Rounding out his lengthy August vacation by giving speeches at various military centers, President Bush compared the Iraq war with World War 2 and may have Godwinned himself in the process.

Speaking at a naval base near the docked USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, Bush characterized Iraqi insurgents as every bit a "ruthless" enemy as the Germans and the Japanese.

"Now, as then, they are trying to intimidate free people and break our will, and now, as then, they will fail," Bush said to applauding sailors in white uniforms and Marines in camouflage. "They will fail, because the terrorists of our century are making the same mistake that the followers of other totalitarian ideologies made in the last century. They believe that democracies are inherently weak and corrupt and can be brought to their knees." But, he added, "America will not run in defeat, and we will not forget our responsibilities."

While I may lack the insight into military history that the president commands, it's hard for me to understand how the German/Japanese combination of fascist and imperialist militaristic expansion in the second world war can possibly be compared with the ragtag bunch of insurgents blowing up cars and taking potshots at soldiers for a murky combination of ideologies in modern day Iraq.

The president went on bring the bogeyman of bin Laden (who is still at large, last time I checked) into his discussion of Iraq in attempt to do.... well, something. Presumably. Besides take an opportunity to scare people by mentioning al-Qaeda.

If the United States were to lose in Iraq, Bush added, terrorists such as Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab Zarqawi would win strength -- and precious oil supplies. "If Zarqawi and bin Laden gain control of Iraq," he said, "they would create a new training ground for future terrorist attacks, they'd seize oil fields to fund their ambitions, they could recruit more terrorists by claiming an historic victory over the United States and our coalition."

Following the speech, Donald Rumsfeld deftly parried DNC Chairman Howard Dean's criticism of Bush's WWII analogy that :

"Democratic Presidents Roosevelt and Truman led America to victory in World War II because they laid out a clear plan for success to the American people, America's allies and America's troops," Dean said in a statement. "President Bush has failed to put together a plan, so despite the bravery and sacrifice of our troops, we are not making the progress that we should be in Iraq."

with his thorough and insightful plan for victory in Iraq. Soldiers everywhere in the Persian gulf took careful notes on the intricate tactics and grand strategies outlined by Rumsfeld that will lead them to a decisive victory, when he said:

"The goal in this war is not complicated. It is victory," Rumsfeld said, later vowing to stay in the fight. "And let there be no doubt: We will prevail."

Thanks Don! And all this time the military thought the goal was to be defeated. Now that you've let the secret out, we can expect the war to be over in a matter of days.

MrCrisp

I'm lost

August 2004

AUG 31, 2005 05:10 PM

at least in world war two, we really knew who our enemies were. this is worse.

Xanippi

HOPEFUL

Richmond, VA

AUG 31, 2005 05:18 PM

wow, they sound so stupid! I really love

"They believe that democracies are inherently weak and corrupt and can be brought to their knees."

To their knees!

[Edited on Aug 31, 2005 8:19PM]

dholokov

Toronto, ON

April 2003

AUG 31, 2005 05:24 PM

so all we have to do is wait until the terrorists open up a second front in Russia, which they won't be able to maintain through the winter?

blacktambourine

United Kingdom

April 2005

AUG 31, 2005 05:30 PM

your president is gonna be the reason all our arses are gonna be blown to kingdom come! I'm just glad (to a degree) that oil is so expensive, maybe that'll get the republicans out in a few years.

Coliwali

I'm lost

February 2003

AUG 31, 2005 05:31 PM

Well, weve also got to nuke Japan too, just to be sure.

daniofthedead

Philadelphia, PA

June 2004

AUG 31, 2005 05:33 PM

wait for the 2 front battle, then the war is won!

oh wait, i thought the war was over last year

freshprncebelair

Ellicott City, MD

June 2004

AUG 31, 2005 05:35 PM

Pics from the speech are coming in now:

FreakPirate

Canada

November 2002

AUG 31, 2005 05:38 PM

Didn't we have some kind of plan for after the war? Or some way to win?

And Bush is no Roosevelt or Churchill.

alpha_hazard

Fort Collins, CO

April 2004

AUG 31, 2005 05:40 PM

finally he reveals his true plan of interring middle easterners!

seanvegas

Lincoln, NE

December 2004

AUG 31, 2005 06:20 PM

Aw cut Bush some slack. All megalomaniacal dictators compare small present victories to great past victories. Saddam, for example, compared his wish full defeat of American troops to the Persian Empire defeating the Mongol hoards.

doghouse_reilly

I'm lost

February 2004

AUG 31, 2005 06:30 PM

nevermind, redundant.

[Edited on Aug 31, 2005 by Doghouse_Reilly]

jake_lex

Lexington, KY

February 2003

AUG 31, 2005 06:31 PM

For WWII to be like this war, we would have had to respond to Pearl Harbor by invading Mexico.

My WWII veteran dad might rise from his grave to kick Dubya's ass for that ludicrously stupid statement.

Romero

Colombia

March 2005

AUG 31, 2005 06:40 PM

Dubya is an idiot, nuff said.

DigAPony

HOPEFUL

Orlando, FL

AUG 31, 2005 06:56 PM

Oh fuck.

I cannot believe he said that.

MrCrisp

I'm lost

August 2004

AUG 31, 2005 07:32 PM

skankzor said:
Pics from the speech are coming in now:

JohnClement

Silver Spring, MD

January 2004

AUG 31, 2005 07:44 PM

FreakPirate said:
Didn't we have some kind of plan for after the war? Or some way to win?

And Bush is no Roosevelt or Churchill.

He's totally Roosevelt. Except when he's dismantling what's left of the New Deal.

jake_lex

Lexington, KY

February 2003

AUG 31, 2005 07:56 PM

Well, he's like Skippy Roosevelt, Franklin's "special" son.

I am increasingly thinking George W. is the "special" son of the Bush clan. (I've always heard Jeb was the one being groomed to be President, but he's made some very slimy connections that could really haunt him if he goes for higher office. And Neil's just a crook.)

[Edited on Aug 31, 2005 by jake_lex]

bpatrick

Tampa, FL

March 2004

AUG 31, 2005 08:00 PM

I'm curious to know what Howard Dean and
his ilk would do to win this war if they were in the
White House. Maybe John Kerry could suit up again
and command a swift boat in the Persian Gulf or
on the Tigris? The party that gave us a divided
Korea, a 50 year long stalemate in the Cold War
AND defeat in Vietnam apparently are quite the
military strategists.

hylian42

North Richland Hills, TX

April 2004

AUG 31, 2005 08:06 PM

I agree. This is totally like WWII, what with us invading a sovereign nation for no good reason, and the world hating us for it. I'm just waiting for the bit where Bush ends up burning in a ditch.

[spelling]

[Edited on Aug 31, 2005 by Dentarthurdent]

mistressmissy

Grand Rapids, MI

March 2003

AUG 31, 2005 08:12 PM

i don't understand how anyone can view this man as any kind of leader but a bad one.

freshprncebelair

Ellicott City, MD

June 2004

AUG 31, 2005 08:25 PM

cjensen said:
I'm curious to know what Howard Dean and
his ilk would do to win this war if they were in the
White House. Maybe John Kerry could suit up again
and command a swift boat in the Persian Gulf or
on the Tigris? The party that gave us a divided
Korea, a 50 year long stalemate in the Cold War
AND defeat in Vietnam apparently are quite the
military strategists.

Wesley Clark said back in 03 that we should have sent in twice as many troops as we actually sent to Iraq to ensure victory. And General Clark is pretty well qualified to make that sort of call.

One_Pure_Thought

East Greenwich, RI

October 2003

AUG 31, 2005 08:34 PM

I don't think George Bush is stupid, I just think people who believe the fucking VILE SPEW that comes from his mouth are so fucking stupid they constantly forget how to breath.

seanvegas

Lincoln, NE

December 2004

AUG 31, 2005 08:38 PM

One_Pure_Thought said:
I don't think George Bush is stupid, I just think people who believe the fucking VILE SPEW that comes from his mouth are so fucking stupid they constantly forget how to breath.

Or at least think for themselves!

One_Pure_Thought

East Greenwich, RI

October 2003

AUG 31, 2005 08:41 PM

seanvegas said:

One_Pure_Thought said:
I don't think George Bush is stupid, I just think people who believe the fucking VILE SPEW that comes from his mouth are so fucking stupid they constantly forget how to breath.

Or at least think for themselves!

Ugh. I hate the type of people that like W. I mean this is the most condescending thing I've heard from Bush in a while and everybody who loves Toby Keith and all this shit are screaming "DAMN STRAIGHT! WWII WAS SUCH A GOOD WAR, Y'KNOW?"

[Edited on Aug 31, 2005 by One_Pure_Thought]

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Belgium

November 2003

AUG 31, 2005 01:27 PM

I'm lost

August 2004

AUG 31, 2005 05:10 PM

Xanippi

HOPEFUL

Richmond, VA

AUG 31, 2005 05:18 PM

Toronto, ON

April 2003

AUG 31, 2005 05:24 PM

United Kingdom

April 2005

AUG 31, 2005 05:30 PM

Coliwali

I'm lost

February 2003

AUG 31, 2005 05:31 PM

daniofthedead

Philadelphia, PA

June 2004

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Ellicott City, MD

June 2004

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Canada

November 2002

AUG 31, 2005 05:38 PM

alpha_hazard

Fort Collins, CO

April 2004

AUG 31, 2005 05:40 PM

Lincoln, NE

December 2004

AUG 31, 2005 06:20 PM

doghouse_reilly

I'm lost

February 2004

AUG 31, 2005 06:30 PM

Lexington, KY

February 2003

AUG 31, 2005 06:31 PM

Colombia

March 2005

AUG 31, 2005 06:40 PM

HOPEFUL

Orlando, FL

AUG 31, 2005 06:56 PM

I'm lost

August 2004

AUG 31, 2005 07:32 PM

JohnClement

Silver Spring, MD

January 2004

AUG 31, 2005 07:44 PM

Lexington, KY

February 2003

AUG 31, 2005 07:56 PM

Tampa, FL

March 2004

AUG 31, 2005 08:00 PM

hylian42

North Richland Hills, TX

April 2004

AUG 31, 2005 08:06 PM

Grand Rapids, MI

March 2003

AUG 31, 2005 08:12 PM

Ellicott City, MD

June 2004

AUG 31, 2005 08:25 PM

East Greenwich, RI

October 2003

AUG 31, 2005 08:34 PM

Lincoln, NE

December 2004