Editor’s Note: President George Bush delivered a long-awaited speech in Iraq last night at Fort Bragg. Accounts of the speech were carried by news organizations and shown on television. The speech received mixed editorial reviews and was criticized by some as being dull — but The Moderate Voice has learned the REAL SPEECH was not.
A reliable source has provided TMV an exclusive video of the REAL speech delivered last night without after-the-fact editing changes. Here are excerpts which clearly show the White House had tried to make the speech livelier. These excerpts suggest the mainstream media did not tell the whole story on what President Bush said in his speech:
Text of President Bush’s speech Tuesday night at Fort Bragg, N.C., as NOT provided by the White House:
Thank you and good evening. I am pleased to visit Fort Bragg, home of the Airborne and Special Operations Forces. It is an honor to speak before you tonight and have you serve as props for me to improve my image.
Take Howard Dean. Please.
My greatest responsibility as president is to protect the American people, get my poll numbers up — and make sure that from now on I have lunch with Bill Frist at least once a week.
The troops here and across the world are fighting a global war on terror. This war reached our shores on September 11, 2001. The terrorists who attacked us and the terrorists we face murder in the name of a totalitarian ideology that hates freedom, rejects tolerance and despises all dissent.
Speaking of rejecting tolerance and despising all dissent, just attend one of my speeches. You’ll have to sign a loyalty pledge first and if you shout out anything, you’re outta there. And, by the way: no pies allowed….
To achieve these aims, the terrorists have continued to kill in Madrid, Istanbul, Jakarta, Casablanca, Riyadh, Bali and elsewhere. They won’t try anything in Bridgeport, Connecticut, because its dead enough there already.
The terrorists believe that free societies are essentially corrupt and decadent. Speaking of corrupt and decadent: What’s the latest on Tom DeLay and Randy Cunningham?
With a few hard blows the terrorists can force us to retreat. A “few hard blows”? Who put in that reference to Monica Lewinsky?
These are the jokes, guys. You’re supposed to laugh
Is this a military audience or the NAACP?
Iraq is the latest battlefield in this war. Many terrorists who kill innocent men, women and children on the streets of Baghdad are followers of the same murderous ideology that took the lives of our citizens in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. There is only one course of action against them: to defeat them abroad before they attack us at home.
Some have made accusations against us of torture — but we have never forced anyone to listen to a lecture on psychiatry by Tom Cruise.
The commander in charge of coalition operations in Iraq, who is also senior commander at this base, General John Vines, put it well the other day. He said, “Do you know where I can get Viagra at a discount?”
Our mission in Iraq is clear. We are hunting down the terrorists. We are helping Iraqis build a free nation that is an ally in the war on terror. We are advancing freedom in the broader Middle East. We are removing a source of violence and instability and laying the foundation of peace for our children and our grandchildren. We are trying to improve our image by talking in front of a military audience. We are unleashing Karl Rove tomorrow to give a speech that will reveal that Harry Reid doesn’t wear underwear.
The work in Iraq is difficult and dangerous but not as dangerous as teaching high school.
Like most Americans, I see the images of violence and bloodshed…but enough about parental behavior at Little League games.
Every picture is horrifying and the suffering is real. But let’s not talk about those nude photos of Dick Cheney.
Amid all this violence, I know Americans ask the question: Is the sacrifice worth it? It is worth it, and it is vital to the future security of our country. And tonight I will explain the reasons why or my name isn’t Joe Lieberman.
Some of the violence you see in Iraq is being carried out by ruthless killers who are converging on Iraq to fight the advance of peace and freedom. Our military reports that we have killed or captured hundreds of foreign fighters in Iraq who have come from Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Libya and other nations in search of a place that serves REAL pizza.
They are making common cause with criminal elements, Iraqi insurgents and remnants of Saddam Hussein’s regime who want to restore the old order and make sure Sadaam from now on only wears boxer shorts.
They fight because they know that the survival of their hateful ideology is at stake. They know that as freedom takes root in Iraq, it will inspire millions across the Middle East to claim their liberty as well. And when the Middle East grows in democracy, prosperity and hope, the terrorists will lose their sponsors, lose their recruits and lose their hopes for turning that region into a base for attacks on America and our allies around the world — and they won’t get many presents at their bar mitzvahs.
Some wonder whether Iraq is a central front in the war on terror. Some wonder whether this recycled speech is at all necessary.
Among the terrorists, there is no debate. Hear the words of Osama Bin Laden: “The fleas in my beard are killing me” and “The whole world is watching Desperate Housewives.” He says it will end in “a ratings triumph for ABC and they’ll eventually turn it into a movie, which will have big B.O. — just like me.”
The lesson of this experience is clear: The terrorists can kill the innocent but they cannot stop the advance of freedom. The only way our enemies can succeed is if we forget the lessons of September 11, if we abandon the Iraqi people to men like Zarqawi and if we yield the future of the Middle East to men like bin Laden. For the sake of our nation’s security, this will not happen on my watch — because my watch is small and Mickey Mouse takes up a lot of space on it.
A little over a year ago, I spoke to the nation and described our coalition’s goal in Iraq and that speech wasn’t so terrific, either.
Rebuilding a country after three decades of tyranny is hard and rebuilding while at war is even harder. It requires work. Hard work. Our progress has been uneven but progress is being made. That’s hard work. We are improving roads and schools and health clinics and working to improve basic services like sanitation, electricity and water. And together with our allies, we will help the new Iraqi government deliver a better life for its citizens. That’s hard work.
Why isn’t that getting any laughs? Repeating a funny phrase works for Letterman….
Hey, Rove — who wrote this comedy material? Ralph Nader?
You guys in the front row: sit down NOW or you’ll be guilty of desertion. I still have more:
Whatever our differences in the past, the world understands that success in Iraq is critical to the security of all our nations.
As German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said at the White House yesterday, “Heil Hitler!”
Hey, Rove: who wrote that crappy Schroeder joke? Oh. Well, next time I’LL handle Laura’s contributions….
Finally, we have continued our efforts to equip and train Iraqi security forces. We have made gains in both the number and quality of those forces. Today Iraq has more than 160,000 security forces trained and equipped for a working as telemarketers. That’s about 1/4 the number in the average American city.
Iraqi forces have fought bravely helping to capture terrorists and insurgents in Najaf, Samarra, Fallujah and Mosul — and in Sherman Oaks.
And in the past month, Iraqi forces have led a major anti-terrorist campaign in Baghdad called Operation Lightning, which has led to the capture of hundreds of suspected insurgents.
This is not to be confused with the Operation Lightning that took place in the Oval Office with women who worked on Bill Clinton’s staff. And I do mean who worked on his staff.
Hey, Rove, who wrote THAT loser? Oh. Well, tell Limbaugh his brother Dave is FUNNIER….
The progress in the past year has been significant and we have a clear path forward. To complete the mission, we will continue to hunt down the terrorists and insurgents. To complete the mission, we will prevent al-Qaida and other foreign terrorists from turning Iraq into what Afghanistan was under the Taliban – a safe haven from which they could launch attacks on America and our friends..a country named after a long haired dog…What do you mean it isn’t?
So our strategy going forward has both a military track and a political track. You’re believe me you’re watching the political track in frantic action right now.
The principal task of our military is to find and defeat the terrorists and that is why we are on the offense. And no adminstration has ever been as offensive as mine.
And as we pursue the terrorists, our military is helping to train Iraqi security forces so that they can defend their people and fight the enemy on their own. Our strategy can be summed up this way: As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down. As the Iraqis get fed down, the American public gets fed up.
We have made progress but we have a lot more work to do. Hard work. Today Iraqi security forces are at different levels of readiness. Hard — hey, I TOLD you this stuff isn’t working! Next time when I want a FUNNY speech I’ll have Scalia write it!!
Where was I? Oh…
I recognize that Americans want our troops to come home as quickly as possible and for me to shut up. So does my wife.
Some Americans ask me, if completing the mission is so important, why don’t you send more troops? And I say to them: I have a better question for you. Knock Knock. Who’s there? Sadaam. Sadaam who? Sadaam shame we can’t really set a timetable on this war…
If our commanders on the ground say we need more troops, I will send them. I will send the COMMANDERS — not more troops. Just think of the backlash and poll numbers if I sent more troops now. No way, Jose.
Sending more Americans would undermine our strategy of encouraging Iraqis to take the lead in this fight. And sending more Americans would suggest that we intend to stay forever, when we are in fact working for the day when Iraq can defend itself and we can leave. As we determine the right force level, our troops can know that I will continue to be guided by the advice that matters: the sober judgment of our military leaders.
Speaking of sober: did you watch that video of Tom Delay slurring his speech the other day? It was posted on Crooks and Liars. I’d make a joke about who that site is named after but Rush and Sean wouldn’t like it.
These are JOKES, you guys.
Is this an audience or a scuplture exhibit?
The other critical element of our strategy is to help ensure that the hopes Iraqis expressed at the polls in January are translated into a secure democracy. Translation is vital — especially when I speak….
As Iraqis make progress toward a free society, the effects are being felt beyond Iraq’s borders. Before our coalition liberated Iraq, Libya was secretly pursuing nuclear weapons. Today the leader of Libya has given up his chemical and nuclear weapons programs but he won’t leggo my Eggo.
We have more work to do. Hard work — Jez, how many times did you idiots insert that phrase in this and think it’d get a laugh??
And there will be tough moments that test America’s resolve. We are fighting against men with blind hatred and armed with lethal weapons who are capable of any atrocity. Even playing Kathy Lee Gifford CDs at full blast.
They wear no uniform; they wear no socks; they wear no underwear. Hey, Karl: if that’s true then do a speech linking Reid with the terrorists. Oh. And remind me not to let Reid sit on our couch ever again….
They respect no laws of warfare or morality. Hey, they sound like my former frat brothers on party weekend!
That’s a JOKE, guys! Who booked me into THIS gig? Diane Feinstein?
They are trying to shake our will in Iraq just as they tried to shake our will on September 11, 2001. They will fail. The terrorists do not understand America. The American people do not falter under threat and we will not allow our future to be determined by car bombers and assassins. This needs to be repeated thousands and thousands of times — and I have done just that in one speech alone.
America has done difficult work before. Hard work.,,,Oh, not again!
From our desperate fight for independence, to the darkest days of a Civil War, to the hard-fought battles against tyranny in the 20th century, there were many chances to lose our heart, our nerve or our way. But Americans have always held firm, because we have always believed in certain truths. We know that if evil is not confronted, it gains in strength and audacity and returns to strike us again. We know that when the work is hard — hard w…I WON’T SAY IT! — the proper response is not retreat, it is courage….
In this time of testing, our troops can know: The American people are behind you. Next week, our nation has an opportunity to make sure that support is felt by every soldier, sailor, airman, Coast Guardsman and Marine at every outpost across the world. This Fourth of July, I ask you to find a way to thank the men and women defending our freedom by flying the flag, sending letters to our troops in the field or helping the military family down the street. I ask you to do this for the troops. I ask you to do this because it shows I care and it can help drive my poll numbers up. And if it doesn’t Rove will be back wearing that bright uniform and hat selling corn dogs on a stick in the food court down at the mall..
I thank those of you who have re-enlisted in an hour when your country needs you. And to those watching tonight who are considering a military career, there is no higher calling than service in our Armed Forces. We live in freedom because every generation has produced patriots willing to serve a cause greater than themselves. Those who serve today are taking their rightful place among the greatest generations that have worn our nation’s uniform. When the history of this period is written, the liberation of Afghanistan and the liberation of Iraq will be remembered as great turning points in the story of freedom. And they will remember that we did hard work. CRIPES!!
After September 11, 2001, I told the American people that the road ahead would be difficult and that we would prevail. Well, it has been difficult. And we are prevailing.
Wait! We are succeeding NOW. So doesn’t that mean we’re vailing? Someone needs to work on their grammar..
Our enemies are brutal, but they are no match for the United States of America and they are no match for the men and women of the United States military. So if you hear from a pollster, tell them you support me, OK?
Thank you. And may God bless America. And Karl Rove.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.