Sunday, October 12, 2008

I found this in my abandoned poems file. A found poem made from things said by Bush and his spokespeople about the war in Iraq. I think I like it. I think I'll keep it.


Shock and Awe 2003-2007

America is a friend to the people of Iraq.
Children will sing great songs about us.
Liberating Iraq will be a cakewalk.
Five days, five months.
Something under $50 billion for the cost.
This will be a short war.
We will be greeted as liberators.
It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months.
Major combat operations in Iraq have ended.
We’re dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction, and relatively soon.
We've got the force necessary to deal with the security situation.
There are some who feel like they can attack us there. My answer is, bring 'em on!
Quagmire? I don't do quagmires.
I am absolutely confident that we made the right decision.
Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere!
Iraqi forces are taking control of more and more territory.
We've reached another great turning point.
It would be really erroneous to say civil war.
A turning point will come two weeks from today.
Two days ahead of schedule, the world witnessed the arrival of a free and sovereign Iraq.
Tomorrow the world will witness a turning point in the history of Iraq.
On January 30th in Iraq, the world witnessed a major turning point.
You got to keep repeating things over and over and over to kind of catapult the propaganda.
They're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency.
We know where they are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat.
As you know, you go to war with the Army you have.
2005 will be recorded as a turning point in the history of Iraq . . . and the history of freedom.
Iraq is sovereign. Let Freedom reign!
The insurgency is in its final throes.
This is a turning point for the Iraqi citizens.
We have now reached a turning point in the struggle between freedom and terror.
I am not going to give you a number for it because it's not my business to do intelligent work.
Progress has been steady.
I know we've made tactical errors, thousands of them.
Stay the course.
The coalition is making good progress.
We never had enough troops on the ground.
What we need is a surge.
I have authorized an increase in troop levels.
I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace.
I made some tough decisions.
If we had to do it over again we would do exactly the same thing.
Had we to do it over again, we would look at the consequences of catastrophic success.
We know that dictators are quick to choose aggression, while free nations strive to resolve differences in peace.
To those of you who received honors, awards and distinctions, I say well done.
And to the C students, I say you, too, can be president of the United States.


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5 comments:

Joannie Stangeland said...

"because it's not my business to do intelligent work."

Really?

Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kells said...

so sad. it's really interesting to remember what was said and to see it organized as you have it.

the whole thing makes me sad (not your poem, that I like) just how things snowballed, how the country was snowballed...

Anonymous said...

"That's the problem with the French. They have no word for 'entrepreneur.' " -- GB

T. said...

Unfortunately, it's way too long;)

Justin Evans said...

You found a 'found' poem!

BTW, it's really good.