Loose cannons

Speaking clearly I

"I understand that the enemy could misread what I say. That's why I try to be as clearly I can." — Emperor George Bush II, September 23.

Speaking clearly II

"Our strategy is to help the Iraqis help themselves. It's important that we train Iraqi troops. There are nearly 100,000 troops trained. The Afghan national army is a part of the army. By the way, it's the nassy — Afghan national army that went into Najaf and did the work there." — Emperor Bush, September 23.

Freudian slip

"I understand everybody in this country doesn't agree with the decisions I've made." — Emperor Bush, during his first televised debate with imperial aspirant John Kerry, September 30.

Alternative war candidate

"What I want to do is change the dynamics on the ground. And you have to do that by beginning to not back off of Fallujah and other places and send the wrong message to terrorists. ... You've got to show you're serious." — Kerry, during his September 30 debate with Bush.

Only one that told the truth

"When it comes to a question of trust it's utterly preposterous ... to suggest that the government has somehow misled the Australian public over the issue of weapons of mass destruction. By the way, our position was pretty much the same as every other country on Earth, with the exception of Iraq." — Foreign minister Alexander Downer, September 30.

From Green Left Weekly, October 13, 2004.

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From GLW issue 602