1115.org

George Bush, Decider-in-Chief, November 30, 2005:

A clear strategy begins with a clear understanding of the enemy we face. The enemy in Iraq is a combination of rejectionists, Saddamists and terrorists. The rejectionists are by far the largest group. … The second group that makes up the enemy in Iraq is smaller, but more determined. … The third group is the smallest, but the most lethal: the terrorists affiliated with or inspired by al Qaeda.

One of his more honest public-speaking moments. No hyperbole, no distortion. He frankly admitted “al Qaeda in Iraq” was the smallest group we’re fighting. He frankly admitted they have only a tenuous connection to the real al Qaeda, more of an inspirational relationship really.

George Bush, Sole-Enforcer-in-Chief, May 2, 2007:

And so while I’m talking about al Qaeda in Iraq, I fully recognize what happens in Iraq matters here at home. Despite their tremendous brutality, they failed to provoke the large-scale sectarian reprisals that al Qaeda wants. The recent attacks are not the revenge killings that some have called a civil war. They are a systematic assault on the entire nation. Al Qaeda is public enemy number one in Iraq.

That was pretty fast. From smallest group to public enemy number one in 18 months flat. That’s pretty impressive multiplication. We should learn from our number one enemy, and breed soldiers the same way.

And now, as all kinds of people have pointed out, suddenly everyone we are fighting in Iraq is being described as al Qaeda. By all the king’s men, and all his paid-for media hacks too.