PRESIDENT George W. Bush is "grieved" that the number of US soldiers killed in Iraq has reached 4000 and assumes responsibility for the decisions he has taken, the White House said overnight.
"He obviously is grieved by the moment, but he mourns the loss of every single life from the very first that was lost in this conflict to the ones that are lost today," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
"And he bears the responsibility for the decisions that he made and he also bears the responsibility to continue to focus on succeeding."
Four US troops were killed when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Baghdad yesterday, the US military said, taking the toll since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq to 4000.
Vice-President Dick Cheney, on a visit to Jerusalem, said earlier that the grim milestone "may have a psychological effect on the public but it's a tragedy that we live in a kind of world where that happens".
At least 97 per cent of the US casualties occurred after Mr Bush announced the end of "major combat" in Iraq on May 1, 2003.
Despite the losses, he used a speech on the eve of the war's fifth anniversary last week to defend his decision to invade and to reject any notion of retreating despite the "high cost in lives and treasure".
Comments
I assume you've seen this?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/24/cheney-on-4000-dead-amer_n_93109.html
I repeat... the bastards. If you can get 50 years in prison for killing one person, how many years in jail can you get for killing over 100,000? Because I'd like to see that happen.
Words cannot describe how detestable he is to more than half the world's population.
the biggest burden is carried by President Bush
you have got to be kidding me - Cheney proves not only insensitive, but extremely insulting
Volunteering for military service doesn't give a Government an open cheque to waste soldiers lives on a lost cause. If anything, they should be even more responsible for the safety of these courageous folk.
I actually had a dream last night that Bush resigned. Alas, just a dream. The bastard refuses to compromise or admit error. You have to admit, at least he's been consistent for 8 years. This, by the way, is my favorite part:
At least 97 per cent of the US casualties occurred after Mr Bush announced the end of "major combat" in Iraq on May 1, 2003.
I feel the same way about this worthless torture 'debate' - nothing to debate. Would you do that to your child? Your spouse? Yourself? No? Debate over. It's torture.
As Howard Zinn has said, war is the ultimate act of terrorism.
I'm pleased none of my kids have followed in my footsteps and signed up. A friend of mine managed to talk his son out of signing up and has moved to Australia. He is training for some sort of medical role. I was so pleased to see such a fine result.
Hope your boys come through okay.
I appreciate the good thoughts. It's not something I typically mention but when these overblown arrogant bastages cavalierly bash the people who are actually doing the work, I have no tolerance.