Swans Commentary: Making Iraq The Central Front: A Propaganda Timeline

Swans Commentary » July 4, 2005

Making Iraq The Central Front

A Propaganda Timeline

Compiled by Jan Baughman

DOSSIER

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."
—George W. Bush, May 24, 2005

(Swans - July 4, 2005) In August 2003, "Increasing evidence shows that US and British governments 'improved' intelligence estimates to make a case that Iraq was still stockpiling WMD [Weapons of Mass Destruction]."
(Source: The Iraq Crisis - Timeline -- Chronology of Modern Iraqi History)

On October 3, 2003, the Iraq Survey Group (ISG) released the results of its 6-month fact-finding mission to find WMD. The ISG "consisted of a 1,400-member team organized by The Pentagon and CIA to hunt for Saddam's suspected stockpiles of WMD, such as chemical and biological agents, and any supporting research programs and infrastructure that could be used to develop WMD. The search uncovered numerous banned weapons related programs, but failed to find stockpiles, which were the main stated reason for President Bush ordering the invasion of Iraq to remove Saddam." The report stated that the "team has found evidence of 'WMD-related program activities' but no actual chemical, biological or nuclear weapons."
(Source: Iraq Survey Group on Wikipedia.)

In September 2003, "Iraq is a central front on the war on terrorism" entered the Bush administration's repertoire.
(Source: All quotations regarding Iraq as the central front on terrorism were obtained from the White House Web site as of June 27, 2005.)

September 7, 2003
President Addresses the Nation
Iraq is now the central front.
September 9, 2003
Press Gaggle with Scott McClellan
It is a central front in the war on terrorism.
September 12, 2003
President Bush Commends Military in Speech at Fort Stewart, Georgia
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror.
September 17, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
That's what we're working to do here, because Iraq is a central front in the war on terrorism.
September 17, 2003
Global Message - From remarks by NSA Rice on FOX Special Report with Brit Hume, 9/15/03
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terrorism.
September 17, 2003
Vice President's Remarks at 2003 Air Force Convention
Today, Iraq has become a central front in the war on terror, and every civilized nation has a vital stake in Iraq's successful transition to what the terrorists hate and fear most: a free society that respects human dignity and upholds human rights, and that can inspire change and hope throughout the Middle East.
September 23, 2003
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
This is the central front in the war on terrorism now.
September 23, 2003
President Bush Addresses United Nations General Assembly
They have made Iraq the central front in the war on terror, and they will be defeated.
September 29, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
The world has a stake in seeing a free, sovereign and prosperous Iraq. It's the central front in the war on terrorism.
September 25, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terrorism.
September 26, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
The wartime supplemental that you're referencing is critical to prevailing, to the United States prevailing in the central front in the war on terrorism, and building a better future for the Iraqi people.
October 1, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
This is about -- Iraq has become the central front in the war on terrorism.
October 2, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
It is a wartime supplemental that will help us prevail in the central front in the war on terrorism, which is Iraq now, and it is in the form of grants.
October 6, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
Well, that's part of the new phase we're in, because we're accelerating our efforts, and part of accelerating our efforts is moving forward on the wartime supplemental so that we can prevail in the central front in the war on terrorism.
October 8, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
John, Iraq is now the central front in the war on terrorism, and the highest priority for this President is the safety and security of the American people.
October 9, 2003
Global Message - From remarks by NSA Rice to the Chicago Council On Foreign Relations, 10/8/03
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror.
October 9, 2003
President Addresses Top Priorities: Economic & National Security
We're fighting on many fronts, and Iraq is now the central front.
October 9, 2003
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
And, finally, he will talk about the central front in Iraq and the progress that we are making there and what that means for the safety and security of the American people.
October 9, 2003
Remarks by the President to the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
We're fighting the war on terror on many fronts, and Iraq is now the central front.
October 10, 2003
Press Briefing by Index

Well, one, keep in mind that we're talking about the central front in the war on terrorism.
October 10, 2003
Remarks by the Vice President to the Heritage Foundation
Iraq has become the central front in the war on terror.
October 13, 2003
Global Message - From remarks by Vice President Cheney, 10/10/03
Iraq has become the central front in the war on terror.
October 14, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
Iraq has become the central front in the war on terrorism, and the world has a stake in what is going on in Iraq.
October 15, 2003
Global Message - From a report by the Coalition Provisional Authority
Iraq is the central front in the war on terror and remnants of Saddam Hussein's regime and terrorists from foreign countries are making a desperate stand there.
October 15, 2003
Remarks by the President on Housing and the Economy
We're fighting on many fronts, and Iraq is now the central front.
October 16, 2003
President Bush Discusses the Economy and the War on Terror
Iraq is now the central front.
October 18, 2003
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
And finally, the Congress acted yesterday to pass the President's wartime supplemental, which will help us prevail on the central front of the war on terrorism, as we help the Iraqi people transition to a sovereign and democratic future.
October 27, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
We will stay the course, and we will prevail in this central front on the war on terrorism, because the world has a stake in seeing a peaceful, free, and democratic and prosperous Iraq emerge.
October 28, 2003
Press Conference by the President
And Iraq is a part of the war on terror. I said it's a central front, a new front in the war on terror, and that's exactly what it is.
October 30, 2003
Remarks by the Vice President at a Reception for Bush-Cheney '04
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror, and we are rolling back the terrorist threat at the heart of that power.
October 31, 2003
Remarks by the Vice President at a Luncheon for Congressman Phil Gingrey
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror.
October 31, 2003
Remarks by the Vice President at a Dinner for the Southwest Florida GOP
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror.
October 31, 2003
National Security Advisor Dr. Rice Remarks to National Legal Center
As the President has said, Iraq is the central front in the war on Terror.
November 3, 2003
VP Remarks at Southwest Florida Dinner
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror.
November 6, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan

And this legislation underscores the commitment by America and the world to prevail in this central front in the war on terror.
November 11, 2003
Interview of the National Security Advisor by KHOU-TV, Houston, Texas
Iraq is the central front now in this war on terrorism because with a stable and secure Iraq, a very hard blow will be dealt to the international jihad, the international terrorist movement that caused September 11th and intends to continue to pursue us.
November 12, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
Yes, and Iraq is the central front in the war on terrorism.
November 14, 2003
Remarks by the Vice President at a Bush-Cheney '04 Luncheon
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror.
November 17, 2003
Remarks by the Vice President at a Luncheon for Bush-Cheney '04
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror.
November 18, 2003
Remarks by the Vice President at a Dinner for Bush-Cheney '04
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror.
November 19, 2003
Remarks by the Vice President at a Breakfast for Bush-Cheney '04
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror.
November 20, 2003
Background Briefing by a Senior Administration Official on the President's Meeting with Prime Minister Blair
The reason Iraq, however, is a central front is both because so much is invested there now in terms of winning a battle in the war on terrorism that will demonstrate that you can have a peaceful, prosperous, tolerant, democratizing state in the middle of the Middle East, a region that has given rise to a lot of these ideologies of hatred. So in that sense, it's a central front. And it's a central front because America and the coalition are involved there in a very major way.
November 24, 2003
Remarks by the Vice President at a Reception for Congresswomen Anne Northup
Iraq has now become the central front in the war on terror.
November 25, 2003
Remarks by the Vice President at a Reception for Bush-Cheney '04
Iraq has now become the central front in the war on terror.
December 5, 2003
Remarks by the Vice President at a Reception for Congressman John Sullivan
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror.
December 8, 2003
Remarks by the Vice President at a Reception for Congressman Randy Neugebauer
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror.
December 13, 2003
VP Remarks for Matt Blunt
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror.
December 15, 2003
Remarks by the Vice President at An Event for Bush-Cheney '04
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror.
February 9, 2004
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
We've said previously that Iraq is the central front in the war on terrorism.
February 17, 2004
Press Gaggle with Scott McClellan
They recognize that Iraq is the central war -- central front in the war on terrorism.
February 17, 2004
President Meets with US Military Personnel at Fort Polk, Louisiana
Zarqawi, and men like him, have made Iraq the central front in our war on terror. The terrorists know that the emergence of a free Iraq will be a major blow against the worldwide terrorist movement. And in this, they are correct. But we've seen this enemy before, and we know how to deal with them. Fighting alongside the people of Afghanistan, we are defeating the terrorists in that country. And fighting alongside the people of Iraq, we will defeat the terrorists there, as well.
February 21, 2004
President's Radio Address
Zarqawi and men like him have made Iraq the central front in our war on terror. The terrorists know that the emergence of a free Iraq will be a major blow against a worldwide terrorist movement. In this, they are correct. But we have seen this enemy before and we know how to deal with them. Fighting alongside the people of Afghanistan, we are defeating the terrorists in that country. And fighting alongside the people of Iraq, we will defeat the terrorists there, as well. Iraq, like Afghanistan, will be free.
February 23, 2004
Remarks by the Vice President at Bush-Cheney '04 Event
Zarqawi and men like him have made Iraq the central front in our war on terror. The terrorists know that the emergence of a free Iraq will be a major blow against the worldwide terrorist movement. In this they are correct. But we've seen this enemy before, and we know how to deal with him. Fighting alongside the people of Afghanistan, we are defeating the terrorists in that country. And fighting alongside the people of Iraq, we will defeat the terrorists there, as well.
February 27, 2004
Remarks by the Vice President at a Luncheon for Congressman Tim Murphy
Zarqawi and men like him have made Iraq the central front in our war on terror.
February 27, 2004
Remarks by the Vice President at a Breakfast for Congressman Roscoe Bartlett
Zarqawi and men like him have made Iraq the central front in the war on terror.
February 28, 2004
Remarks by National Security Advisor Dr. Condoleezza Rice to the Reagan Lecture
They decide that they're going to do it in Iraq because they know it's an extremely important battle in the central front.
March 2, 2004
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan

Well, Steve, I think that you have to keep in mind that Iraq is the central front in the war on terrorism.
March 3, 2004
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan and Jim Towey, Director of WH Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
The terrorists recognize that Iraq is the central front in the war on terrorism.
March 16, 2004
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
The central front in the war on terror is Iraq, according to this President.
March 18, 2004
President Bush Meets with Military Personnel at Fort Campbell
So the terrorists understand that Iraq is the central front in the war on terror.
March 28, 2004
Dr. Condoleezza Rice Discusses the War on Terror on [CBS] "60 Minutes"
The terrorists understand that Iraq is a central front in the war on terrorism.
April 26, 2004
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
Iraq is the central front in the war on terrorism.
May 6, 2004
Remarks by the Vice President to the 16th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner
Iraq is a central front in our war on terror.
May 17, 2004
Remarks by the Vice President at a Luncheon for Congressman Max Burns
Max understands Iraq is a central front in the war on terror.
May 14, 2004
Remarks by the Vice President at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Siemens Campus
Iraq is a central front in our war on terror.
May 17, 2004
Remarks by the Vice President at a Reception for Congressman Richard Burr
As Richard understands, Iraq is the central front in the war on terror.
May 19, 2004
Remarks by the Vice President at the 123rd Coast Guard Academy Commencement Ceremony
That's why Iraq has become a central front in the war on terror.
May 21, 2004
Press Gaggle by Trent Duffy
Well, the President has been speaking regularly about why we must prevail in Iraq, because it is the central front in the war on terror.
May 24, 2004
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
The terrorists recognize that Iraq is the central front in the war on terrorism.
May 24, 2004
President Outlines Steps to Help Iraq Achieve Democracy and Freedom
He and other terrorists know that Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror.
May 25, 2004
Remarks by the Vice President at a Reception for 2004 State Victory Committee
Thugs and assassins are trying desperately to shake our will, and they have made Iraq a central front in the war on terror.
June 1, 2004
President Bush Discusses the Iraqi Interim Government
The killers know that Iraq is the central front in the war on terror.
June 4, 2004
Vice President's Remarks to the Police Officers Association of Michigan's Annual Convention
Iraq is a central front in the war on terror.
June 24, 2004
Global Message
The killers know that Iraq is a central front in the war on terror.
June 29, 2004
Colby Cooper, Director for Communications and Media Relations, National Security Council
Iraq is the central front in the war on terror, because the terrorists have made it that.
June 30, 2004
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
He talked about how Iraqi is the central front in the war on terrorism, and how it is never easy in going from decades of tyranny to a future of freedom.
September 23, 2004
President Bush and Prime Minister Allawi Press Conference
I share the view of these strong leaders that Iraq is a central front in the war on terror, and our only option is victory.
September 24, 2004
Remarks by the President at "Focus on Education" Event
He knows, like I know, that Iraq is a central front in the war on terror.
September 24, 2004
Remarks by the President at Victory 2004 Rally
This is a central, central front in the war on terror.
October 5, 2004
Global Message - From remarks by NSA Rice on ABC's "This Week," 10/3/04
Iraq is not a diversion but, in fact, a central front on the war on terrorism.
December 1, 2004
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
What we are seeing is that they are being defeated, but we cannot forget the sacrifices of our men and women in the military who are partnering with the Iraqi people to prevail in this central front in the war on terrorism.
December 1, 2004
President Discusses Strong Relationship with Canada
The terrorists have made Iraq the central front in the war on terror because they know what is at stake.
December 2, 2004
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
They realize this is a central front in the war on terrorism, and when we achieve a free and democratic Iraq, it will be a significant defeat for the ambitions of the terrorists.
April 12, 2005
President Discusses War on Terror
The terrorists have made Iraq a central front in the war on terror.
June 20, 2005
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
That's an important part of defeating the terrorists who recognize that this is the central front in the war on terrorism.
June 22, 2005
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
As the President has said for some time now, Iraq is a central front in the war on terrorism.
June 23, 2005
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
Iraq is a central front in the war on terrorism.
June 24, 2005
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
No, as General Abizaid talked about, there have been a growing number of foreign terrorists coming in to Iraq, because they recognize that Iraq is a central front in the war on terrorism.
June 25, 2005
President's Radio Address
The terrorists know that Iraq is a central front in the war on terror, because they know that a stable and democratic Iraq will deal a severe blow to their ideology of oppression and fear.
June 16, 2005
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
Actually I said that he's going to be spending a lot of time of that focus on Iraq, because Iraq is the central front in the war on terrorism.
June 17, 2005
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan and Dr. Mark McClellan, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
But I think no matter where you stood prior to the decision to go into Iraq, we can all recognize that the terrorists have made Iraq the central front in the war on terrorism.
June 27, 2005
Press Briefing Scott McClellan
It is a determined and ruthless enemy that has chosen to make Iraq a central front in the war on terrorism.

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Swans
URL for this work: http://www.swans.com/library/dossiers/central_front.html
Published July 4, 2005