Progress

Remarkable Progress Has Been Made In Iraq In The Last Three Years

On March 19, 2003, United States And Coalition Forces Launched Operation Iraqi Freedom. Life in Iraq under Saddam Hussein was marked by brutality, fear, and terror. Iraqis had no voice in their country or their lives. Saddam Hussein devastated Iraq, wrecked its economy, ruined and plundered its infrastructure, and destroyed its human capital.

Three Years Later, Iraq Has A Democratically Elected Government. The reign of a dictator has been replaced by a democratically elected government operating under one of the most progressive constitutions in the Arab world. Millions of Iraqis have joined the political process over the past year alone. The transition from three decades of dictatorship to a fully functioning democracy is still difficult, and Iraq must overcome many more challenges before it fully secures its democratic gains.

Ø Saddam Hussein Is Facing Justice In An Iraqi Court. The Iraqi people are holding Saddam accountable for his crimes and atrocities.

The Next Year Will Bring A Consolidation Of These Gains, Helping A New Iraqi Government Stabilize The Nation And Build A Solid Foundation For Democracy And Increased Economic Growth. Iraq's elected leaders are diligently working to form a government that will represent all the Iraqi people. As the Iraqi government comes together and Iraqi Security Forces continue improving their readiness, efforts to stabilize the nation will increasingly be Iraqi-led. We will support the Iraqi government in these difficult times, and we will keep our commitment to the Iraqi people.

Securing A Lasting Victory In Iraq Will Make America:

Ø Safer by depriving terrorists of a safe haven from which they can plan and launch attacks against the United States and American interests overseas.

Ø More Secure by facilitating reform in a region that for decades has been a source of violence and stagnation and depriving terrorist control over a hub of the world's economy.

Ø Stronger by demonstrating to our friends and enemies the reliability of U.S. power, the strength of our commitment to our friends, and the tenacity of resolve against our enemies.

Despite Progress, The Situation On The Ground Remains Tense. As al Qaida’s actions and statements show, terrorists reject democracy, reject peace, and want to impose their own concept of a dictatorial government on the Iraqi people. The United States and its Coalition partners are united in support of the Iraqi people and helping them win their struggle for freedom. The terrorists know they lack the military strength to challenge Iraqi and Coalition forces directly – so their only hope is to try and provoke a civil war. Immediately after the attack on the Golden Mosque of Samarra, the Iraqi people looked into the abyss and did not like what they saw. Iraqis have shown the world they want a future of freedom and peace – and they will oppose a violent minority that seeks to take that future away from them by tearing their country apart.
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Economic Recovery

The low unemployment rate caught the attention of financial markets and reinforced opinion that interest rates were likely to go higher. "Those who said the Fed has only one or no more increases coming are going to revise their opinions," predicted economist Stanley Nabi of Silvercrest Asset Management in New York.
The U.S. central bank has raised its trend-setting federal funds rate 14 times since mid-2004 in quarter-point increments, most recently on Tuesday when it hiked the rate to 4.5 percent. The low unemployment rate is likely to heighten its concerns about tight labor markets.
"It (the jobless rate) is probably at or slightly below the level the Fed is thinking is full employment, so it will strengthen their resolve to lean against inflation pressures," said economist Elisabeth Denison of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein in New York. "We expect another quarter-point hike in March."
Average hourly earnings rose to $16.41 in January from $16.34 in December. In the 12 months through January, earnings have risen by 3.3 percent, the largest for any 12-month period in nearly three years, since February 2003.
"These are the kinds of things that raise eyebrows at the Fed," said economist Cary Leahey of Decision Economics in New York. "The implication that this January report has for wage inflation is bothersome to the market and the Fed."
Previously, the department said 108,000 jobs were created in December but it pushed that up to 140,000 and it said that, in November, 354,000 jobs were created rather than the 305,000 it reported a month ago.

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Katrina

Setting The Record Straight:

The August 28th Hurricane Katrina Videoconference

“The President’s participation in the August 28 videoconference was open to the press, and the full transcript of this videoconference was released to Congress and the public in the fall of 2005. President Bush participated in briefings, phone calls and conversations throughout this process, and his Administration was focused on making sure that the Federal assets were in place to help the people of New Orleans. The President has made clear – as recently as this Tuesday – that he was not satisfied with the Federal response. That is why he ordered a comprehensive ‘lessons learned’ report and plans to work aggressively to implement improvements to our disaster response plans by the start of hurricane season.”

- Trent Duffy, White House Deputy Press Secretary, 3/2/06

Setting The Record Straight On August 28th Hurricane Katrina Videoconference.

Democrats Use August 28th Videoconference To Falsely Attack The White House’s Hurricane Katrina Response. “Democrats said the tape shows Bush being warned in urgent terms of the potential magnitude of the storm, making it less defensible that the administration did not act with more dispatch to be ready.” (Spencer S. Hsu and Linton Weeks, “Video Shows Bush Being Warned On Katrina,” The Washington Post, 3/2/06)

But The White House Understood The Hurricane Katrina Crisis And Response Magnitude.

In August 28th Remarks, President Bush Discussed Hurricane Katrina Preparations. THE PRESIDENT: “This morning I spoke with FEMA Undersecretary Mike Brown and emergency management teams not only at the federal level but at the state level about the – Hurricane Katrina. I've also spoken to Governor Blanco of Louisiana, Governor Barbour of Mississippi, Governor Bush of Florida, and Governor Riley of Alabama. I want to thank all the folks at the federal level and the state level and the local level who have taken this storm seriously. I appreciate the efforts of the governors to prepare their citizenry for this upcoming storm. Yesterday, I signed a disaster declaration for the state of Louisiana, and this morning I signed a disaster declaration for the state of Mississippi. These declarations will allow federal agencies to coordinate all disaster relief efforts with state and local officials. We will do everything in our power to help the people in the communities affected by this storm. Hurricane Katrina is now designated a category five hurricane. We cannot stress enough the danger this hurricane poses to Gulf Coast communities. I urge all citizens to put their own safety and the safety of their families first by moving to safe ground. Please listen carefully to instructions provided by state and local officials.” (President Bush, Statement By The President On Hurricane Katrina And The Iraq Constitution, Crawford, TX , 8/28/05)

In August 29th Videoconference, Former FEMA Director Michael Brown Said The President Was “Asking A Lot Of Really Good Questions I Would Expect Him To Ask.” BROWN: “The President remains very, very interested in this situation. … He’s obviously watching the television a lot, and he had some questions about the Dome, he’s asking questions about reports of breaches. He’s asking about hospitals. He’s very engaged, and he’s asking a lot of really good questions I would expect him to ask.” (Bill Walsh, “The Day Storm Hit, Bush Was Worried About Levees,” The New Orleans Times-Picayune, 3/1/06)

August 29th Videoconference Shows White House Concern About The Levees. “Later in the call, White House aide Joe Hagin asks specifically about the condition of the levees.” (Bill Walsh, “The Day Storm Hit, Bush Was Worried About Levees,” The New Orleans Times-Picayune, 3/1/06)

In August 29th Videoconference, The White House Was Told The Levees Were Not Breached But Knew Of Flooding And Focused On Saving Lives.

In August 29th Videoconference, Gov. Kathleen Blanco Told The White House “We Have Not Breached The Levee At This Point In Time.” GOV. BLANCO: “We keep getting reports in some places that maybe water is coming over the levees. … I think we have not breached the levee. We have not breached the levee at this point in time. That could change, but in some places we have floodwaters coming in New Orleans East and the line at St. Bernard Parish where we have waters that are 8- to 10-feet deep, and we have people swimming in there, that’s got a considerable amount of water.” (Bill Walsh, “The Day Storm Hit, Bush Was Worried About Levees,” The New Orleans Times-Picayune, 3/1/06)

Despite Conflicting Reports, The Administration “Knew Of The Flooding.” MCCLELLAN: “There were conflicting reports coming in, in the initial aftermath of the storm in regards to the levee system. Some were saying it was overtopped, some were saying it was breached. And, again, we knew of the flooding that was going on, that’s why our top priority was focused on saving lives. The cause of the flooding was secondary to that top priority, and that’s the way it should be.” (The White House, Press Gaggle, 2/10/06)

On August 29th, The Coast Guard Was Conducting Search And Rescue Operations. FOX NEWS’ ANITA VOGEL: “Now, earlier the Coast Guard had to step in or fly in using helicopters. They’re searching for residents who are stranded, people literally stranded in their attics and they’re fetching people from rooftops using baskets, making very dramatic and heroic rescues and bringing them safely, dropping them onto I-10.” (Fox News’ “On The Record With Greta Van Susteren,” 8/29/05)

More Than 40,000 U.S. National Guardsmen And Women Performed Lifesaving Search And Rescue Operations, Distributed Aid, And Helped Evacuate Over 175,000 Citizens. THE PRESIDENT: “When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast last year, more than 40,000 Guardsmen and women rushed to the impact zone – it was the largest stateside deployment in National Guard history. They conducted search and rescue operations, distributed food and water, provided emergency medical care, protected communities from criminality, and worked around the clock to repair homes and restore power. Guard units from all 50 states, three U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia provided assistance – and together, they saved lives and helped evacuate over 175,000 people stranded by the storm.” (President Bush, Remarks On The Global War On Terror, Washington, DC, 2/9/06)

The President Was Engaged In The Katrina Response And Mobilized Federal Resources.

In The August 28th Videoconference, President Bush Assured State And Local Leaders The Federal Government Would Offer Continued Assistance. “‘I want to assure the folks at the state level that we are fully prepared to not only help you during the storm, but we will move in whatever resources and assets we have at our disposal after the storm,’ Bush said, gesturing with both hands for emphasis on the digital recording.” (Spencer S. Hsu and Linton Weeks, “Video Shows Bush Being Warned On Katrina,” The Washington Post, 3/2/06)

Before The Hurricane Hit, President Bush Called Gov. Blanco To Urge A Mandatory Evacuation. GOV. BLANCO: “Thank you, Mayor. I want to reiterate what the mayor has said. This is a very dangerous time. Just before we walked into this room, President Bush called and told me to share with all of you that he is very concerned about the citizens. He is concerned about the impact that this hurricane would have on our people. And he asked me to please ensure that there would be a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans.” (CNN’s “Breaking News,” 8/28/05)

The President’s Disaster Declarations Enabled The Pre-Positioning Of Supplies And Teams. MCCLELLAN: “Well, the ones yesterday enabled federal authorities really to pre-position supplies and teams so that they were in close – in full coordination with state and local partners. Today really allows FEMA now to start drawing down or using federal funds to get resources to those areas to help with the response and recovery from this disaster.” (The White House, Press Gaggle, 8/29/05)

The Federal Government Deployed Medical And Rescue Teams In Preparation. MCCLELLAN: “The President, this morning, spoke with our FEMA head, Mike Brown. Mike gave the President an update. Katrina remains a dangerous storm. We are coordinating closely with state and local authorities. We continue to urge citizens in those areas to listen to local authorities. Medical assistance teams and rescue teams have been deployed, and we’re continuing to coordinate all activities very closely to make sure that the focus is on saving lives. That’s where the top priority is right now, and that’s where it will remain.” (The White House, Press Gaggle, 8/29/05)
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WMD

Issues & Insights
Saddam Had WMD


Justifying The War: Most in the media are ignoring the words of Saddam himself and his aides on 12 hours of captured tapes saying that Iraq's WMD were moved to Syria. But they aren't the only ones saying it.
For example, three months before Operation Iraqi Freedom began, Israeli intelligence detected Iraq moving large amounts of military materiel into Syria, another Baathist dictatorship — materiel that could have included Saddam's WMD.
Last month, Moshe Yaalon, who was Israel's top general at the time, said Iraq transported WMD to Syria six weeks before Operation Iraqi Freedom began.
On Jan. 25, 2004, Nizar Nayouf, a Syrian journalist who recently defected to France, told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that chemical and biological weapons were smuggled from Iraq into Syria when Saddam realized an American invasion was imminent.
Nayouf said he knew of at least three Syrian sites where Saddam's WMD were kept. One was in tunnels under the town of al-Baida near the city of Hama in northern Syria, part of an underground factory built by North Korea for producing a Syrian version of the Scud missile. Others were in the village of Tal Snan, adjacent to a Syrian air base, and in Sjinsjar, on the Syrian-Lebanese border.
Nayouf's claims were in effect confirmed two months earlier in a briefing to reporters on Oct. 20, 2003, by officials of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency in Washington. Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. James Clapper, head of NIMA when the Iraq War began, said satellite imagery showed a heavy flow of traffic from Iraq into Syria just before the American invasion.
Retired Marine Lt. Gen. Michael DeLong, who was deputy commander of Central Command during Operation Iraqi Freedom, told WABC radio in September 2004: "I do know for a fact that some of those weapons went into Syria, Lebanon and Iran."
In an interview with the London Telegraph in January 2004, David Kay, former head of the Iraq Survey Group (ISG), said he uncovered evidence that unspecified materials had been moved to Syria shortly before Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"We know from some of the interrogations of former Iraqi officials that a lot of material went to Syria before the war, including some components of Saddam's WMD program," Kay told the Telegraph. "Precisely what went to Syria, and what happened to it, is a major issue that needs to be resolved."
Charles Duelfer, Kay's successor as ISG head, testified at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Oct. 6, 2004, that "a lot of materials left Iraq and went to Syria."
"There was certainly a lot of traffic across the border points," said Duelfer. "We've got a lot of data to support that, including people discussing it. But whether in fact in any of these trucks there was WMD-related materials, I cannot say."
Jordan's King Abdullah may have an opinion on that. In April 2004, his country foiled a plot that involved five vehicles carrying a combined total of 20 tons of chemical weapons laced with conventional explosives.
The weapons would have released a cloud of poison gas sufficient to kill 80,000 people and, in Abdullah's words, "would have decapitated the government." The trucks were intercepted 75 miles inside the Jordanian border. They were coming from — you guessed it — Syria.
Still more answers may lie in the 35,000 boxes of documents that Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., chairman of the House Committee on Intelligence, says he's trying to get translated and released into the public domain. He told Fox News' Neil Cavuto recently that "we verified that it is Saddam's voice on these tapes" and that the "12 hours of tape is only the tip of the iceberg."
We wish Hoekstra Godspeed in getting out this vital information pertaining to U.S. involvement in Iraq. No one knows for sure, of course, what those documents will reveal.
One thing is certain: There won't be any leaks on the front page of The New York Times and The Washington Post.

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