U.S. President Bush: 'The Surge is Mine!'

U.K. Prime Minister Brown: 'The Retreat is Mine …'

                                                                 [Guardian Unlimited, U.K.]

Liberation, France

Thanks to Wealthy Friends,

Bush Re-Launches His War

"The Bush Administration, which cannot use public funds to defend a political agenda that deeply divides the electorate, has created an ultra-conservative pressure group baptized 'Freedom's Watch.'"

By Philippe Grangereau

Translated by Pascaline Jay

August 30, 2007

France - Liberation - Original Article (French)

George W. Bush continues to bet on fear. The White House has launched an unprecedented television campaign to convince Americans to continue the course in Iraq. The Bush Administration, which cannot use public funds to defend a political agenda that deeply divides the electorate, has created an ultra-conservative pressure group baptized "Freedom's Watch ," financed mainly by one of the one of the world's richest man, Sheldon Adelson, owner of a conglomerate made up of large casinos in Las Vegas and Macao.

"Freedom's Watch," among others, is directed by the current director of the Sands Casino in Las Vegas, William Weidner, and former White House spokesman Ari Fleisher. In just three weeks, the ultra conservative Washington pressure group has spent $15 million to bombard America with advertisements awakening the specter of a new September 11.

'SACRIFICE'

"I know what I lost," says a wounded veteran coming out onto the porch of his home in one of the "Freedom's Watch" commercials. "I also know that if we pull out now, everything I've given in sacrifice will mean nothing." The sequence shows President Bush by his bedside putting a medal on his chest, and then footage of the two smoking towers of the World Trade Center with the title: "They attacked us WATCH ." In another ad, the wife of a dead soldier implores "Don't give up" and then says, "We've already had one September 11, we don't need another ." WATCH

'ATTACKS'

Another widow says, "I lost two family members to al-Qaeda," her uncle who was a fireman at the World Trade Center and her husband "in Iraq." My husband fought "so my children did not have to ten years from now." If Congress "switches" votes now, she claims, "will mean more attacks." The words "Other Attacks" flash on a black screen, before she adds with resolve, "Surrender is not an option! WATCH ."

This propaganda of this special interest group, which suggests the existence of a link between Osama bin Laden's organization and Iraq before 2003, explains that its "mission" consists of "leading a powerful fight against terror" and castigates "those who wish to pull out."

The ad invites the viewer to contact their members of Congress, "to tell them surrender is not an option"… A spokesperson for the group contacted by phone by Libération, asked whether the question was from someone who is "for or against the war." In the event of a negative response, the conversation was abruptly ended …

According Forbes magazine, Sheldon Adelson, the principal financial backer of Freedom's Watch, is the third richest man in the United States. The majority of other donors are extremely rich businessmen as well - who George W. Bush often rewards for contributions to his electoral campaigns by offering them posts as ambassadors. This pro-Bush group also counts as one of its members John Templeton, an anti-Darwin evangelical Christian who over the years has spent $60 million to finance projects aimed at combining science and religion.  

3,700 KILLED'

On the left as well, the war in Iraq is playing out on television screens, in front of which Americans spend 65 full days per year. A campaign - if however on a smaller scale - has been launched by the coalition of "Americans against the escalation in Iraq ", which flays, "four years without seeing the end of the tunnel," the "$500 billion spent" and the "3,700 Americans killed" in the "religious civil war in Iraq." This coalition isn't demanding a withdrawal, but a "safer and responsible redeployment of American forces in Iraq." The principal Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, are also being cautious, afraid of being labeled "defeatists." 

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