The president of the United States, in a top-secret phone call to a major European ally, asked for French troops to join American soldiers in attacking Iraq as a mission from God.
Now out of office, Chirac recounts that the American leader appealed to their ‘common faith’ (Christianity) and told him: ‘Gog and Magog are at work in the Middle East…. The biblical prophecies are being fulfilled…. This confrontation is willed by God, who wants to use this conflict to erase his people’s enemies before a New Age begins.’
This bizarre episode occurred while the White House was assembling its ‘coalition of the willing’ to unleash the Iraq invasion. Chirac says he was boggled by Bush’s call and ‘wondered how someone could be so superficial and fanatical in their beliefs.’
Hey Oliver,
I was NEVER a G.W. Bush fan, I refrained from taking public potshots at him on the blogosphere due to my vocation, but I would be inclined to throw the yellow B.S. flag on this one. If that came from a newsworthy source or Chirac confirms it publicly I will give it some thought.
At least Bush Jr. didn’t allegedly beg Chirac to help him save Prester John.
This HAS to be a joke, it sounds way too much like a parody.
Sounds like a publicity stunt to sell a few books. If GW was that out there other world leaders would have exposed him at the very least when the war started going bad not 4 years after.
Would someone please pass the salt?
Oh come on. Sounds like utter bullshit to me.
Not really too hard to believe given he said this:
This crusade, this war on terrorism is going to take a while.
http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010916-2.html
Hey, I’m just linking to Chirac’s claims. We report…
To me, the most difficult thing to believe about the story would not be that Bush Jr. believed or discussed such things, but would do so with that Frenchie Chirac. I mean, don’t all Good Conservative Patriot Americans know that the French are atheist communist devil worshipers?
Hey, I’m just linking to
Chirac’sthe Birthers’ claims. We report…You wouldn’t buy that line if someone else tried to pass it off. Why should we buy it from you?
Because I’m not demanding any “proof” like Lou Dobbs or Chuck Norris. I’m just linking to what Chirac said. I don’t find it super-believable, I think Bush invaded Iraq for all the wrong reasons and clearly screwed it up royally.
the toronto star star mentioned in that is here: http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/642352
it’s also from may. i’m guessing the big news organizations haven’t picked up on this story for a reason, as it seems like the sort of thing they’d love. still, i wouldn’t be shocked it if were true.
People in this thread have found multiple confirmations.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6228676&mesg_id=6228676
Not sure if I believe this. Dubya sounds far too suave, too concise, too presidential…
Huh. Evangelicals always seem to be trying to ignite Armageddon, not prevent it.
I agree with freD. Bush is way too reasonable and sane to believe this kind of clap-trap.
I’m with Cid, mostly.
Even if you can see your way to believe Bush thought and said all this, why would he discuss it with Chirac of all people?
Whenever anyone tries to sell you a story that fits all your own biases, check your wallet.
Doesn’t matter if Chirac is lying, the real truth has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with oil and all of the other rich contracts that came with it.
El Cid FTW.
This is news?
Bush believes he was called by God to lead the nation at this time (2003)
“I am driven with a mission from God” (2005)
I think it is true– Romer publishes that Chirac’s people came to him for help in understanding what Bush said (and we’ve all been there…). He writes it up in 2007, in French, in a University review. An almost perfect way of avoiding being covered in the US. Chirac confirms the conversation two years later in an interview and in his memoir. Both in French. Neither Chirac nor Romer are trying to score points in the US political scene, at all. Why wouldn’t we believe them.
But we think it’s not true because we’ll look like “credulous Bush-haters” if we believe it? Well, screw that.
I agree with freD. Bush is way too reasonable and sane to believe this kind of clap-trap.
I think you missed FreD’s point. The Bush in the piece sounds too suave and presidential. Uncharacteristic for the Bush we all know.
in French, in a University review. An almost perfect way of avoiding being covered in the US.
That is a pretty brilliant way of having it never be read, I must admit.
Hey, I’m just linking to Chirac’s claims. We report…
Ohhhh…you’re just linking to it. That’s funny, I thought you would abide by your standards of, “If you link to and don’t denounce, then you must agree.”
Aren’t you pretty much doing what you accuse Reynolds of doing all the time?
Clinton got a blowjob in the Oval Office.
Oliver, isn’t it time to MoveOn, and post some cheerleading about Obama’s approval ratings?
Oh, wait…
That’s funny, I thought you would abide by your standards of, “If you link to and don’t denounce, then you must agree.”
That’s about opinion. Duh.
Why has no one linked this to the recent reporting (previous days on KO’s “Countdown”) of Blackwater’s Eric Prince?
What’s the truth? I don’t know, but Bush (The Lesser) was reported to also have been pumping his fist & saying “feels good!” before announcing the bombing & start of the Iraq war. Did anyone believe that? Well, how about W’s joking about not finding WMDs at the White House Press Dinner? This is not a man with compassion for ordinary human beings.
Pumping his fist quickest Google: http://www.unknownnews.net/insanity032003.html
Seems pretty possible to me.
There’s nothing unbelievable about this if you have a passing familiarity with evangelical Christianity. I’m really surprised people think it’s NOT true. Are you ever in for a shock about how many Americans believe this stuff and are not embarrassed to say so.