Bush's 2000 War Promises

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CBS) CBS News is looking at campaign promises then-candidate Bush made four years ago. Tonight, Barry Petersen looks at Bush's statements about U.S. military involvement abroad.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/01/eveningnews/main640262.shtml

"When America uses force in the world, the cause must be just, the goal must be clear, and the victory must be overwhelming,'' said George W. Bush in 2000, when accepting his party's nomination.

The response was to root out the Taliban and Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. But overwhelming victory remains elusive. The Taliban is still killing Americans, and Osama Bin Laden lives to plan another 9/11.

In Iraq, a new goal: eliminate weapons of mass destruction the administration insisted threatened America. But there were none.

Then the goals started shifting … get rid of Saddam. And then … something far harder, far fuzzier … bring democracy to Iraq. The price is being paid in blood - almost a thousand Americans dead, nearly 7,000 wounded.

Said Mr. Bush in 2000: "I would be very careful about using our troops as nation-builders." But President Bush's first term in office will be remembered for just such an effort.


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