At his news conference today, President Bush took a question from Helen Thomas for the first time in four years. Helen, who is in her 80s, has been a critic of President Bush, so naturally he is terrified of her.
Helen has made it well-known what question she intended to ask Mr. Bush: Why did we go to war in Iraq?
His answer: You wanna know about Iraq? Let me tell you about Afghanistan. The president launched into the reasons we went to war against the Taliban, which gave him an excuse to connect the dots to Al Qaeda, and September 11 — and then he went a dot too far and connected September 11 to Saddam.
There you have it: We went into Iraq because of 9/11. The remedy for 9/11 was to get rid of Saddam. Yesterday, the president said he had always been “very careful never to say that Saddam Hussein ordered the attacks on America.”
When you read the president’s verbatim answer below, you’ll see that his statement makes no sense. This is intentional. It is a prima facie example of “mirroring,” a term I learned today which describes the linguistic hat trick that Mr. Bush and his team use to create their patented brand of truthiness.
According to BuzzFlash, mirroring is a way of obliquely phrasing an untrue statement so that a) listeners draw the intended false conclusion and b) the phrasing cannot be deconstructed to show that the statement was untrue.
Here is the master mirror man at work:
HELEN THOMAS: I’d like to ask you, Mr. President, your decision to invade Iraq has caused the deaths of thousands of Americans and Iraqis, wounds of Americans and Iraqis for a lifetime. Every reason given, publicly at least, has turned out not to be true. My question is, why did you really want to go to war? From the moment you stepped into the White House, from your Cabinet — your Cabinet officers, intelligence people, and so forth — what was your real reason? You have said it wasn’t oil — quest for oil, it hasn’t been Israel, or anything else. What was it?
THE PRESIDENT: I think your premise — in all due respect to your question and to you as a lifelong journalist — is that — I didn’t want war. To assume I wanted war is just flat wrong, Helen, in all due respect —
HELEN THOMAS: Everything —
THE PRESIDENT: Hold on for a second, please.
HELEN THOMAS: — everything I’ve heard —
THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me, excuse me. No President wants war. Everything you may have heard is that, but it’s just simply not true. My attitude about the defense of this country changed on September the 11th. We — when we got attacked, I vowed then and there to use every asset at my disposal to protect the American people. Our foreign policy changed on that day, Helen. You know, we used to think we were secure because of oceans and previous diplomacy. But we realized on September the 11th, 2001, that killers could destroy innocent life. And I’m never going to forget it. And I’m never going to forget the vow I made to the American people that we will do everything in our power to protect our people.
Part of that meant to make sure that we didn’t allow people to provide safe haven to an enemy. And that’s why I went into Iraq — hold on for a second —
HELEN THOMAS: They didn’t do anything to you, or to our country.
THE PRESIDENT: Look — excuse me for a second, please. Excuse me for a second. They did. The Taliban provided safe haven for al Qaeda. That’s where al Qaeda trained —
HELEN THOMAS: I’m talking about Iraq —
THE PRESIDENT: Helen, excuse me. That’s where — Afghanistan provided safe haven for al Qaeda. That’s where they trained. That’s where they plotted. That’s where they planned the attacks that killed thousands of innocent Americans.
I also saw a threat in Iraq. I was hoping to solve this problem diplomatically. That’s why I went to the Security Council; that’s why it was important to pass 1441, which was unanimously passed. And the world said, disarm, disclose, or face serious consequences —
HELEN THOMAS: — go to war —
THE PRESIDENT: — and therefore, we worked with the world, we worked to make sure that Saddam Hussein heard the message of the world. And when he chose to deny inspectors, when he chose not to disclose, then I had the difficult decision to make to remove him. And we did, and the world is safer for it.
This is a reminder that President Bush is not as dumb as he acts. Incurious, unread and thick-headed, yes — but also a devious liar who is clever enough to fool a lot of the people most the of the time.
Same thing happened in yesterday’s question period. The woman asked if he believed in the apocalypse & he started talking about protecting the american people. Bring on more unscripted questioners.
The president gets away with this type of nonsense because other reporters do not continue the thread of questioning.
He also enjoys no opposition party. The Democrats are worthless.
Mr. Bush has gone beyond Richard Nixon in lying.
And to top it all off Dictator Bush lies to Helen, and all of us once again with this final point.
“THE PRESIDENT: — and therefore, we worked with the world, we worked to make sure that Saddam Hussein heard the message of the world. And when he chose to deny inspectors, when he chose not to disclose, then I had the difficult decision to make to remove him. And we did, and the world is safer for it.”
He has said this repeatedly, and it is a LIE, LIE, LIE! Saddam did allow the Inspectors in. It was Bush who ordered them out. Saddam DID DISCLOSE. His report was rejected by Bush on technicalities, the report was largely factual.
Why does the MSM let him get away with these LIES? It’s shocking!
And don’t forget to notice once again Bush’s absolute bald-faced LIE that Saddam refused to let weapons inspectors back in, which Bush claims was an integral part of his decision to launch this war. The facts of history are completely opposite. Saddam did allow weapons inspectors in. And it was BUSH who pulled them out. The proof from several quarters is undeniable that this was a war of choice, not of necessity, and one based on intentional lies by the administration. Dear GOD, what does it take to bust these criminals???
Dont get me wrong. I am not a Saddam lover. I just can’t stand lies. Especially lies that result in the death and injury of thousands of people. Dictator Bush want us to forget the fact that there were no WMD in Iraq. Saddam let the Inspectors in to save his ass, and his WMD report correctly stated that the WMDs had been destroyed. This is fact.
Bush attacked Iraq because he wanted to, and the world in not safer for it.
Oops, Dictator Bush did say one truthful thing in his ramble. He said “No President wants war”. That was a very honest statement. Bush is No President…….
This is nothing new. Mirroring? Bush may be doing it but he certainly is not aware of it nor capable of conciously planning to do such a thing. He is mearly doing what he has always done, not answering the question that was asked but answering the question that he wants to answer and in the process telling the same lies he has perfected and told repeatedly. It is remarkable that his revolting performance hasn’t driven the populace into the streets in huge numbers.
There was a time when “follow-up” questions were allowed, but that, along with so many other things that are no more since this lying, murdering, war-mongering ass-wipe of a humane being entered the White House.
If only one of the other so-called reporters would of followed up for Helen with the obvious question being, “Sir, with all do respect everything you just said not only did not answer the question asked but flies in the face of the facts. so, once more, without mentioning 9/11, which Iraq had NOTHING to do with, ANSWER THEW FUCKING QUESTION”!
Helen Is tiring, her follow up should have been, “MR.President you said the mushroom cloud , his WMD’s were the threat to America” Not one A-hole came to her defense, a bunch of fox hounds.
“Why does the MSM let him get away with these LIES? It’s shocking”!
Because there are entirely too many Americans who cannot think beyond the ten foot square in front of a television, a corporately controlled and manipulated “media Jonestown” of the unAmerican neo-fascist cult currently governing from the sewers of the American political, business, religious, and media communities.
Now that Bush’s poll numbers are in the sink and it becomes more politically correct for the critical mass to examine the corruptions of this government, it is so important that everyone relentlessly demand the mainstream press, establishment politicians, etc., pursue the expose of the obviuous lies and hypocrises highlighted in this article. So much damage has been done already, and every time the president does a press conference like this and rehashes the same lies he rudely insults the intelligence and integrity of the average American (who may be more clever than himself and clever than he realizes. Lets keep talking about the illegal Bush administration until they are run out of Dodge, and we can all once again go to sleep at peace at night and be proud to be American.
Its a good thing he wasn’t President when the Japanese attacked Pearl harbor, we’d still be in Argentina.
I’m so glad this moron is again speaking – every time he opens his mouth his numbers go down another few points.
Bless Helen Thomas. She is the only one with enough guts to question the Resident honestly. He evaded, ducked and bobbed. Does anyone believe anything this guy says….I’m afraid so…those 30 per cent who follow the advice of their ministers, imams. rabbis and other so-called religious leaders. Sheeple!!!!
Helen Thomas is the only reporter left with guts, in DC, but Bush is hoping she dies of old age soon!
helen thomas quiz
Every time Bush opens his mouth another lie spews out. Now if someone invesrigates Diebold I’ll be able to believe in democracy again
Look, the presidictator was planning the attack on Iraq for months and only went through the UN and Congress to stall for time to get troops and equipment in place. He rejected every report from UN Inspectors, and as we all know he couldn’t get a second resolution and that pissed him off but went ahead with his attack and the killing goes on…and on…what was his real reason? Ask, the Israel lobby and neo conservatives.
Bush can lie all he wants but the mirror on the wall (polls of the American people) is telling the crwod around him that the public is catching up. No matter how much they tell him he is “the prettiest one of all”, he will find out very soon that witches and leaders need mirrors that tell the truth.
Ler’s see. Bush must be the witch in the Snow White fairytale. Cindy Sheenan plays Snow White, but she is harassed by “dark” dwarfs played by respectively, Cheny (Grumpy), Rumsfeld (Dopey), Libby (Sleepy),Cole (Bashful). Rove (Doc), Condoleeza in drag (Happy), and Bill O’Reilly (Sleezy), Everyone lives happily ever after when Bush see how ugly he really is.
She seemed alone in a den of adders,the media for the most part are afraid to ask the hard questions and when we do get one to stand up,all we hear are more lies.
Helen asked the right question. The idiot-in-chief answered wrong.
i cannot stand the lies anymorethat spew from bush’s mouth! i have never seen a president in my lifetime that lies like he does. What i find even funnier is that all of the dumbass;s that voted for him not hate him, because he such a Christian man thats just adds to his persona even more he lied about Iraq he;s lied aobut our economy and he doesn;t give a rats ass how the poor and low income are strugglingto survive in this country, The sooner he IS gone i will be able to sleep at night knowing my children might have a chance to make it in the so called great country of ours USA.
No, we all misunderestimated his answer again.
Hi, Why did President Bush invade Iraq in his PREVENTIVE–not PREEMPTIVE WAR on 19 March 2006? Helen Thomas asked the question ALL Americans want to know? The Bush Administration has given the following reasons: Saddam Husseins’ WMDS/Saddam links with Osama bin Lauden/Saddams’ Anthrax/Saddam as an Evil Tyrant/Killer/Butcher/spread Democracy/end Tyranny/protect Israel/mushroom atomic coulds/spread liberty/freedom/women’s rights. Kevin Phillips in “American Theocracy” says OIL & Armageddon were the Neo-cons/Theo-cons real reasons for Bush’s aggressive war of choice on 19 March 2003. Yesterday & today, President Bush said the real reason was the 9-11-01 Terrorist attack. May I suggest that the real reason President Bush keeps repeating his “9-11-01 mantra” is that right after his Pearl Harbor Two, Bush had an epiphany. His God spoke to him & told Bush to launch his Born-Again, Fundamentalist Conservative Evangelical CRUSADE, which he originally called “Righteous Justice.” Bush’s advisors forced him to drop the terms CRUSADE/RIGHTEOUS JUSTICE, but Bush continued his Fundie Christian Crusade. His advisors forced Bush to HIDE/COVER-up his actual religious reasons for his PREVENTIVE WAR of 19 March, 2003. Since Bush obviously can’t reveal the real reasons for his War of Choice, 19 March 2003, Bush falls back on the code word “9-11-01.” But tens of millions of born again/Fundamentalists/Conservative Evangelicals know that Bush was/is acting as his/their God’s agent to trigger Armageddon[Rev. 16:16] & thereby bring their General Lord Jesus Christ back for his Second Coming & his Millennial Kingdom & the returned RAPTURED CHURCH to rule together for a Thousand Years. Bush’s real reason HELEN was: GOD TOLD HIM TO LAUNCH THE LAST CHRISTIAN CAMPAIGN vs. ISLAM–the religion after all of ALL the terrorists of 9-11-01. Very worried in Stuart, George E. Lowe, author of “It Can Happen Here:A Fascist Christian America.”
Bush is getting pretty good repeating whatever’s being told to him through some transmitter.
It’s funny how the press never really pushed for what that was under his suit in the debates. The media is still only concerned with their paychecks! They never talk about substance, it continues to be about STYLE.
THE REAL MIRRORS ARE THE MEDIA..IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT BUSH SAYS…IT ONLY MATTERS HOW HE SAYS IT..THEY’RE ALL FULL OF BS.
without tamper proof voting, all is lost…
Can’t you see………Terrists Bad..USA Good…Taliban Bad…Repugnicans Good…Helen Bad…Bush Good.. Why don’t you liberals and communists get it? Whadda ya love Saddaam? TRAITORS!!!!!!!Love..Dick Cheney
Other than a few like Helen Thomas, the failure of the US Media is possibly the biggest long-term disaster of the dark years of the Bush presidency. The media has let down America and the world.
What is wrong with the American citizens? The students in France are not afraid to defy the government when it is not working for its citenzery. We must protest en mas to stop this corrupted administration. It’s amazing how other generations would never let this happen for so long. I applaud all of the brave people who protest. It is tme for all of us who want peace need to join them.
Ginny
Don’t you wish you had a chance to ask the questions? I bet a lot of you, like me, yells at your TV set. It is amazing how often the answers bear no relation to the questions asked with polititions. I don’t see reporters press and few people in congress. Cynthia MdKinney is the exception. I have seen her say again and again, “that is not the question I asked. Will you answer the question that I asked you? Why can’t reporters do that?