"Stay strong! Stay the course! Kill them!"

by Josh Orton, Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 07:49:55 AM EDT

Via TPM, Michael Abramowitz in the WaPo pulls out a striking quote from the book of retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez:

Among the anecdotes in "Wiser in Battle: A Soldier's Story" is an arresting portrait of Bush after four contractors were killed in Fallujah in 2004, triggering a fierce U.S. response that was reportedly egged on by the president.
During a videoconference with his national security team and generals, Sanchez writes, Bush launched into what he described as a "confused" pep talk:
"Kick ass!" he quotes the president as saying. "If somebody tries to stop the march to democracy, we will seek them out and kill them! We must be tougher than hell! This Vietnam stuff, this is not even close. It is a mind-set. We can't send that message. It's an excuse to prepare us for withdrawal."
"There is a series of moments and this is one of them. Our will is being tested, but we are resolute. We have a better way. Stay strong! Stay the course! Kill them! Be confident! Prevail! We are going to wipe them out! We are not blinking!"

Scott McClellan's book certainly provided confirmation of our long-held suspicions of false intelligence, misleading statements, and deceptions from the White House. Dishonest tactics, basically. But we may also see more accounts like the one from General Sanchez - that provide a window into the personality of the president who approved of and forwarded the war in Iraq.

For Republicans who authorized this war, revelations like this must be embarrassing. John McCain already has so little to point at to justify his continued support of the invasion. Adolescent rants from the president can't help.

Tags: George Bush (all tags)

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Re: Kill them!

You know, I'm almost tempted to actually buy Scotty's book and read it. Almost.

by Denny Crane 2008-06-02 07:51AM | 0 recs

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Re: Kill them!

If it will make you feel less guilty about buying it, he's already agreed to donate a portion of the profits to Iraq vets.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/06/01/mccl ellan-promises-to-donate-portion-of-book -profits-to-iraq-veterans/

by CrazyDrumGuy 2008-06-02 08:44AM | 0 recs

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Wow.. He sounds totally out of control..

One has to wonder, HOW in a million years - did he get to be President - IF he was NOT picked by those who ran him PRECISELY BECAUSE HE WAS SO OBTUSE...

Sort of like that classic Peter Sellers film "Being There" about Chauncey the sweet, but quite mentally challenged gardener - who had never been out of his employer's house and grounds in his life - who went on in the film (spoiler) to run for President.

by architek 2008-06-02 09:57AM | 0 recs

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Re: Wow.. He sounds totally out of control..

to be fair, at least Chauncy had a skill, he could run a garden and he had a personality. All dumbaya can do is wet his pants and throw temper-tantrums.

by zerosumgame 2008-06-02 11:23AM | 0 recs

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Victory

And the facts on the ground are:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con tent/article/2008/05/31/AR2008053101927. html?nav=most_emailed

by minnehot1 2008-06-02 09:07AM | 0 recs

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Re: Kill them!

I was hoping that this wasn't the new battle charge of the Clinton supporters. Thank God for small favors, aye.

by Liame 2008-06-02 09:17AM | 0 recs

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I'll add

It wasn't just Republicans who authorized the war. All of our politicians need to be held accountable for that historic mistake. Only one has, thus far.

by SpanishFly 2008-06-02 07:57AM | 0 recs

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Re: "Stay strong!

There is something missing in George Bush: a basic conscience. He is a flawed human being.

by TomP 2008-06-02 08:06AM | 0 recs

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I swear to God

if you hadn't identified that rant as from Sanchez's book, I would have thought it was from Dr. Strangelove. It is completely incoherent. Except for the bottom line, "kill them."

by gchaucer2 2008-06-02 08:07AM | 0 recs

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Everyone seems to agree on Bush..

Strangely, the more I hear about him, the less I hate him. He is beginning to look like a truly pitiful, isolated, almost poignant figure, with the real villains obviously Cheney, Rumsfeld, Libby, Ashcroft, and of course, the real kingmakers who pull their strings, who I am sure take GREAT pains to remain anonymous.

Wonder what horse they are betting on this time around?

by architek 2008-06-02 10:06AM | 0 recs

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Re: Everyone seems to agree on Bush..

Whoa! Good to find a fellow spirit.

Not many have the spine to come here and speak the truth about Barkey.

I salute you fellow fighter for freedom!

And put my thumb in the eye of those who look but just will not see.
.

by Pericles 2008-06-02 12:16PM | 0 recs

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Re: "Stay strong!

BREAKING: CRAZED HOMICIDAL RANT FROM MCCAIN SUPPORTER AND LONGTIME ASSOCIATE GEORGE W. BUSH. Will McCain reject and denounce this extremist?

by animated 2008-06-02 08:15AM | 0 recs

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Wow...

This is just bizarre. This coming from the Commander in Chief of the U.S. military? "Kill them"?

:: hangs head ::

by VAAlex 2008-06-02 08:20AM | 0 recs

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Nixon actually pioneered that as a response to

unconventional warfare threats. Its called the 'madman theory' of warfare, and its been behind a lot of right wing US policy.

For example, one could make the argument that US support to the Khmer Rouge in the 70s and 80s and support for Saddam in the 80s and probably many other things were 'madman theory' driven delayed, but inevitable retaliations for perceived challenges to US hegemony, by the North Vietnamese (for overthrowing the US client state in the South) and the Iranians (for overthrowing US client and overthrower of Mossadeq (sp?), Shah Reza Pahlavi and later kidnapping US Embassy staff and holding them hostage - leading into Iran Contra)

Kind of like the domino theory of healthcare that holds that if the healthcare system in the US 'goes', the profitable healthcare hegemony US drug companies enjoy in many other parts of the world might be threatened too.

Clearly, that is a high priority because the US government has fought for provisions in NAFTA, WTO, etc, that enshrine current practices on free trade for pharma companies.. (that is why our buying drugs overseas remains prohibited by WTO and NAFTA treaties, AIDS drugs remain out of reach for the poor in many countries, etc.)

by architek 2008-06-02 10:29AM | 0 recs

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Faster, pussycat! Kill! Kill! n/t

by RT 2008-06-02 08:26AM | 0 recs

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Re: Faster, pussycat! Kill! Kill! n/t

by Jess81 2008-06-02 09:18AM | 0 recs

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Classic 'B' movie clip

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faster,_Pus sycat!_Kill!_Kill!

by architek 2008-06-02 10:20AM | 0 recs

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But that's al John McCain is using as well!

Endorsed my Hamas! One of the most pathetic talking points in U.S. history, but they're not going to back away from it, because that is all they have. If we can ever unite this party, November is going to be a goldmine of electoral rewards.

by nklein 2008-06-02 08:33AM | 0 recs

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holy cat!

that is scary.

thanks josh orton.

by catchaz 2008-06-02 08:38AM | 0 recs

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Re: "Stay strong!

Great Josh..
I just read this myself and was going to bring it over...

I wonder what Sanchez write concern Abu Disgrace?

by nogo postal 2008-06-02 08:43AM | 0 recs

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This sounds like one of Hitler's exhortations

from his bunker for the troops to die for the Fatherland.

The difference being that Hitler had at least once fought in a war and knew a little bit about it. For a draft dodger like Bush to do it is not only insane, but beyond mere hypocrisy.

It's too bad one of those brave generals didn't stand up and punch his lights out. (But maybe that's where he got that cut on his face, supposedly from a pretzel?)

by Freespeechzone 2008-06-02 08:45AM | 0 recs

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sigh...

words of inspiration. such a lovely command of the english language.

by brettjay 2008-06-02 08:56AM | 0 recs

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He's livin' wreckless

It's like a bizarre mixture of outtakes from his speechwriters, and his id.

by Jess81 2008-06-02 09:23AM | 0 recs

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Re: "Stay strong!

"There is a series of moments and this is one of them. Our will is being tested, but we are resolute. We have a better way. Stay strong! Stay the course! Kill them! Be confident! Prevail! We are going to wipe them out! We are not blinking!"

Bush is a parody troll. Does that speech sound reminiscent of some person's take on Stalingrad?

by catilinus 2008-06-02 09:36AM | 0 recs

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Kill them all! OUR God will know his own!

Gosh....

I'm so glad Mis sNancy and the other adults kept Impeachment off the table.

Such mature and sober judgement is a big help in these confusing times.

Now...

Who should I support for President?

Ah...Madame Speaker will know!
.

by Pericles 2008-06-02 12:14PM | 0 recs