DECLARATION OF WAR
"My fellow citizens, at this hour American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger.
On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war. These are opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign.
More than 35 countries are giving crucial support, from the use of naval and air bases, to help with intelligence and logistics, to the deployment of combat units. Every nation in this coalition has chosen to bear the duty and share the honor of serving in our common defense..." ("Bush")
Another key point to remember when discussing these events is that the 9/11 attack on the World Trade center, pentagon, and attempted attack on the White House had occurred not too far behind the declaration of war. The U.S. hadn't been attacked on it's soil like this since the War of 1812 (Chomsky).
"My fellow citizens, at this hour American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger.
On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war. These are opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign.
More than 35 countries are giving crucial support, from the use of naval and air bases, to help with intelligence and logistics, to the deployment of combat units. Every nation in this coalition has chosen to bear the duty and share the honor of serving in our common defense..." ("Bush")
Another key point to remember when discussing these events is that the 9/11 attack on the World Trade center, pentagon, and attempted attack on the White House had occurred not too far behind the declaration of war. The U.S. hadn't been attacked on it's soil like this since the War of 1812 (Chomsky).