Bush says 'Iraq's Mandelas' all killed by Hussein

[sabra]

Source: AFP

US President George W. Bush on Thursday declared there were no more "Mandelas" left to help aid reconciliation in Iraq because former president Saddam Hussein had killed them all.

There could be no "instant democracy in Iraq" because people are still recovering from Saddam Hussein's brutal rule," Bush told reporters.

Referring to former South African president Nelson Mandela, who led the fight against apartheid to become a symbol of reconciliation and hope, Bush said of Iraq: "I heard somebody say, "Now where's Mandela?"

"Well, Mandela is dead. Because Saddam Hussein killed all the Mandelas."

The former Iraqi dictator, who was executed in December after his trial on charges of crimes against humanity, was "a brutal tyrant that divided people up and split families. And people are recovering from this," Bush said.

Read more: http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=africa&item=070920152919.badxlkjq.php

[Lone_Star_Dem]

1. His speech writers should not use references he's unfamiliar with

Bush can't think his way out of a paper sack, and bluffing just doesn't work in some situations.

[Kagemusha]

14. I thought he used this line in the latest biography on him (Bush)

I think Bush has spoken of this many times in private so this is a reference Bush is very familiar with. ...It may simply be... simplistic.

[struggle4progress]

24. Bush Delivers Unprecedented Snub to Mandela in Africa Visit (2003)

Published on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 by the lndependent/UK
by Basildon Peta

President George Bush will make history next week when he becomes the first head of state not to ask for a meeting with Nelson Mandela while on a visit to South Africa ...

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0701-02.htm

[bemildred]

2. Spot the looney.

This boggles the mind.

[saigon68]

12. He's a dimwitted Chimpanzee cut him some slack

[acmavm]

3. How would he know. We've killed about a million Iraqis. I imagine

there might have been a couple Mandelas, a Ghandi or two, and a few Mother Theresa types in the mix.

[arewenotdemo]

4. If there was one, the Nazis would have tried to take him out by now.

It's amazing that Sadr is still among the living.

[geomon666]

5. Oh Jesus....

30% of the population follows every word of this puke.

[Botany]

6. So a dead man killed somebody who is still living?

* is nuttier than a squirrel turd.

[sabra]

7. or that Saddam killed all the "mandelas" before the US invaded Iraq

and there for there was no hope for democracy to work :crazy:

[Botany]

9. I bet the press will cover this "screw up" for sure.

Guaranteed this will get no coverage .... but it will be 24/7 O.J.

He really is out of touch w/ the world. Batshit crazy bush.

BTW the "democraticly elected" leaders in Iraq want us out.

[Roland99]

8. Was this the Saddam that shook Rumsfeld's hand after the atrocity at Tal Anfar?

Or the Saddam that killed millions of Iranians with the help of the US?


Just curious....

[tabasco]

10. GW Bush has killed more Iraqis than Saddam.

How many Mandelas has George killed?

I suppose Bush is appealing to his freeper supporters here. Explaining why the USA has to go in and run brown man's country for him.

Sickening.

[Mrs. Overall]

11. So, is the tone of this AP piece saying that this is an insightful, profound comment? Or is it

conveying the sentiment that this man is batshit crazy?

[Tempest]

13. Bullshit

They're all living in London and want nothing to do with the mess Bush made out of their country.

[andym]

15. boy genius

Actually, the boy genius may have a point. Perhaps Hussein's government did kill many of the people who could act as unifying leaders (if they did exist).

BUT, why attack a country that is a civil war waiting to happen (see PBS' Frontline before the war), knowing full well that there was no one to help lead and unify it!

BUT, perhaps he only now realizes this (maybe he doesn't watch PBS for example). If so, how could he make such an UNINFORMED decision.

[tuckessee]

16. The Iraqi "Mandelas" may very well be dead.

Killed by the American occupiers.

[paparush]

17. Reliable Electricity and running water go a long way to establishing democracy..

Neither are reliable in Iraq thanks to Bush's Invasion.

[Barrett808]

18. Look back in the mists of time, and you'll see Cheney calling Mandela a terrorist

How times change.

[MadinMo]

19. Killed all the mandelas

"Well, Mandela is dead. Because Saddam Hussein killed all the Mandelas."

Does anyone have a clue what B*SH pretended he was talking about here? I can't figure out what he thought he was saying.

Lemme guess -- he smirked, like he was speaking to kindergartners, as he said it..... gag.

[sabra]

20. "he smirked, like he was speaking to kindergartners"

yes he did :-(

[bigworld]

21. what he's saying...

is that Saddam successfully eliminated anyone else who was smart enough, brutal enough, or talented enough who could rule Iraq besides his sons. On that point, I'd have to say Bush is right.

But by disqualifying ANY Baath member from holding ANY public office, it was Bush who saw that anyone remaining with even a smigeon of governing ability was as good as eliminated too.

[uppityperson]

22. Here is another bit explaining where he got this idea from...

http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=africa&item=070920160319.fl1mi9mw.php
""No Nelson Mandela existed to emerge on the national political scene, anyone with his leadership talents would not have survived," he said."


Talk about misunderstanding what someone says, this takes the cake.

[tanyev]

23. Nov. 30, 2006. "Killers target academics, professionals"

WASHINGTON -- Dozens of Iraqi academics and their families have been attacked and killed by extremists in recent weeks in what human rights groups say is an effort to eliminate remaining intellectuals and skilled professionals -- and destroy whatever prospects might exist for establishing a functioning democratic society.

As many as 250 Iraqi educators and other leading professionals have been assassinated since the US-led invasion in 2003, and thousands more have fled the country, according to researchers and human rights groups.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2006/11/30/iraqs_violent_brain_drain_called_a_threat_to_future/

That's not Saddam's fault, Mr. Asshat-in-Chief, Sir.

[jmatthan]

25. Mandela dead? So says world's greatest ignoramus!

http://jmpolitics.blogspot.com/2007/09/mandela-dead-so-says-worlds-greatest.html

And this man was "elected" twice as the pResident of the US!!!!