“Read My Lips, I’m Not a Nation Builder.” – G.W. Bush

During a presidential debate with Al Gore in 2000 Bush said the following:

“If we don’t stop extending our troops all around the world in nation-building missions, then we’re going to have a serious problem.”

Now here is a quote from the incredibly one-sided Paul Sperry over at AntiWar.com:

The day after the presidential debate, in an interview with NBC’s Tim Russert, candidate Bush stressed that a “big difference” between him and Gore was “on the nation-building concept.”

“If he means using troops all around the world to serve as social workers, or policeman, or, you know, school-walk crossing guards, I’m not for that,” Bush clucked. “And I don’t think America is for that either. I think America wants judicious use of our military.”

Then on Oct. 30, 2000, Gov. Bush said:

“My opponent believes our military should be used for nation-building and peacekeeping instead of focusing on its primary job, which is to be able to fight and win wars.”

But in May 2004 Bush said:

“I sent American troops to Iraq to make its people free, not to make them American. Iraqis will write their own history and find their own way.”

So, can someone explain what we’re still doing in Iraq given the fact that Bush believes our military is only there to fight and win wars, and not build nations? It seems to me that we’re helping build their nation, and that is exactly what Bush promised he would not do.