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Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf
Iraq Reality
Baghdad Bob (aka. Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf) was an endearing player in the Iraq invasion drama of April, 2003. He was a comical walking contradiction. He appropriately earned this reputation. His ongoing narrative during press conferences concerning the progress of the war was in direct contrast to the video images and sound that were broadcast around the world. Here are some gems he uttered on April 7, 2003 as the war was raging in the streets around him and Baghdad was falling.
“There is no presence of American infidels in the city of Baghdad.
With Media Pictures of U.S. Troops Being Shown Standing Under the Giant Crossed Swords in Saddam’s Favorite Parade Grounds in Baghdad, While Giving a Press Briefing Around the Corner:
“There you can see, there is nothing going on.”
After U.S. Missiles Destroyed His Office in the Information Ministry and He was Forced to Give Press Briefings on the Street:
“They will be burnt. We are going to tackle them.”
Disputing His Own Assertions of No Coalition Troops in Baghdad:
“We blocked them inside the city. Their rear is blocked…. They pushed a few of their armored carriers and some tanks with their soldiers. We besieged them and I think we will finish them soon.”
While American Soldiers Are Showering in Saddam’s Bathroom Nearby Presidential Palace:
“We have killed most of the [coalition] infidels, and I think we will finish off the rest soon.”
After Being Shown Footage of Iraqi Soldiers Surrendering:
“Those are not Iraqi soldiers at all.”
As a result of this narrative, Baghdad Bob became the comic punch line of an otherwise very serious matter.
We are seeing this plotline play out again, only this time, it isn’t quite so funny. You see, George Bush is now Baghdad Bob,
Katerina posted the terrific diary, The Emotional Tipping Point: Why the WH Can’t Shrink Pinocchio’s Nose. Katerina discussed The president’s falling poll numbers and outlined the reasons for the trend.
Then just as August was ending Katrina smashed into the Gulf Coast. Katrina, and FEMA’s reaction to it, ripped the facade off of Bush’s competence and made it clear to many Bush voters that Bush was unlikely to be able to protect us from terror if he couldn’t even protect people from the after effects of a hurricane.
–snip–
People who last year wanted to believe Bush because they wanted to believe he could keep them safe now realize that he can’t keep them safe. Now the emotional pull for them is to believe he is dishonest rather than honest, because if he is unethical and dishonest, then their vote for him — which they feel buyers remorse for — was obtained under false pretenses.
Katerina was correct, but I would like to point out the specific moment when America saw George Bush’s “Baghdad Bob” tipping point.
George Bush and Michael Brown
Katrina Reality
In early September, America was witness to the video and first hand reports from New Orleans and the devastation that Hurricane Katrina left in her wake. The televised tragedy unfolded with citizens begging for help and bodies floating in the floodwaters with no apparent relief in sight. President Bush was AWOL. When he did finally appear, he held a photo op with his FEMA director, Michael Brown and uttered his Baghdad Bob quote.
“You’re doing a heck of a job, Brownie.”
With that single moment, Bush showed how out of touch he was with the reality America had been experiencing for days. And, as if affirming the perception of the lie, Brown was fired just days later as a reward for his “heck of a job.”
Now that the genie is out of the bottle: that conventional wisdom has decided George Bush is Baghdad Bob, there will be no recovery for the administration’s reputation. The tipping point has been passed.
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