleansed. I agree. Nixon should never have been pardoned.
Posted by: Jessica | December 28, 2006 at 05:10 PM
There just seem to be inconsistencies between his 2004 statements and interview on MSNBC. Inconsistencies that are explained away by a change of mind.
Posted by: Jessica | December 28, 2006 at 05:20 PM
Confusion would not be the word I would choose. I admit, after the briefing by Sec. Powell to the UN I was in favor of the war. As more and more information is coming to light the crminial activities of the current administration are being highlighted. How this administration was able to get away with thier actions will be the case for historians to work out and for America to focus on not allowing to happen again. The word I would use is reexamination.
As 2006 ends and we all look towards 2007 I have to say one of my new year's resolution is more of a hope. A peaceful solution to bring our troops home.
Posted by: David Erin Anthony | December 31, 2006 at 08:59 AM
David wrote: "As 2006 ends and we all look towards 2007 I have to say one of my new year's resolution is more of a hope. A peaceful solution to bring our troops home."
Amen to that.
Posted by: Julie Fanselow | December 31, 2006 at 06:15 PM